Moderator: 3ne2nr Mods
desifemlove wrote:Slartibartfast wrote:UML wrote:bluefete wrote:
I think this blew over the heads of many.
I could just imagine someone saying "I eh no hyfunayted trini! I am a proud indo-trinidadian!"
er....so half de women in de country mus leave?
didn't de last PNM govt. have women in it with double-barrelled names?
ent de current Opposition have? If Kamla mus leave, Gopee-Scoon have to too....lol...PNMs mus ah all have jus nursery school education.
54 PERCENT BACK RUNOFF
By Andre Bagoo Sunday, August 24 2014
A GOVERNMENT-commissioned Mori Caribbean poll on the question of proposals in the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2014 has found that a majority of the population is in support of all three proposals for a threshold/runoff; a right of recall and term limits for prime ministers, with 54 per cent backing the runoff.
The poll, which was seen by Sunday Newsday, involved a sample of 512 adults interviewed by telephone across Trinidad and Tobago. It was conducted from August 8 to August 11, 2014, two days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar unveiled the bill in Parliament and just before it was debated and passed in the House of Representatives after a marathon sitting which lasted from August 11 to the early morning of August 12. The bill is due to be debated in the Senate this week.
The results of the Mori poll stated:
* 54 per cent support 50 per cent threshold/runoff;
* 70 per cent of people support a right of recall; and
* 55 per cent support term limits for prime ministers
According to Mori, interviews were conducted by telephone, recalling those who had previously been interviewed in 2014 as part of a previous research series called Listening to the People. However, the full sample has a margin of error of four percentage points. While Mori indicated a sample across the country, how the sample was selected was not indicated, nor were specific constituencies disclosed.
For each of the proposals, the respondents were asked to say whether they supported or opposed them. In relation to the runoff, respondents were asked to comment on the proposal summarised thus: “Ensuring MPs are elected with at least 50 percent support in their constituency – where this is not achieved in the first vote and runoff will take place between the top two candidates a week later.” A total of 21 percent strongly supported the proposal and 33 percent said they tended to support. A total of 28 percent indicated they opposed, with 18 percent saying they strongly opposed. Mori stated 13 percent indicted they neither supported nor opposed, with five per cent stating they did not know.
There was strong support for, “the right to recall an MP and force a by-election in the constituency, if enough local constituents demand it.” Of the respondents, 70 percent indicated support overall, with 32 percent stating they strongly supported the proposal. 38 per cent stated they tended to support the proposal. A total of 22 percent opposed this reform, with 11 percent indicating strong opposition. Mori stated six percent neither supported nor opposed the reform, while two per cent stated they did not know.
Respondents were asked to state opinions on term limits. Specifically, they were asked to comment on, “Term limits for the Prime Minister, so no individual can serve as Prime Minister for more than two terms in office (approximately a maximum of ten years)”. A total of 55 percent supported this with 26 percent in strong support. A total of 36 percent opposed, with 23 percent in strong opposition.
However, during the interviews many respondents stated initially that they did not feel informed about the proposals. Participants were asked to respond to the following statement: “How much, if anything, have you heard about the Government’s proposals to reform the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago? These were announced earlier this week by the Prime Minister and are due to be debated in Parliament next week.” In response, the majority did not feel informed. About 42 percent said they, “Have heard about the reform proposals, but do not feel informed” and 35 percent said they, “Have not heard about the reform proposals at all.” At the same time, two days after they were unveiled in Parliament, 16 percent said they, “Have heard about the reform proposals and feel informed”. Mori said seven percent indicated they did not know in response to this query.
Though the majority backed individual reforms, when questioned initially on support for “the Government’s proposals to reform the Constitution” the outcome was different. A total of 35 percent said they supported, while 29 percent said they opposed. Mori stated 11 percent indicated they neither supported nor opposed, while a large chunk, 26 percent, replied “don’t know” to the question.
Overall, when asked if the reform proposals will give more power to the people, 55 percent agreed, while 26 percent disagreed.
Asked if the reforms were designed to help the Government win the next general election — due by September 2015 — a total of 47 percent agreed with this, while 35 percent disagreed. Mori said 11 percent said they neither agreed nor disagreed while 8 percent did not know.
A total of 55 percent stated the reforms will help improve the way the country is governed, while 50 percent stated the quality of life will be improved in Trinidad and Tobago. However, 28 percent had concerns with the proposals. A total of 16 percent said they neither agreed nor disagreed/did not know if the proposals would improve the way the country is governed.
A total of 17 percent indicated Constitutional reform was one of the most important issues facing the country, while 86 percent identified “crime/police”, 68 percent “health/hospitals” and 64 percent “corruption in Government”. “Jobs/employment” ranked highly at 47 percent, followed by housing (34 percent), education (33 percent) and poverty/inequality (32 percent). A total of 29 percent identified “prices/inflation” as an important issue, and 27 percent similarly pinpointed “roads/traffic”.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,199498.html
UML wrote:54 PERCENT BACK RUNOFF
By Andre Bagoo Sunday, August 24 2014
A GOVERNMENT-commissioned Mori Caribbean poll on the question of proposals in the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2014 has found that a majority of the population is in support of all three proposals for a threshold/runoff; a right of recall and term limits for prime ministers, with 54 per cent backing the runoff.
The poll, which was seen by Sunday Newsday, involved a sample of 512 adults interviewed by telephone across Trinidad and Tobago. It was conducted from August 8 to August 11, 2014, two days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar unveiled the bill in Parliament and just before it was debated and passed in the House of Representatives after a marathon sitting which lasted from August 11 to the early morning of August 12. The bill is due to be debated in the Senate this week.
The results of the Mori poll stated:
* 54 per cent support 50 per cent threshold/runoff;
* 70 per cent of people support a right of recall; and
* 55 per cent support term limits for prime ministers
According to Mori, interviews were conducted by telephone, recalling those who had previously been interviewed in 2014 as part of a previous research series called Listening to the People. However, the full sample has a margin of error of four percentage points. While Mori indicated a sample across the country, how the sample was selected was not indicated, nor were specific constituencies disclosed.
For each of the proposals, the respondents were asked to say whether they supported or opposed them. In relation to the runoff, respondents were asked to comment on the proposal summarised thus: “Ensuring MPs are elected with at least 50 percent support in their constituency – where this is not achieved in the first vote and runoff will take place between the top two candidates a week later.” A total of 21 percent strongly supported the proposal and 33 percent said they tended to support. A total of 28 percent indicated they opposed, with 18 percent saying they strongly opposed. Mori stated 13 percent indicted they neither supported nor opposed, with five per cent stating they did not know.
There was strong support for, “the right to recall an MP and force a by-election in the constituency, if enough local constituents demand it.” Of the respondents, 70 percent indicated support overall, with 32 percent stating they strongly supported the proposal. 38 per cent stated they tended to support the proposal. A total of 22 percent opposed this reform, with 11 percent indicating strong opposition. Mori stated six percent neither supported nor opposed the reform, while two per cent stated they did not know.
Respondents were asked to state opinions on term limits. Specifically, they were asked to comment on, “Term limits for the Prime Minister, so no individual can serve as Prime Minister for more than two terms in office (approximately a maximum of ten years)”. A total of 55 percent supported this with 26 percent in strong support. A total of 36 percent opposed, with 23 percent in strong opposition.
However, during the interviews many respondents stated initially that they did not feel informed about the proposals. Participants were asked to respond to the following statement: “How much, if anything, have you heard about the Government’s proposals to reform the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago? These were announced earlier this week by the Prime Minister and are due to be debated in Parliament next week.” In response, the majority did not feel informed. About 42 percent said they, “Have heard about the reform proposals, but do not feel informed” and 35 percent said they, “Have not heard about the reform proposals at all.” At the same time, two days after they were unveiled in Parliament, 16 percent said they, “Have heard about the reform proposals and feel informed”. Mori said seven percent indicated they did not know in response to this query.
Though the majority backed individual reforms, when questioned initially on support for “the Government’s proposals to reform the Constitution” the outcome was different. A total of 35 percent said they supported, while 29 percent said they opposed. Mori stated 11 percent indicated they neither supported nor opposed, while a large chunk, 26 percent, replied “don’t know” to the question.
Overall, when asked if the reform proposals will give more power to the people, 55 percent agreed, while 26 percent disagreed.
Asked if the reforms were designed to help the Government win the next general election — due by September 2015 — a total of 47 percent agreed with this, while 35 percent disagreed. Mori said 11 percent said they neither agreed nor disagreed while 8 percent did not know.
A total of 55 percent stated the reforms will help improve the way the country is governed, while 50 percent stated the quality of life will be improved in Trinidad and Tobago. However, 28 percent had concerns with the proposals. A total of 16 percent said they neither agreed nor disagreed/did not know if the proposals would improve the way the country is governed.
A total of 17 percent indicated Constitutional reform was one of the most important issues facing the country, while 86 percent identified “crime/police”, 68 percent “health/hospitals” and 64 percent “corruption in Government”. “Jobs/employment” ranked highly at 47 percent, followed by housing (34 percent), education (33 percent) and poverty/inequality (32 percent). A total of 29 percent identified “prices/inflation” as an important issue, and 27 percent similarly pinpointed “roads/traffic”.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,199498.html
PNM continue to use SCARE TACTICS to fool the people and lead the BLIND!!!
j.o.e wrote:UML wrote:54 PERCENT BACK RUNOFF
By Andre Bagoo Sunday, August 24 2014
A GOVERNMENT-commissioned Mori Caribbean poll on the question of proposals in the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2014 has found that a majority of the population is in support of all three proposals for a threshold/runoff; a right of recall and term limits for prime ministers, with 54 per cent backing the runoff.
The poll, which was seen by Sunday Newsday, involved a sample of 512 adults interviewed by telephone across Trinidad and Tobago. It was conducted from August 8 to August 11, 2014, two days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar unveiled the bill in Parliament and just before it was debated and passed in the House of Representatives after a marathon sitting which lasted from August 11 to the early morning of August 12. The bill is due to be debated in the Senate this week.
The results of the Mori poll stated:
* 54 per cent support 50 per cent threshold/runoff;
* 70 per cent of people support a right of recall; and
* 55 per cent support term limits for prime ministers
According to Mori, interviews were conducted by telephone, recalling those who had previously been interviewed in 2014 as part of a previous research series called Listening to the People. However, the full sample has a margin of error of four percentage points. While Mori indicated a sample across the country, how the sample was selected was not indicated, nor were specific constituencies disclosed.
For each of the proposals, the respondents were asked to say whether they supported or opposed them. In relation to the runoff, respondents were asked to comment on the proposal summarised thus: “Ensuring MPs are elected with at least 50 percent support in their constituency – where this is not achieved in the first vote and runoff will take place between the top two candidates a week later.” A total of 21 percent strongly supported the proposal and 33 percent said they tended to support. A total of 28 percent indicated they opposed, with 18 percent saying they strongly opposed. Mori stated 13 percent indicted they neither supported nor opposed, with five per cent stating they did not know.
There was strong support for, “the right to recall an MP and force a by-election in the constituency, if enough local constituents demand it.” Of the respondents, 70 percent indicated support overall, with 32 percent stating they strongly supported the proposal. 38 per cent stated they tended to support the proposal. A total of 22 percent opposed this reform, with 11 percent indicating strong opposition. Mori stated six percent neither supported nor opposed the reform, while two per cent stated they did not know.
Respondents were asked to state opinions on term limits. Specifically, they were asked to comment on, “Term limits for the Prime Minister, so no individual can serve as Prime Minister for more than two terms in office (approximately a maximum of ten years)”. A total of 55 percent supported this with 26 percent in strong support. A total of 36 percent opposed, with 23 percent in strong opposition.
However, during the interviews many respondents stated initially that they did not feel informed about the proposals. Participants were asked to respond to the following statement: “How much, if anything, have you heard about the Government’s proposals to reform the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago? These were announced earlier this week by the Prime Minister and are due to be debated in Parliament next week.” In response, the majority did not feel informed. About 42 percent said they, “Have heard about the reform proposals, but do not feel informed” and 35 percent said they, “Have not heard about the reform proposals at all.” At the same time, two days after they were unveiled in Parliament, 16 percent said they, “Have heard about the reform proposals and feel informed”. Mori said seven percent indicated they did not know in response to this query.
Though the majority backed individual reforms, when questioned initially on support for “the Government’s proposals to reform the Constitution” the outcome was different. A total of 35 percent said they supported, while 29 percent said they opposed. Mori stated 11 percent indicated they neither supported nor opposed, while a large chunk, 26 percent, replied “don’t know” to the question.
Overall, when asked if the reform proposals will give more power to the people, 55 percent agreed, while 26 percent disagreed.
Asked if the reforms were designed to help the Government win the next general election — due by September 2015 — a total of 47 percent agreed with this, while 35 percent disagreed. Mori said 11 percent said they neither agreed nor disagreed while 8 percent did not know.
A total of 55 percent stated the reforms will help improve the way the country is governed, while 50 percent stated the quality of life will be improved in Trinidad and Tobago. However, 28 percent had concerns with the proposals. A total of 16 percent said they neither agreed nor disagreed/did not know if the proposals would improve the way the country is governed.
A total of 17 percent indicated Constitutional reform was one of the most important issues facing the country, while 86 percent identified “crime/police”, 68 percent “health/hospitals” and 64 percent “corruption in Government”. “Jobs/employment” ranked highly at 47 percent, followed by housing (34 percent), education (33 percent) and poverty/inequality (32 percent). A total of 29 percent identified “prices/inflation” as an important issue, and 27 percent similarly pinpointed “roads/traffic”.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,199498.html
PNM continue to use SCARE TACTICS to fool the people and lead the BLIND!!!
Pick and choose the parts that help your cause...Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.'
j.o.e wrote:UML wrote:54 PERCENT BACK RUNOFF
By Andre Bagoo Sunday, August 24 2014
A GOVERNMENT-commissioned Mori Caribbean poll on the question of proposals in the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2014 has found that a majority of the population is in support of all three proposals for a threshold/runoff; a right of recall and term limits for prime ministers, with 54 per cent backing the runoff.
The poll, which was seen by Sunday Newsday, involved a sample of 512 adults interviewed by telephone across Trinidad and Tobago. It was conducted from August 8 to August 11, 2014, two days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar unveiled the bill in Parliament and just before it was debated and passed in the House of Representatives after a marathon sitting which lasted from August 11 to the early morning of August 12. The bill is due to be debated in the Senate this week.
The results of the Mori poll stated:
* 54 per cent support 50 per cent threshold/runoff;
* 70 per cent of people support a right of recall; and
* 55 per cent support term limits for prime ministers
According to Mori, interviews were conducted by telephone, recalling those who had previously been interviewed in 2014 as part of a previous research series called Listening to the People. However, the full sample has a margin of error of four percentage points. While Mori indicated a sample across the country, how the sample was selected was not indicated, nor were specific constituencies disclosed.
For each of the proposals, the respondents were asked to say whether they supported or opposed them. In relation to the runoff, respondents were asked to comment on the proposal summarised thus: “Ensuring MPs are elected with at least 50 percent support in their constituency – where this is not achieved in the first vote and runoff will take place between the top two candidates a week later.” A total of 21 percent strongly supported the proposal and 33 percent said they tended to support. A total of 28 percent indicated they opposed, with 18 percent saying they strongly opposed. Mori stated 13 percent indicted they neither supported nor opposed, with five per cent stating they did not know.
There was strong support for, “the right to recall an MP and force a by-election in the constituency, if enough local constituents demand it.” Of the respondents, 70 percent indicated support overall, with 32 percent stating they strongly supported the proposal. 38 per cent stated they tended to support the proposal. A total of 22 percent opposed this reform, with 11 percent indicating strong opposition. Mori stated six percent neither supported nor opposed the reform, while two per cent stated they did not know.
Respondents were asked to state opinions on term limits. Specifically, they were asked to comment on, “Term limits for the Prime Minister, so no individual can serve as Prime Minister for more than two terms in office (approximately a maximum of ten years)”. A total of 55 percent supported this with 26 percent in strong support. A total of 36 percent opposed, with 23 percent in strong opposition.
However, during the interviews many respondents stated initially that they did not feel informed about the proposals. Participants were asked to respond to the following statement: “How much, if anything, have you heard about the Government’s proposals to reform the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago? These were announced earlier this week by the Prime Minister and are due to be debated in Parliament next week.” In response, the majority did not feel informed. About 42 percent said they, “Have heard about the reform proposals, but do not feel informed” and 35 percent said they, “Have not heard about the reform proposals at all.” At the same time, two days after they were unveiled in Parliament, 16 percent said they, “Have heard about the reform proposals and feel informed”. Mori said seven percent indicated they did not know in response to this query.
Though the majority backed individual reforms, when questioned initially on support for “the Government’s proposals to reform the Constitution” the outcome was different. A total of 35 percent said they supported, while 29 percent said they opposed. Mori stated 11 percent indicated they neither supported nor opposed, while a large chunk, 26 percent, replied “don’t know” to the question.
Overall, when asked if the reform proposals will give more power to the people, 55 percent agreed, while 26 percent disagreed.
Asked if the reforms were designed to help the Government win the next general election — due by September 2015 — a total of 47 percent agreed with this, while 35 percent disagreed. Mori said 11 percent said they neither agreed nor disagreed while 8 percent did not know.
A total of 55 percent stated the reforms will help improve the way the country is governed, while 50 percent stated the quality of life will be improved in Trinidad and Tobago. However, 28 percent had concerns with the proposals. A total of 16 percent said they neither agreed nor disagreed/did not know if the proposals would improve the way the country is governed.
A total of 17 percent indicated Constitutional reform was one of the most important issues facing the country, while 86 percent identified “crime/police”, 68 percent “health/hospitals” and 64 percent “corruption in Government”. “Jobs/employment” ranked highly at 47 percent, followed by housing (34 percent), education (33 percent) and poverty/inequality (32 percent). A total of 29 percent identified “prices/inflation” as an important issue, and 27 percent similarly pinpointed “roads/traffic”.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,199498.html
PNM continue to use SCARE TACTICS to fool the people and lead the BLIND!!!
Pick and choose the parts that help your cause...Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.'
Vasant: Mori poll shows public wants reform
Bobbie-Lee Dixon
Published:
Monday, August 25, 2014
Minister of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communication Vasant Bharath says the Market & Opinion Research International (Mori) findings have provided sound evidence that most of the population is in favour of Constitutional reform. “The majority of citizens in T&T support Government’s efforts to deliver more power to the people over politicians and the governance process, a firm belief that has been corroborated by the findings of MORI Caribbean poll,” said Bharath in a statement yesterday.
He said The MORI poll had provided the empirical data to confirm the Government’s findings that at least 55 per cent of the population agreed and wanted more power over the governance process and politicians. In his statement, Bharath avowed Government’s commitment to move forward with debate on the highly contentious Constitution (Amendment) Bill, in the Senate on Tuesday.
Bharath said in addition to expansive consultation, the Government established and closely monitored feedback channels to keep abreast of the thoughts of people, and it was on the strength of that kind of information that the Government intended to proceed with measures to apply term limits for the Prime Minister, deliver the people’s right of recall and second ballot run off voting.” The survey, done by MORI and commissioned by the Government, was carried out earlier this month, but the results were never made public.
In further examining the MORI data, Bharath in his statement, said what was also very important to note was that the report found 50 per cent of the population agreed that reforms would improve the quality of life, and 55 per cent agreed it would help improve the way T&T is governed. However, he was also quick to say that the Government had also taken into consideration, divergent views on the issue. He said it was extremely important to ensure that even after consultation, an ongoing process took emerging views into account.
“As with everything that the Government has successfully pursued and delivered, however, we are ultimately guided by the majority,” said Bharath.
He added: “Having said that, we must also be confident in the motives of those who don’t fully agree. The primary motive must be the benefit to the people and our country but some have sought to introduce panic and fear references to reform, such as ‘controversy’ and ‘crisis’. There is no controversy, there is no crisis. These are measures that are supported by the majority of people who have decided that they want more power over the politicians,” the minister noted.
But even as the minister released this statement yesterday, opposing views from NGO Fixin’ T&T came fast and furious. Group founder Kirk Waithe, in an interview, challenged Bharath to show proof of the “expansive consultation” on the run-off before August 4, 2014. “Runoff is not even mentioned in the Government’s ‘Power to the People’ propaganda campaign,” he said. Waithe said the public debate on constitution reform was healthy and his organisation hoped it would continue.
He said the contentious bill must be withdrawn by the Government; rejected by the Independent Senators (like the Soldier Bill) and it should be sent to a joint select committee which must be chaired by an independent senator and mandated to traverse all of T&T to engage in truly meaningful consultation. “We maintain that the most urgent business for all 41 MPs is to bring, pass and enact legislation that governs party financing, campaign financing and procurement ahead of the next general election.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s brazen attempt to violate our vote must not be tolerated,” said Waithe. The NGO staged a vigil yesterday outside the Parliament. It was expected to begin at 6 pm with those attending expected to air their views on the bill. However, up to well over the time, no crowd had gathered. But Waithe said the vigil will continue until whenever the runoff is stopped tomorrow.
He told the T&T Guardian the vigil was an extension of the NGO’s public protesting which began on August 9 outside the Prime Minister’s residence in Philippine. The group was also expected to be joined by the Tertiary Students Union of T&T (TSUTT), which made a call on its Facebook page earlier in the day for young people to come out in their numbers to join the vigil. When interviewed, one of TSUTT’s directors, Stephen Matheson, said it was the group’s mandate to do all in its power to stop this bill from being proclaimed.
TSUTT raised concerns on the process in which the bill should have been introduced and the wrongful manner in which it was. “What the Government has done is, in short, trickery,” said Matheson. He added: “The run-off section of the bill in particular is what disturbed the group. In close examination of the bill, this section should not have been allowed to be passed with just a simple majority. And we also feel that consultation should have been island wide, especially because of this section of the bill.”
TSUTT is made up of various tertiary institutions, including the Hugh Wooding Law School, School of Business and Computer Science (SBCS), T&T Hospitality and Tourism Institute (TTHTI) and Cipriani Labour of College and Corporative Studies.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-08- ... nts-reform
pete wrote:LOL @ them demanding campaign financing reform now.
rabiesebola wrote:its obvious d pp paid for the results of dat dumb poll. some ppl just DUMB yes.
De Dragon wrote:rabiesebola wrote:its obvious d pp paid for the results of dat dumb poll. some ppl just DUMB yes.
I love how people attribute negative qualities to others without a shred of evidence.
De Dragon wrote:rabiesebola wrote:its obvious d pp paid for the results of dat dumb poll. some ppl just DUMB yes.
I love how people attribute negative qualities to others without a shred of evidence.
RASC wrote:Can this guy finally be banned please. This guy does not represent the PNM in any way, leave the racism, name calling and generalization for the sheepp members party only please. Thanks!
K74T wrote:Wheareas PP is known for straightforwardly showing their racism.![]()
Axe the Praks
Ramadhar targeted at COP runoff forum
Kalifa Clyne
Published:
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Hours before Senators were set to debate the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2014 in the upper House today, a small group of Congress of the People (COP) members placed an “X” over the party’s logos on their t-shirts and raised placards to protest the runoff provision of the bill. The protest took place during a panel discussion on the bill at the Himalaya Club in Barataria, when four members of the COP left their seats to retrieve placards that were in opposition to the runoff position.
The placards bore statements like “Axe the Praks,” “Senators must say no to runoff,” “Run-off a dagger in the heart of the COP,” “Prakash the Betrayer” and “Senators ‘do so’ to the Run Off.” The protest group was led by Rudolph Hanamji. The protest, which was mostly silent, began during a presentation by Barbadian political analyst Peter Wickham, after he described Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the only Caribbean leader sitting who was willing to give up power.
He said, however, that is was unfortunate that T&T was having the discussion of constitutional reform in the context of one party versus another. “T&T has sacrificed the opportunity to have an adult conversation on constitutional change,” Wickham said. Wickham’s comments followed a tone of positive views on the bill, which was only directly opposed by veteran journalist Sunity Maharaj.
Maharaj, who made it clear she did not support the popular view of the panel, said she could not support any legislation which did not stem from proper process. Noting that the runoff provision was added to the bill without consultation, Maharaj said she was in complete opposition of the bill. She added that as the COP’s general council had taken a position to have the debate of the bill delayed the day before it was debate in the lower House, the party’s leader Prakash Ramadhar had gone rogue.
“How can you talk about the COP having power when this bill was not even discussed with the COP before it was voted upon? Maharaj asked. “When the COP can give an instruction to its leader and for all I see, the COP’s leader has gone rogue.” Maharaj said the conscience vote allowed by Persad-Bissessar could not explain Ramadhar’s vote. “The conscience vote did not release the leader of the COP from the instructions his party gave him,” she said.
She said while Government was sending a message of giving power to the people, this could not be done with a flawed process. “You cannot plant autocracy and preach democracy.” Indira Rampersad, a lecturer at the University of the West Indies, said the bill allowed for even the prime minister to be recalled and said it would lead to people-centred government.
She said while there had been calls for proportional representation, this was not always the best formula and gave the example of a hung Parliament in Guyana as a result of that system.Rampersad also expressed fear that if constitutional reform did not happen now, it would never happen. This was negatively received by members of the crowd who vociferously asked for evidence to support this.
The runoff provision facilitates a second election if no candidate is able to garner more than 50 per cent of votes in an initial election. Only the two parties with the most votes will be eligible to run in second election to be held within 15 days of the general election. But several sectors of the public have spoken out against this measure, saying it was not discussed during the public forums on constitutional reform.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-08-26/axe-praks
RASC wrote:I wouldn't say so at all.
Meetings have every shade, creed, religion and ethnicity.
I've never heard in person racist tones or utterances either- may be all this is done in secret behind my back furthermore, I actually am closer to more East Indian PNM members.
So your reality and what I see from the inside is so far from what youre saying here-that's probably why I laugh so much and don't take y'all on. This has become a comedy fest. Nothing serious has been discussed as yet.
RASC wrote:If I were a casual observer and re-reader of this thread. I would automatically think the UNC is more racist.
The avatars the two UNC supporters have up. Their tone. The constant race baiting.
No pro-PNM person on this forum-excrpt for the newbie who I'm asking to be banned has CONSISTANTLY brought up race. Seems to me only yourself and UML live in this racial world.
Why are y'all the only two talking about it?
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