Hot Like Pepper - COP unveils some of its 'new politics' - Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago : COP unveils some of its 'new politics'

2007/9/26 19:20:00

The Congress of the People (COP) on Tuesday unveiled what it calls a new paradigm towards changing the culture of governance in Trinidad and Tobago. COP Political Leader Winston Dookeran told reporters its highlight is equity, participation, transparency and accountability (EPTA).

Winston Dookeran, Leader of the COP. Dookeran says his 'New Politics' implies "a new perspective on both what has gone before and what is to be created in the future."

Dookeran said the absence of any one of the elements of EPTA "might help account for the disappointing impact of some critically important development areas such as health and education and the fight to eradicate poverty in our rich society."

The MP for St Augustine said his "New Politics" implies, "a new perspective on both what has gone before and what is to be created in the future".

He added, "It does not imply merely change for the sake of change, although there seems to be a tradition that each new Government throws out the program and plans of the previous administration at a great cost to taxpayers."

He said he believes that change merely to be different is irresponsible as too costly. He said all the programs his party will put in place in government have been written after "tedious and serious consultations with the national populace."

Dookeran said that a COP government will expand the Senate to oversee any parliamentary oversight of the executive which is a foundation pillar of the Westminster Model, but is now deliberately excluded from our parliamentary system.

He said the mechanisms would be the allocation of Senate seats to groups representing civil society and the legitimate interests of citizens, allocation of Senate seats to representatives of political parties on the basis of an agreed percentage of the popular votes cast.

Such a change will require a special constitutional majority since the structure and functions of the Senate are protected in the Republican Constitution, which caters for 31 appointed senators – 16 by the party in office, six by the official opposition and the remaining nine by the President, acting independently.

Dookeran also promised a fully functional Joint Select Oversight Committee for Local Government allocations and operations and for monitoring political party financing and operations.

His plan includes a recall mechanism for constituents to make their elected representatives accountable.

He envisages the transfer to local government the decision-making authority and resources within national policy guidelines in the areas of community development, housing, social welfare, sports, planning and development, education and health.

Dookeran said keeping communities dependent on handouts from "race-based national parties remains irresistible to both the PNM and the UNC."

He said top-heavy central bureaucracy and political control has led to the stagnation of communities and regions, the frustration of citizens, and confusion in the roles of national and local elected representatives.

He charged that most resources allocated centrally under many different program budgets fail to make a significant difference to the proposed target groups.