Parliament’s concern is the people’s business

President George Maxwell Richards TC CMT PhD, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago gave the following speech at the opening of the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, at the Parliament Chamber, Red House, yesterday.  He said:

We have convened in this awesome place, this hallowed hall that has witnessed so many important aspects of the evolution of our history. We have convened to fulfil a charge that has more than a civic dimension. We have convened to do the people’s business and this is a sacred trust, for government is of God. We have been placed in this Parliament as a privilege, with a mandate to be of service to a country that has seen the presence of God intervene in such ways as to leave no doubt in the mind of anyone but the obdurate that this country must have been set apart to fulfil a particular destiny. There are those who believe that they can define that destiny. Others are not convinced.

It could be said, with justification, that after 41 years of independence and 27 years as a republic, it is time for change. It is time to seek new systems of governance that will be better suited to our circumstances and our times. That may well be so.  But while we are at this stage, we ought to work with what we have in response to the confidence that has been demonstrated by the people who have elected us to seek their interest in this House. The paramount concern must be the people’s business. That is the purpose of this august body and place that we call Parliament. This is where, through reason and discussion, we must strive to foster and to uphold the dignity of the human being by way of legislative programmes, for example, that take account of matters of critical importance to the well-being of our citizens.

We must bear in mind that the people who have put us here have done so with great expectation of the betterment of their condition. We have been placed centre stage in the highest forum in the land on which the eyes and ears of the nation are focused. Our role then, is not just one of theatre as some might suppose, although the temptation may be great in that regard. It is one that should serve as an example. We must lead our people above the cut and thrust of commonplace politics to a level of understanding of nation building that will continue the work that was given even before we claimed and were given ownership of this Parliament. It was in this setting that our predecessors took up the challenge and with dignity — great dignity and sense of responsibility, took us from colonial territorial status to independence. Adversarial positions there were, without a doubt, but they, respecting their call to service, by and large, did not allow themselves to forget the requirement of respect for the representative role that was given to them.

There was no shortage of humour in the midst of serious debate; no lack of “picong,” that cherished national gift, but our people, particularly the youth, could be inspired by the quality of oratory and the regard for office that was manifest. May I humbly submit, esteemed Members of our nation’s Parliament, that we should pause, reflect and consider whether we have not somehow been distracted from what I regard as an opportunity for the development of statesmanship that no country can afford to eschew. I make this observation especially for the benefit of the children of our nation. For the sake of our children, we need to take a look at the path that we have been travelling and see whether some adjustments to our modus operandi are necessary. If they are, it is the duty of each one of us to make those adjustments. Much has already been done but much more needs to be done to take our country forward. But we continue the task of developing our country in a climate of increasing globalisation. We must realise that even as nations come together in their geographic groupings and are consolidating their economic blocs, there is evidence that simultaneously, bilateral activities are as vibrant as ever.

The reality is that in our international efforts, in whatever sphere, we are not assured of support even within our region. It has become clear that in a uni-polar world, many countries are constrained to yield to bilateral arrangements that seem best suited to their interests, if only in the short term, a position that we can well understand. Nevertheless, we must continue vigorously to strive for solidarity in our traditional groupings wherever this is possible. As we do so, however, we must be careful not to neglect those domestic issues that require the concerted effort of all the representatives of the people. We must work together in our Parliament to ensure that decisions are taken and laws enacted that reflect clear provision for the welfare of all of our people. If our laws do not insist upon fair opportunity for all, including the differently-abled and the poor, we can hardly count upon the ability or the willingness of the people to help us achieve the targets for development that we have set ourselves. Unlike many developing countries, our country has been endowed with tremendous natural resources. For this we can take no credit and we would do well to be mindful of the fact that the energy resources with which we are endowed are a wasting asset. Consequently, the laws that are put in place for their exploration and exploitation must reflect consideration for the generations to come as well as possible effects on our fragile environment.

The distribution of the national income is a matter to which careful consideration should also be given. This is an area in which there are no easy answers as there are legitimate demands all round. Moreover, we cannot legislate wealth nor industriousness, but systems may be put in place through laws that provide for ways of encouraging productive pursuits. Our communities cannot thrive without law and order. These are words that must be uppermost in the minds of all of us who are witnessing deterioration tending to anarchy in many of our institutions. There is no question but that the decline has reached alarming proportions. But where do the solutions lie? Is it in the passing of new laws in the Parliament? I think not. There are already many laws that are not enforced. I believe, rather, that law enforcement agencies must see to it that every infraction, no matter how small, is dealt with by the full force of the law. Am I advocating a police state? Not by any means. I am saying, however, that we have come to that point in our affairs where it has become necessary to apply discipline rigorously, in defence of our nation. Lawlessness in any form must not be tolerated and we the Members of this Parliament must do whatever lies in our power to encourage the upholding of the laws of the land.

Trinidad and Tobago has already proven that even as a small country, it is possible to make a difference in international affairs in the service of human beings everywhere, now and in the future. We do not need the validation from outside that we so often seek. We must recognise our own strengths. I question whether we are as conscious as we might be of the part that we can play to enhance our influence in world affairs. We are not insulated from world currents and so we must nurture a people who see themselves as patriots first, but also as contributors to the development of the outside world with which we have forward and backward linkages. It is the world in which our children must live and we owe it to them to make it better. That would require of us a mature understanding of the rules of conduct, if you will, for leaders. Our nation needs healing. In this Parliament, we must demonstrate far-sightedness. We must know when to put on battle gear and when to call a truce. We must be able to criticise and to congratulate. We must defend our interests and support the common good. We, the people of this Parliament, represent a beacon to which the rest of the nation looks for guidance. Let us, therefore, uphold high standards of which we can all be proud. May God bless our nation.