Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is calling on all citizens to take stock of what is going on in parliamentary sittings and to urge all Members of Parliament to represent them properly in the House.
In his Republic Day speech, the PM reminded that these were some of the responsibilities the country accepted responsibility 42 years ago when we attained Republican status.
“I would like to take this opportunity to urge all citizens to demonstrate a keen interest in our Parliamentary proceedings. Persons either elected or appointed to sit here make decisions that have a profound impact on all our lives,” Rowley said.
“Elected officials ought to make representation on your behalf and act in a way that ensures that your individual rights are protected and that the interests of the national community are served. In this vein, the choice of persons who serve in Opposition are as equally important as those who serve in Government.”
Noting that a Republican form of Government is a system where citizens rule through their elected representatives, the PM added, “It is therefore paramount that we are closely attuned to the nature of the general representation we are afforded and more specifically to the way this representation is exercised in the Parliament.”
He pointed out that this was why live coverage of the parliamentary proceedings began in 2006 via a dedicated television channel and online streaming began shortly thereafter.
“This was an important step in ensuring that you are regularly updated on matters of national interest. We cannot hold our leaders to account if we are ignorant to the quality of their representation,” he said.
“A truly Republican state requires the involvement of all us working together to protect and maintain the fundamental human rights and freedoms that have been entrenched in the Constitution.”