Statement of The Political Leader
Of
The Congress of the People
on Recent Developments Affecting the People's Partnership Coalition of Parties
and Government
Dear Members of the Media, Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, it is important for us to set into context and clarify developments relative to the governance and the political agenda of the People's Partnership.
The day of the coalition politics is here.
The COP is committed to working for redefinition of the political and governance arrangements to meet this new reality.
There will be no return to the old governance based on maximum leadership by decree. To this, the COP is deeply committed. I want to make this clear. The COP cannot lose if the country gains.
What we have witnessed, sadly, in relation to these developments is that some persons for purposes best known to themselves, but, which, in our estimation, are motivated by a deeply sinister desire to encourage the demise of the People's Partnership have sought to vilify and distort these simple positions of the COP in the most disgraceful manner.
Distortion, deliberate misrepresentation, attempts to reduce matters of principle and deep and weighty significance to personality clashes and assassination of the leader of the COP ensued have been their activity.
In light of all the distortions and attempts to foment an atmosphere of antagonism in the hope of damaging, if not defeating entirely, the People's Partnership and the credibility of the COP and its Political Leader, in particular, it is necessary for me to state the following in language that is clear, cogent and compelling (as we say in the Courts) so as to put an end to the wicked attempts at division against us:
1. The COP continues to hold that the matter of a breach of agreement among the partners of the Partnership is a matter for corrective action by those responsible for that breach and is not a matter for negotiation.
2. The COP continues to hold that, based on the guidance of the 2010 Manifesto, the matter of the final Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago is a matter for referendum among the people of Trinidad and Tobago who are sovereign.
3. The COP never decided or stated that as a result of the breach of agreement which I referred to at 1. above or for any reason existing, that the COP was leaving the People's Partnership or any of its elected representatives was leaving the Cabinet or Government of Parliament.
4. The position which we have always articulated is that COP is an independent politicial party which will take and articulate independent positions on policy matters. We maintain this position. For information, this principle was acknowledged and agreed by Cabinet this week.
5. Further, the Cabinet agreed that no policy would be announced before it is discussed in and a decision taken by the Cabinet. To announce policy outside of Cabinet, and without the benefit of discussion by all, would be to undermine the collective responsibility. This is an important step forward.
6. The Political Leader of the COP was not fired or resigned, nor was anything done to bring about his firing or resignation from any position within the People's Partnership Government
7. The Cabinet meeting of Wednesday of this week was for the purposes of furthering the work of the Government.
8. The COP confirms therefore that all Cabinet members continue to bear collective Cabinet responsibility.
9. The COP will in that context continue to be guided by pillar 6 of the 2010 Manifesto titled "Good Governance and People Participation" which promised "a consultation, participation and consensus-building". (pg 8)
10. For all citizens who have put their trust in the Congress of the People, I renew our pledge to you that the COP will do everything, always in consultation and discussion with you, to ensure that your Government remains faithful to the goals with which you agreed in 2010.
In December of last year, we made another attempt to fix this situation. It is our view that the people of T&T deserve no less.
Recent events and the discussions which have followed in the Government and amongst the partners have set the platform for a rebalancing of the relationship amongst the partners in the interest of the citizens.
We expect that going forward, partners would be more respectful of one another; that there would be even more meaningful consultation on policy matters and; that the structures required to deliver more effectively and equitably to the population will be strengthened.
I thank you.
Prakash Ramadhar
Political Leader
Congress of the People
Today, it is important for us to set into context and clarify developments relative to the governance and the political agenda of the People's Partnership.
The day of the coalition politics is here.
The COP is committed to working for redefinition of the political and governance arrangements to meet this new reality.
There will be no return to the old governance based on maximum leadership by decree. To this, the COP is deeply committed. I want to make this clear. The COP cannot lose if the country gains.
What we have witnessed, sadly, in relation to these developments is that some persons for purposes best known to themselves, but, which, in our estimation, are motivated by a deeply sinister desire to encourage the demise of the People's Partnership have sought to vilify and distort these simple positions of the COP in the most disgraceful manner.
Distortion, deliberate misrepresentation, attempts to reduce matters of principle and deep and weighty significance to personality clashes and assassination of the leader of the COP ensued have been their activity.
In light of all the distortions and attempts to foment an atmosphere of antagonism in the hope of damaging, if not defeating entirely, the People's Partnership and the credibility of the COP and its Political Leader, in particular, it is necessary for me to state the following in language that is clear, cogent and compelling (as we say in the Courts) so as to put an end to the wicked attempts at division against us:
1. The COP continues to hold that the matter of a breach of agreement among the partners of the Partnership is a matter for corrective action by those responsible for that breach and is not a matter for negotiation.
2. The COP continues to hold that, based on the guidance of the 2010 Manifesto, the matter of the final Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago is a matter for referendum among the people of Trinidad and Tobago who are sovereign.
3. The COP never decided or stated that as a result of the breach of agreement which I referred to at 1. above or for any reason existing, that the COP was leaving the People's Partnership or any of its elected representatives was leaving the Cabinet or Government of Parliament.
4. The position which we have always articulated is that COP is an independent politicial party which will take and articulate independent positions on policy matters. We maintain this position. For information, this principle was acknowledged and agreed by Cabinet this week.
5. Further, the Cabinet agreed that no policy would be announced before it is discussed in and a decision taken by the Cabinet. To announce policy outside of Cabinet, and without the benefit of discussion by all, would be to undermine the collective responsibility. This is an important step forward.
6. The Political Leader of the COP was not fired or resigned, nor was anything done to bring about his firing or resignation from any position within the People's Partnership Government
7. The Cabinet meeting of Wednesday of this week was for the purposes of furthering the work of the Government.
8. The COP confirms therefore that all Cabinet members continue to bear collective Cabinet responsibility.
9. The COP will in that context continue to be guided by pillar 6 of the 2010 Manifesto titled "Good Governance and People Participation" which promised "a consultation, participation and consensus-building". (pg 8)
10. For all citizens who have put their trust in the Congress of the People, I renew our pledge to you that the COP will do everything, always in consultation and discussion with you, to ensure that your Government remains faithful to the goals with which you agreed in 2010.
In December of last year, we made another attempt to fix this situation. It is our view that the people of T&T deserve no less.
Recent events and the discussions which have followed in the Government and amongst the partners have set the platform for a rebalancing of the relationship amongst the partners in the interest of the citizens.
We expect that going forward, partners would be more respectful of one another; that there would be even more meaningful consultation on policy matters and; that the structures required to deliver more effectively and equitably to the population will be strengthened.
I thank you.
Prakash Ramadhar
Political Leader
Congress of the People
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