Will Manning move residence next?
THE EDITOR: Some 11 years ago, Prime Minister Manning uttered some irrelevancies and thereafter “thought that everyone was on board”. Now we find that Chief Justice Sat Sharma, Prof Ken Ramchand and 46 others, as well as Dr Hamid Ghany were unceremoniously left behind; from all appearances more were left behind than got “on board” and the count continues. Readers will remember Dr Ghany as an authority on Constitutional matters, and a member of the most recent Hyatalli Constitution Commiss-ion. In Dr Ghany’s Sunday column “Red House a national symbol”, he advances the view that Cabinet indeed has the power to relocate Parliament and in support he points to Sections 67(1), and 80 (1) of the Constitution. When read together, these sections state that Cabinet designates “such place within TT” where “each session of Parliament shall be held”. Until the arguments are distilled by the legal and other experts, I place a different interpretation to Dr Ghany on these sections of the Constitution for the following reasons. While Cabinet will designate the “place for each session”, it cannot do so arbitrarily. First there is the century’s old convention that Parliament meets in the Red House, a convention which is binding on a responsible Cabinet. But convention apart, it cannot for instance name the Rienzi Complex, or Smokey and Bunty, for the simple reason that it has no control over those places. Similarly in order to relocate the Parliament it must first have control over it; and I maintain that Parliament’s precincts are “vested in the Speaker on behalf of the House”, and that Cabinet has no authority to move Parliament without Parliament’s approval. I accept however, that Manning might get the approval of both houses. A tie is possible in the Senate, but on past performance Senate President Baboolal may put party before country. A special majority is not required to move Parliament, as Sir Ellis in his wildest dreams would never have anticipated a Prime Minister with such a perverse obsession. Were Dr Ghany correct in his view that Cabinet is empowered to move Parliament without its approval, then a new Prime Minister could move Parliament to his own constituency every five years. The proposition need only be stated to be rejected. The consequent absurdity must surely dictate that Parliament’s location is a matter for the people themselves, not for any party, nor for any blundering politician who fancies himself driving up Abercromby Street waving to the crowd, with police escorts, flashing lights, and motor cycle outriders. I find Manning’s historical perspective so warped that I am even coming to the conclusion that his long term plan is to move his residence to the Red House as well. Just imagine Patrick and Hazel descending the stairs in the rotunda hand-in-hand, to greet his guests from a United Caribbean coming to pay him homage! MICHAEL J WILLIAMS Maracas Valley