Manning, Panday agree to work on Executive Presidency

Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday agreed Tuesday to work together on constitutional reform with a view to establishing an executive president for Trinidad and Tobago.

Both leaders also agreed to continue discussions on the legality of the special anti crime unit of the police service.

Commenting on the talks Manning said the opposition should meet before important legislation is brought to Parliament, and that the opposition should put its suggestions in writing so that the government could study it. He said Panday would give details.

Panday said only that the government cannot pass any constitutional legislation without the opposition support. Manning doesn't have the majority required for constitutional change, so without opposition support there is no chance that he could pass an amendment or a new constitution.

The meeting was arranged last week. Panday told the media that Manning invited him to get together for discussions but on Monday Manning had his own version of events, saying the meeting was Panday's idea.

Both Manning and Panday support constitutional change but have different ideas on how it ought to be done.

They both want an executive president but while Panday is pushing for a president elected by universal adult franchise manning wants a more restrictive vote.

Manning and Panday are also poles apart on the question of electoral reform. The opposition leader wants members of Parliament elected through proportional representation. But Manning has rejected that outright, saying it is a formula for developing ethic and religious voting blocs.

They also differ on judicial reform. Panday refuses to accept the abolition of the Privy council as the country's final court of appeal but Manning is pushing for that responsibility to go to the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Appeal.

Manning also wants a Justice Ministry but Panday has rejected that saying it presents a risk of political influence in the Judiciary, which is independent of the executive in the present constitution.

It's not clear if Manning and Panday will explore discussions on all aspects of the constitution but members of his own party are opposed to the idea of an executive presidency, which they say would create a dictatorship if the Manning plan is implemented.

They say the draft constitution that Manning has been selling to the nation gives the president absolute control over institutions that are independent of the executive and the legislature.

There is speculation that both leaders will make a deal on the presidency to shoe up each other's dwindling support both nationally and within their respective parties.