Rowley asks UNC to contribute recommendations on Constitution

Senior Reporter

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has invited the Opposition to contribute its comments to the National Advisory Committee on the Constitution.

He did so at Thursday’s People’s National Movement (PNM) public meeting at the Tropical Angel Harps panyard in Chaguanas.

Rowley told the audience that on Thursday, he received a letter from chairman of the committee, former House speaker Barendra Sinanan.

Government established the committee to formulate the terms of reference for a national consultation on constitution reform. The committee is required to “initiate, consult widely, and guide the national debate” towards the generation of a package of ideas and opinions which can be distilled into a working document. This will become the working document for a Constitution Conference by mid-2024.

Rowley told the PNM gathering, “You’ll get your opportunity too, this is your chance to say what you want to do about the Constitution. For the next six months we’ll deal with that. I, as Prime Minister, will put in my comments, my party will put in its comments and the various entities in T&T also.

“We’ll get a basket of comments and the PNM Government and all those, including the Opposition—take this opportunity to put in your position and your comments. Every comment will be treated with respect and then we as a people will decide what we do after that.”

Rowley said he didn’t want his point of view to dominate, nor would others dominate if it didn’t make sense.

“But together, we could discuss our Constitution in this period. I hope something useful comes out,” he added.

The PNM issued a release yesterday noting that the party will be an active participant with a consolidated opinion in the wider national consultations. It said its in-house team on the Constitution issues meets today with youths, to get their opinion.

The PNM said that at its January General Council, party leader Rowley appointed a ten-member working committee to undertake consultations and to develop the PNM’s position on constitutional reform for T&T. Port-of-Spain South MP Keith Scotland, an attorney, was appointed to head the team.

The PNM’s committee will engage with a wide cross-section of party members via a series of consultations with various arms of the party. Consultations start today with the National Youth League and young citizens. Writer Earl Lovelace will address attendees on the issue of the role of young people and the relevance of the Constitution to the national development. (Ga)