Not for the first time, the Independent Senators, placed in the Senate by the President to allow conscience, research and clear thinking to guide their contributions and reach above partisan political behaviour and in the interest of the country, stand in the gap. This time only one Independent needs to vote with the Government to have the Constitution Amendment Bill, passed in the House of Representatives by a simple majority on Tuesday morning, become law.
And that is the assessment of the numbers game of the Government. Among the factors that are already in the public domain on the bill are claims by the Government that the bill will enhance the democracy by giving electors the right to recall non-performing constituency representatives, that the two-term limitation on a prime minister will avoid a tendency towards dictatorship by an individual too long in office.
But the most controversial element of the bill is the requirement for a runoff poll when an MP is elected without a 50 per cent majority in the existing first-past-the-post system.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/digital/new-members