The government's decision to attach the heretofore undiscussed runoff poll policy to the already accepted term limits, fixed election dates and recall legislations undermines democracy, stifles choice and limits our political development past the two major political parties and should be rejected, but not for the kneejerk responses of the opposition, but rather because we have not had the opportunity to adequately weigh the pros and cons as to the implications of such a move for T&T on a national level.
I put to the national community that in my view the best course of action at this point is for us to go ahead with the already accepted trio of amendments and to put a hold on this runoff policy idea until we can properly discuss and examine it against other, possibly less stifling alternatives.
Once again, this is not about politics, but about calm and deliberate governance through development policies that takes the best interest of the widest cross-section of our national community into account.Kudos to the People's Partnership Government for holding to the promise to bring these much needed reforms to our Constitution, and thanking them in advance for seeing the wisdom in restraint where others might be tempted to push through regardless of public opinion.
Phillip Edward Alexander