Kamla opposes Executive President

She gave Newsday her initial reactions after the House adjourned, saying unlike the devolution of political power which was required, the draft centralises power.

“It leads to a further concentration of power in the hands of one man, an Executive President,” Persad-Bissessar said. She added that the draft gives extensive powers to the Executive President but that person will not be elected by the people but merely by an electoral college.

“I say, if you seek executive power you must first come directly to the citizenry on a one-man, one-vote basis. There can be no such extensive executive powers reposing in one person without the authorisation of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”

On the judicial system, she said she was opposed to the replacement of the Privy Council by the Caribbean Court of Justice as TT’s highest court of appeal. “In the present circumstances where the independence of the judiciary is under threat by the Manning regime, it is essential we retain the impartiality given by the Privy Council,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar concluded, “If people think that now this regime is dictatorial, wait until they see this draft. There will be a greater concentration of power.”