UNC’s Ganga backed Manning on Parliament move

UNC MP Ganga Singh said at a House Committee meeting in 2001 that Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s plan to move the Parliament from the Red House was “worthy of consideration”.

Singh’s statements formed part of the minutes of the first meeting of the House Committee of the House of Representatives on July 20, 2001 in the Committee Room at the Red House. Among those attending that meeting were Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Carlos John, Subhas Panday, Patrick Manning and Camille Robinson-Regis. Manning, according to the minutes, presented to the Committee his recommendations for the restoration and utilisation of the Red House.

“He suggested that the Red House be restored and reserved for the Office of the Prime Minister and a new building should be designed and built for the Parliament taking into consideration possible future growth in the size and activities of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago,” the minutes stated. It added that the Chairman, Maharaj, thanked Manning for his contribution. However he (Maharaj) explained that very early in its administration, the UNC Government had agreed that the Red House should be restored and dedicated to the sole use of the Parliament. He therefore advised Manning to hold discussions on the matter with the Prime Minister, insofar, “as policy decisions of such significance cannot ne determined by the House committee”. While Singh thought Manning’s suggestion worthy of consideration, Carlos John felt “as a matter of urgency”, restoration of the building should be pursued, even while questions about its final use were being deliberated on. John advised that there would be sufficient time between Phase 1 and 2 of the project to resolve all questions.

The Committee agreed with the view expressed by John, the Minutes said. Joining the meeting were Rudlyn Roberts of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Michael Bynoe, architect.