Parliament goes ‘Live’ today

Today’s historic broadcast will also mean that Government and Opposition MPs will have to be on their “Ps and Qs” as the population will be able to see everything they do during the course of today’s debate and all subsequent ones.

Last Sunday, parliamentary officials told Newsday that a dedicated television channel would broadcast sittings of Parliament during the second half of the current parliamentary session which resumes today. Officials said tests on Channel 11 have been ongoing and it may be possible for persons with cable TV to see clips of previous sittings last night.

The officials said everything is in place for today’s sitting to be broadcast live. Asked whether MPs would be guided by certain ground rules during the debate, now that the proceedings are being broadcast live, parliamentary officials said all MPs have been updated regularly about the status of Channel 11 and should realise that they have to be circumspect when making their contributions. Sittings of both Houses of Parliament within recent times have seen instances of outbursts between Government and Opposition MPs, wild allegations being made and the sight of MPs dozing. Officials added that the only proceedings which would not be shown on Channel 11 would be closed committee meetings.

Leader of Government Business in the Lower House Ken Valley and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar both agreed that live parliamentary broadcasts augured well for the development of democracy in Trinidad and Tobago and hoped that they would raise the level of debate in Parliament.

Valley said the public will now be able to receive information from Parliament in an “undiluted manner.” He said while some MPs could be more circumspect in their actions and others may choose to “gallery,” the public will now be in a better position to judge them by their actions.

Persad-Bissessar said Parliament represents the people and live broadcasts of sittings were important to educating the public about what happens there. Today’s sitting will deal primarily with the Pilotage (Amendment) Bill 2006 and a Tourism Amendment (Development) Bill 2006.