UNC: President playing politics in Parliament

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday and Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh accused President George Maxwell Richards of using yesterday’s ceremonial opening of Parliament to make a political speech instead of a ceremonial one. Both men claimed that by his action, the President had endorsed the UNC’s belief that constitutional reform was long overdue in Trinidad and Tobago. Panday told Newsday that under TT’s current constitution, the President’s speech was supposed to be ceremonial in nature and outline Government’s priorities for the new parliamentary term. The UNC leader said this did not happen yesterday and wondered if it was because Prime Minister Patrick Manning did not inform the President about Government’s parliamentary agenda.

Panday said Richards touched on many areas which were already well known, both to parliamentarians and the national community. He believed that instead of mentioning old problems, the President should have focused on why the existing system of governance is not effective and “the need to change the system.” Panday added that had he done so, Richards’ speech would have been “much more cogent.” Singh agreed with Panday. “I think that it was a commendable speech. It was political in nature and in content. One can expect that. After 42 years of being an independent country, it is insufficient for us as a country and for the President to merely give a ceremonial speech in the context of the Westminster model.