UNC: Red House move shows tyranny

THE Opposition UNC sees signs of dictatorship in the Government’s proposal to change the Red House from being the seat of Parliament to the Office of the Prime Minister. The UNC in a statement yesterday vowed to resist the relocation of Parliament from its historic seat of the Red House. “The decision of the Government to move the Parliament is yet another manifestation of the quixotic arrogance and malfeasance that typifies the Manning administration and constitutes a naked attack on the highest institution in the land.” The relocation of Parliament and the moving of the Office of the Prime Minister to the Red House, was an obsession of Manning since he had been Leader of the Opposition, said the UNC.

“Like the closure of Caroni last July, this decision to relocate Parliament was taken unilaterally with little or no planning and further demonstrates contempt for the views of prominent citizens, the Judiciary, the Opposition and the Independent Senators.” The UNC said that a nation’s history and culture were among its greatest assets, and that the Red House symbolised the centre of gravity of our democracy. “Parliaments all over the Commonwealth are powerful symbols of the power of people in a democracy. In World War Two when the Germans wanted to break the morale of the British people, they bombed the British Parliament.” The UNC said that when it held office its vision was that the Red House should be used solely for the work of Parliament, which is why in 2000 it had moved the land, companies and civil registries from the Red House to Registration House on South Quay. “The PNM’s decision to move the Parliament is yet another step on the road to constitutional dictatorship in Trinidad and Tobago and further undermines the need for urgent and comprehensive constitutional reform.”