Mr President, we can never forget your inaugural address, especially that part in which you said that you had powers we did not know of.However, there is one power which we all know that you have. That is the power to say "No." No constitution, no law, or anything (except perhaps self-interest) could force you to sign a piece of legislation into law, if you do not want to.
Your predecessor, Mr ANR Robinson, refused to insult the citizens of this country by swearing in as ministers, candidates who lost in the general election, as proposed by then Prime Minister Basdeo Panday. As we say here: "That is man." Your legacy, Mr President, must say that of you.Mr President, you must not sign into law the Cybercrime Bill. It will further erode our democracy and entrench the police state which T&T has become under the Persad-Bissessar regime. Remember, Mr President, it is not us, but you also.
Your children and grandchildren will not enjoy the freedom you have. Imagine if the Cybercrime Bill were law, the people may have been denied the opportunity of viewing the horror bestseller "E-mailgate." Also the box office smash hit, comedy and mystery: "Room 201" may have been banned.
Next, Your Excellency, show your selflessness, your fairness, your patriotism of putting country before self by refusing to sign into law two bills–The Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) Bill, and The Judges' Salaries and Pensions (Amendment) Bill. These are the most obscene, self-serving and obnoxious pieces of legislation, second only to the notorious Clause 34.
The people we put to run our affairs are only interested in embellishing themselves, families and friends, and the devil take the rest. Shame on the Opposition for supporting this lawful theft.There are many aging retirees, such as school principals and senior public servants, who are forced to live on starvation pensions. Some of these principals taught doctors, lawyers, judges, engineers, and politicians. Perhaps even you, too, Mr President, were taught by one.
Let us now ask the legislators: how were these increases arrived at? What were the criteria used? Was any consideration given to prevailing market rates or historical precedents?Most importantly, who did the assessment? How could the Salaries Review Commission (SRC) be shoved aside? Perhaps it is time to have a Pensions Review Commission.
Mr President, only sign those bills if you are given the assurance that by August 2014, all government retirees, or their beneficiaries, will also be given substantial increases in terminal benefits. They all have to live, and not only judges. Our lord Jesus Christ had some very frightening words to say to those who took advantage of the widows and orphans, gave short weights, and extracted more than was necessary from the citizenry.
Hilton Charles
via e-mail