McCLEAN CHALLENGED WILLIAMS

The passing yesterday of former Speaker of the House, Mr Hector McClean will be regretted not only by many who knew him personally but the wider community in Trinidad and Tobago. We extend condolences to his family and to friends and associates who encompass a wide cross-section of the community and include politicians, trade unionists and attorneys.

Hector McClean became the first man to ascend the Speaker’s chair in the House of Representatives after defeat in a general election. This was in 1995 when, facilitated by an alliance between Basdeo Panday and ANR Robinson, the UNC formed the Government. McClean had contested that election on a UNC ticket for the Tunapuna seat. He was defeated by the PNM’s Eddie Hart by less than 300 votes. The UNC government chose him as Speaker over the objections of the PNM minority and many others who considered it inappropriate and unfair to have a man who had been rejected by the voters, preside in the Parliament.

McClean, however, was to prove his independence which led to a falling out with his mentor, then Prime Minister Basdeo Panday. Panday considered McClean unsupportive of the UNC government in some of the rulings he handed down as Speaker in the House. When the UNC returned to government after the 2000 general elections, Panday sought a new Speaker in the person of another of his party’s defeated candidates, Rupert Griffith, who had previously left the PNM and joined the UNC. McClean who had represented Arouca in the Eric Williams government and been Minister of Works fell out with Williams and resigned from the PNM government on March 31, 1978.

In a dramatic announcement in the House that day he informed the Speaker that he was quitting immediately the Government and Cabinet but not the Parliament. He would, he said, continue to serve the people of Arouca who had elected him. Williams was hearing it for the first time. In his statement McClean virtually challenged Williams to enforce the controversial undated letter of resignation which Williams had insisted all PNM candidates must sign before elections. McClean crossed to the Opposition benches and served out the rest of his term as an Independent until 1981, the very year that Williams died.

McClean then became a judge of the Industrial Court which he served until 1984 following which he practised law. As Speaker, McClean showed a degree of independence that came as a surprise to Panday. McClean had several clashes with parliamentary reporters, and was not above threatening some with contempt. He might not have been brilliant in the role but in many ways he has left his mark and will be remembered by many.