Analysts: Politics at play in PNM’s rejection of reform proposals

Senior Reporter

kay-marie.fletcher@guardian.co.tt

Two political analysts believe party politics and maintaining the status quo played a role in the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) rejection of some recommendations for constitutional reform.

The recommendation for proportional representation, fixed dates for elections, as well as, the reformation of sexual orientation rights, were all rejected by the PNM’s Constitution Review Committee during a convention over the weekend.

While questioning why the report was not made accessible to the public, political analysts Dr Bishnu Ragoonath and Dr Shane Mohammed said the rejected recommendations might not serve the party in power, nor were all political parties included in the formation of the recommendations.

Speaking to Guardian Media via telephone yesterday, Ragoonath, who said he was one of the hundreds of people to present suggestions during consultations held by the National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform, said the rejected recommendations by the PNM’s committee would not help political parties win votes.

Ragoonath said, “One of the concerns I have is simply that we are in a country where party politics plays a critical role and for all intents and purposes, parties should want to preserve whatever keeps them in power. And for that reason, for instance, things like proportional representation will not normally get the nod from political parties because that might dilute their capacity to win the number of seats and to hold the number of seats that they currently hold in the Parliament.”

He added, “As to the issue of fixed dates for elections, parties in power would want to have that added advantage to have that date in their back pocket and present it like a thief in the night, so they don’t want to have those kinds of things. And that is why I would presume that the PNM would be totally opposed to that because the PNM is in Government. But, mind you, if they were in opposition they might have been thinking a little bit differently. I expected that the PNM would have rejected those proposals.”

When it comes to reformation of sexual orientation rights, Dr Shane Mohammed said it’s simply a matter of equality for all.

He also said he did not believe the country is mature enough for proportional representation, but supports the idea of fixed dates for elections.

Mohammed said, “As it pertains to fixed dates, yes I believe we should adopt a method like the United States where you have a fixed date of election. So you know what day the election is, that political parties are not keeping other political parties and keeping the country at bay, as it could be today, it could be tomorrow because there’s a secret advantage.”

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