Max unopposed as President

Panday said the future presidents of this country should be elected by the population “one man, one vote” and should be Executive Presidents.

While Richards’ re-election is a foregone conclusion and today’s sitting of the Electoral College (which comprises all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate) will be a mere formality, Richards will not be sworn in as President after his re-election is approved by the College. Government officials yesterday said Richards will take his oath of office as President in a formal inauguration ceremony at President’s House on March 17.

Richards was sworn in as President on March 17, 2003 succeeding Arthur NR Robinson and the Electoral College was convened on February 14, 2003 to elect him. New Chief Justice Ivor Archie will administer the oath of office to Richards in accordance with Section 31 of the Constitution.

While Richards sees out his current term, he will receive His Royal Highness Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who will visit this country from March 3 to 6.

Richards is the sole nominee for President because the Opposition UNC Alliance has not offered a presidential candidate of its own. Reiterating that this was an exercise in futility because of the PNM’s in-built majority in the Electoral College, Panday said the UNC Alliance believes the College has outlived its usefulness and should be abolished as part of a wider constitutional reform exercise.

He suggested that the population should directly elect an Executive President to office because this would ensure that the President is someone who represents the will of the people and not the will of the party in power.

Recalling fears during last year’s General Election campaign about an alleged secret draft constitution, Panday explained that it was only under Prime Minister Patrick Manning and the PNM that the country would have anything to fear from an Executive President.

Panday added that in countries such as the United States, there is no need to fear Executive Presidents because the necessary checks and balances are in place.

He also suggested that the Senate should be scrapped as well and the country should have a unicameral Parliament (that is only one House of Parliament — House of Representatives) which comprises 70 to 80 elected members who would be more representative of the wider population.

Panday also said there would be no chance to either abstain or vote against, since the nominee (Richards) will be elected unopposed. Sources have said unlike previous years, there will be no secret ballot when the Electoral College sits on Monday.

Sir Ellis Clarke, the late Noor Hassanali and Arthur NR Robinson have been the other persons to hold the office of President since this country gained independence from Britain in 1962.