No to Parliament move

Government has been severely chastised for its decision to “oust” the Parliament from the Red House and put it in a building to be constructed on the block north of Knox street.

UNC MP Kelvin Ramnath and Independent Senator Prof Kenneth Ramchand said yesterday they did not support the idea. Ramchand said the decision showed “a complete lack of respect for tradition, history and for the people of Trinidad and Tobago whose epic struggle for freedom and self-government was symbolised in the Red House”. Ramchand said that every citizen knew about the water riots of 1903 when the Red House was burnt down because an oppressive regime sought to further victimise ordinary citizens over the cost and supply of water. He also recalled that the Red House was the place where the British flag was lowered in 1962 and the national flag of Trinidad and Tobago hoisted in its place. It was also the place, he said, where a major assault on this country’s democracy was made in 1990 and a heroic Prime Minister was willing to lay down his life to protect that democracy.

Ramchand said if it was true that the legislature was to be ousted and the Red House to become the Office of the Prime Minister then one of the main arguments for Constitution Reform — the arrogance and overwhelming powers of the executive — had been demonstrated to the whole nation. Saying that he was sure that every creed and race in this society would oppose  this move, Ramchand asked, “how can you remove the legislature from the Red House and make the building the office of one man. Prime Ministers come and go? Parliament and the legislature go on forever. I hope the country notices that this decision was taken by the Cabinet/executive without consulting the people or bringing the matter to Paliament. We have a Parliament. There is no excuse for ruling by Cabinet fiat.”