Too Much Election Drama

These days I just feel saturated. I feel like there is too much of everything going on. There is too much bacchanal. Politicians are fighting and obviously they are forgetting that they are supposed to be role models for the youth of our country. This is the worst set of name calling in an election that I can remember. I really don’t know what is going on with these people. The funny thing is that at the end of all this nonsense all of these politicians will be laughing having a time in their little rum shop to which the rest of us cannot afford to gain entry. This election is becoming a big joke and I would really like to know at what stage the running of a nation became a laughing matter. While I strongly support one party, I will admit that is both sides indulge in the stupidness. Issues are being pushed aside to discuss things such as Marlene Mc Donald’s weight and Nicole Dyer winning Mastana Bahar. I am well aware that picong is part of our Trini culture, I think things are getting a bit out of hand. I wish elections were this coming Monday so we could get this Election over and done with. I anxiously await election results so that the country can continue with its regular day to day activities with the winning party at the helm leading the way.

How do you feel about the way the Election Campaign is going? Do you think the Politicians are taking the insults too far?

The Prime Minister is no Fool

Sadly my prediction of the dissolution of Parliament has become a reality. I was wrong about the date for elections to be held. The Representation of the People Act mandates that a number of things take place prior to the election which would require thirty-five days. However the Constitution states that the election must be called within three months. Therefore the election can be anywhere between thirty-five days and three months from Friday April 9, 2010.

Our Prime Minister is not a crazy man and I think that this election is no fluke. It may seem like something out of the blue but it is not. The Prime Minister is going to use this election to get rid of some of the bad eggs that are in his party. I use the term bad eggs because usually looking at an egg you cannot always tell that it is bad. It is only when you attempt to use the egg you would realise that it is bad. For the last general election the PNM had a lot of new comers to the political arena, while many of the stalwarts were pushed aside. Many of the newbies won their seats because the PNM had a strong hold in the constituency and any PNM candidate would have won. The population vote according to the overall party they support, whether or not they think the actual candidate they are voting for will do well as a Minister.

The Prime Minister was left in somewhat of an embarrassing situation where if he admitted to having bad eggs in his administration it would bring his ability to screen candidates into question. The fact that there was no major Cabinet Reshuffle is testimony to the fact that little could have been done with many of the persons within the Cabinet. The Prime Minister was then left with no other option but to advise the President to dissolve Parliament for a general election to be held which could then be used as an opportunity to get rid of some of the persons within the party who were bringing the PNM into disrepute. Some of the trouble makers include the Flag Man, Gary Hunt, Nunez-Tesheira, who did not ensure that there was proper public consultation prior to the introduction of the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority Bill. While Indra Sinanan Ojah-Maharaj and Roger Joseph were allegedly not representing their constituents well. With the trouble makers gone the Prime Minister could now make another attempt to win the hearts of the population while saving face. This is also why the Prime Minister has been walking around the country visiting various constituencies over the last few months because he has been preparing for an election.

What do you think about the upcoming General Election? Do you think a change in some of the PNM candidates would improve the running of the country? or Do you think another party is the answer?

Kamlamania

The General Election that has been hinted by our wonderful Prime Minister has fed Kamlamania that was initially created by Mrs. Persad-Bissessar winning the post of Political Leader of the Opposition followed by her appointment as Leader of the Opposition. Everybody seems to be looking towards the new Leader of the Opposition to be the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Personally I am not a fan of Mrs. Persad-Bissessar. I have doubts that she can continue holding the majority of the members of the UNC in order to maintain her post as Leader of the Opposition. I remember all too well this was the fate of Winston Dookeran not too long ago. This is a party that has been through it all with Basdeo Panday always coming out on top. I am not quite sure that he is finished with the party and it would be interesting to see what his role in this alleged election. For the UNC to succeed at any General Election and to be a stable government in power there needs to be unity within the party. Currently this does not exist as there is the back bench of Ramesh, Basdeo and Kelvin, (Ramdeovin perhaps?) with Ramesh acting as a pseudo chief whip. Until the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar can bring unity to her own party and truly lead the entire party as opposed to a small majority, I am not impressed. Because if she cannot control her own members how is she going to control the country. Luckily for her we still have some limited time before the Prime Minister unleashes the final bomb, the election date. This will give Kamlamania some more time to grow and hopefully emerge as a viable option for some change in society and not just be another mouth piece.

What do you think about the Kamlamania that is sweeping the nation?

Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliament

With election fever in the air there has been a lot of talk about the Prime Minister proroguing Parliament. At this time I would invite all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to familiarise themselves with the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is truly an interesting document and is the foundation of our society. When we do not know something for ourselves it is so easy for us to be fed lies and wrong information. We are currently in the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Sections 67, 68 and 69 of the constitution outline the prorogation and dissolution of Parliament. A session of parliament is simply the yearly intervals between general elections. There can be up to five sessions, of which sessions one to four have to be prorogued with the fifth session being dissolved for general elections to be held. Parliament can be dissolved at anytime but it cannot go beyond five years to the date of its first sitting. Additionally the Prime Minister cannot dissolve Parliament, it is actually the President who dissolves parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister. Simply put prorogue is the term used between sessions and dissolved is the term used between elections. Therefore the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago essentially means that we are in the third year since the last election and there have been nine general elections since Republican constitution was enacted in 1976. I just thought I would clarify some of the nonsense that has been printed in the daily news papers recently.

Election Date to be Announced This Week?

This coming Friday April 9, 2010 a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister would be debated. This motion would be led by the Leader of the Opposition. The Prime Minister is the longest sitting Member of Parliament. Therefore he like Mr. Panday is no stranger to the world of politics. With the report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Construction Sector laid in Parliament today and a motion of no confidence looming, what better time to dissolve parliament and call a general election. The Prime Minister has previously stated that his hinting at a general election is no bluff and this week, either Friday or before would be the ideal time to dissolve the Parliament and announce the date for the general election. So look out people, because apparently the election is coming like a tief in the night. Since we are a follow fashion type of society I just have a feeling that our election would be sometime in early or mid May to follow our former colonial masters. I am thinking that perhaps May 10, 2010 might be the day.

When do you think Parliament would be dissolved to accommodate the impending general election?