My intention is not to cast aspersions upon the decision of the three Independent Senators who found it prudent to support the Constitution Amendment Bill, involving significant changes to the supreme law of the land, in particular, the inclusion of the highly controversial runoff amendment which debilitates our well-established first past the post electoral system.
It is my intention, however, to highlight the total disregard for the prevailing sentiment of the citizens of T&T, that these proposals which were hastily tabled and shrouded in secrecy, at a minimum, demanded proper consultation with "we the people" who are directly affected by such proposals.
Underpinning the sense of unease, is the very public rejection of the runoff proposal expressed by no less than two of the commissioners who were intimately involved in the Constitution Reform consultation process, and who maintain they were never privy to this critical addition.
The passing of the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Upper House demonstrates that the oft used words by the PM, "vox populi, vox Dei," the "voice of the people is the voice of God" in this instance, has been nothing more than a poetical expression.
Luana Lezama,
Trinbagonian