PNMs see Green Paper as political campaign

The THA’s concerns, about the central government’s disregard of the views and recommendations on the critical issue of internal self-government, came up at the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) general council meeting yesterday. London in addressing the media at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, said the decision by the AG to ignore two bills the THA had submitted on behalf of the people of Tobago was “insulting”.

The bills, representing the views and recommendations of the people of Tobago, were approved by the THA and transmitted to PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the AG and Cabinet last December. PNM’s political leader Dr Keith Rowley said what the AG’s position represented was the crafting of a political campaign to suit the government in Tobago.

 Stating that the PNM was expecting to be challenged at the THA’s 2013 election by the Government, Rowley said the AG’s Green Paper was doomed to fail. “But they hope it will succeed as an election campaign vehicle. The AG has created a parallel process without the kinds of consultative machinery that went into the THA bills.”

Rowley described the Green Paper as “counterfeit and short of process.” Rowley said the PNM was on standby to settle this matter to give Tobagonians what they want. Party’s vice chairman, Camille Robinson-Regis, pointed out that whichever document comes to the Parliament, there will be a major constitutional change.

“So that the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago will have to be changed by the law and by the Parliament. There would also be a change in the THA law.” Robinson-Regis said that will be significant because the Government did not have the majority to make the constitutional change.