PM Kamla puts Tobago ahead for 2013 - by Paras Ramoutar

Late Dr Rudranath Capildeo

Some 46 years later, following a promise made by then leader of the Opposition, Dr Rudranath Capildeo to give Tobago self-government in his 1966 election manifesto, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has taken up the challenge and she is making it a reality.

This promise was to become a reality if Dr Capildeo and his Democratic Labour Party (DLP) had formed the Government in the November 1966 general election, the first since Independence in 1962.

The recent announcement by Persad-Bissessar that a bill to amend the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution and the Tobago House of Assembly Act to give Tobago self-government within the confines of the unitary state of Trinidad and Tobago will be laid in Parliament early in the new year, demonstrates the Prime Minister’s commitment to treat every section within the geographical perimeter equally and fairly.

There is no doubt that when the bill is passed in both Houses of Parliament, it will not be a recipe for breakaway from the jurisdiction of the State of Trinidad and Tobago. I am sure that such concerns and fears would be properly enshrined in the bill.

Whilst the bill is being debated, it is noteworthy to remind our legislators that they would not traverse the pathway of narrow politics or politricks. 

Our democratic traditions and principles, and sacredness would be even stronger and durable so that political jurisdictions would take a cue from this act of statesmanship on the part of Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar and the People’s Partnership Government.

The contributions of the legislators must not be partisan, but must be philosophical and pragmatic; must be in depth and educational thereby ushering a new mobility and growth for our political heritage.

This Tobago bill will enhance our status as a mature people, and would be a precedent for other nations and societies to emulate. It adds to the dimension of not only our national politics, but towards the urgings of international politics.

Let us say that the year 2013 is the year for the Tobago populace.