Trinidad
to have general elections and new constitution poll
all in one year
By
Louis B Homer
South Bureau
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworld.com
10 01 06
Trinidad and Tobago could expect two general elections
in one year-the first on or before it is constitutionally
due in 2007, and the second based on the adoption
of a new constitution.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning alluded
to this yesterday as he spoke to the media following
his address at the San Fernando East annual conference
held at the Oasis Garden Terrace on Circular Road.
Manning was asked by the media whether
normal elections would precede the acceptance of
a new constitution.
In reply, Manning said, "What
it could mean is more than one election in a short
space of time."
Manning said he expects the consultations
on constitution reform to begin by year's end, after
which a green paper will be presented to the electorate
for consultation. A white paper will later be presented
to Parliament for debate.
Manning insisted that any new constitution
should have the approval of the national community.
"It is more than likely that
whatever new constitution be put in place will have
the approbation of the population and we must have
a basis on which to go into the elections,"
said Manning.
Manning said the government was
against the setting up of a Constitution Commission
to draft a new constitution for the country.
"We have the experience that
in 1972 and 1976 that system had failed us."
he said.
Manning said a round table committee
headed by him and including four ministers have
been appointed. Other members include Senior Counsel
Tajmool Hosein, Prof John Spence, Sir Ellis Clarke,
Prof Selwyn Ryan and Dr John La Guerre.
Manning said Ryan and La Guerre
will visit all parts of the country to hear the
views of the people, "then we will put together
a green paper for examination by the people".
Manning gave no indication as to
the length of time this exercise would take.
On the question of the upcoming
budget, the Prime Minister said there will be no
cut in income taxes as advocated by former attorney
general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.
Manning said, "Last year we
increased the personal allowances to $60,000 and
cut the rate of personal income tax to 25 per cent.
That cost the government $1.5 billion. Tax concessions
are dollars and cents."
But on the contentious issue of
the rise in food prices, Manning conceded that "only
some categories will get relief". He was not
prepared to discuss the details.
The budget will be presented in
Parliament next Wednesday.
Trinidad
Express
Sunday, October 1st 2006
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©2006 Trinidad Express . All Rights Reserved.
