Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said on Monday she is committed to the concept of separation of powers.
She made the point at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament to mark the 50th anniversary of Bicameralism in Trinidad and Tobago, which was held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA).
She said her Government is "committed to the principle of good governance and to the full participation of the people in the democratic process" adding that in that respect she would continue to strengthen existing institutions to make them more responsive to the needs of the people.
"Yet, even as we seek to modernise and strengthen Parliament, we must recognise and respect the separation of powers,” she declared as she commended Chief Justice Ivor Archie for always standing in defence of the Judiciary.
“He guards his house very jealously and I commend him for that...The separation of powers is very, very important and we must never, never attempt to trespass upon the domain of any one of the estates—the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary,” Persad-Bissessar stated.
She added that Parliament must be "accountable, accessible, transparent, truly representative of the diverse needs of our people and moreover we must be effective.
"As parliamentarians, we must develop and implement effective and efficient policies and laws for resolving issues to the benefit of all citizens."
Persad-Bissessar said the members who sit in the country's legislature "must accept the responsibility to turn Parliament into the most operational instrument of responsive, accountable and transparent governance and representative legislation."
She also recognised some of the persons who played a part in the development of the nation.
"In this regard we owe a debt of gratitude to the likes of Sir Ellis Clarke, Lionel Seukeran, Rudranath Capildeo, Arnold Thomasos, J Hamilton-Maurice, Dr Wahid Ali, Sir Solomon Hochoy and of course,the father of our Nation Eric Eustace Williams.
"Their spirits are here with us today because they have not only contributed to the development of our constitutional arrangements, but by their examples have made a lie of the belief that sound and mature governance does not reside in small insignificant ex colonies.
"My Government remains committed to the principle of good governance and moreso to the full participation of the people of this Nation in the democratic process.
"Our policy will continue to be the restructuring of government delivery systems and the strengthening of existing Institutions to make government more responsive to the needs of the people."
(Click here to read the PM's full speech)
In his address Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley suggested that too many senators are in the Cabinet and said now is an appropriate time to consider constitutional reform.
President Max Richards noted what he said are flaws in the constitution, which allows an 18-year-old to act as President and, consequently, titular Head of the Parliament.
“Qualifications regarding age also give pause for thought,” he said. He said he meant no disrespect to the youth but asked whether "the culture of our people permit us to receive such a situation without ridicule?”
Several current and former Members of Parliament received awards for their contributions over the years.
Persad-Bissessar presented former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday with an award.
The president presented awards to his immediate predecessor, Arthur NR Robinson, and Leader of the Opposition Dr Keith Rowley.
Former PM Patrick Manning did not attend the event.
She made the point at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament to mark the 50th anniversary of Bicameralism in Trinidad and Tobago, which was held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA).
She said her Government is "committed to the principle of good governance and to the full participation of the people in the democratic process" adding that in that respect she would continue to strengthen existing institutions to make them more responsive to the needs of the people.
"Yet, even as we seek to modernise and strengthen Parliament, we must recognise and respect the separation of powers,” she declared as she commended Chief Justice Ivor Archie for always standing in defence of the Judiciary.
“He guards his house very jealously and I commend him for that...The separation of powers is very, very important and we must never, never attempt to trespass upon the domain of any one of the estates—the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary,” Persad-Bissessar stated.
She added that Parliament must be "accountable, accessible, transparent, truly representative of the diverse needs of our people and moreover we must be effective.
"As parliamentarians, we must develop and implement effective and efficient policies and laws for resolving issues to the benefit of all citizens."
Persad-Bissessar said the members who sit in the country's legislature "must accept the responsibility to turn Parliament into the most operational instrument of responsive, accountable and transparent governance and representative legislation."
She also recognised some of the persons who played a part in the development of the nation.
"In this regard we owe a debt of gratitude to the likes of Sir Ellis Clarke, Lionel Seukeran, Rudranath Capildeo, Arnold Thomasos, J Hamilton-Maurice, Dr Wahid Ali, Sir Solomon Hochoy and of course,the father of our Nation Eric Eustace Williams.
"Their spirits are here with us today because they have not only contributed to the development of our constitutional arrangements, but by their examples have made a lie of the belief that sound and mature governance does not reside in small insignificant ex colonies.
"My Government remains committed to the principle of good governance and moreso to the full participation of the people of this Nation in the democratic process.
"Our policy will continue to be the restructuring of government delivery systems and the strengthening of existing Institutions to make government more responsive to the needs of the people."
(Click here to read the PM's full speech)
In his address Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley suggested that too many senators are in the Cabinet and said now is an appropriate time to consider constitutional reform.
President Max Richards noted what he said are flaws in the constitution, which allows an 18-year-old to act as President and, consequently, titular Head of the Parliament.
“Qualifications regarding age also give pause for thought,” he said. He said he meant no disrespect to the youth but asked whether "the culture of our people permit us to receive such a situation without ridicule?”
Several current and former Members of Parliament received awards for their contributions over the years.
Persad-Bissessar presented former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday with an award.
The president presented awards to his immediate predecessor, Arthur NR Robinson, and Leader of the Opposition Dr Keith Rowley.
Former PM Patrick Manning did not attend the event.
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