Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, has extended greetings to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago as the country marks its 49th year as a Republic.
In her message to the nation, she reflected on the early years of Trinidad and Tobago’s Republican status, noting that the then Government declared September 24th as Republic Day “which coincidentally was the 20th anniversary of the PNM’s first election victory in 1956.”
Mrs. Persad-Bissessar stated that as a Constitutional Republic, democratic principles, including the institution of checks and balances on the government and the protection of constitutional rights for individuals and minorities, should have been firmly established in the nation’s foundation. However, she lamented that this vision was not realised.
“The Republican Constitution that was imposed on citizens was highly flawed. It was passed when there was no elected Opposition, due to the “No Vote” campaign of 1971, after the Black Power uprising. In 1972, former Prime Minister Eric Williams appointed Sir Hugh Wooding to head a Constitution Commission. The Wooding Commission created a widely respected Constitution, which made progressive changes to our system of government. These changes included a fairer electoral system with proportional representation, an end to the unelected Senate creating a single-chamber National Assembly, a President widely elected by members of the National Assembly, City, Borough and County Councils, and many other innovations. Williams rejected the Wooding Commission report and imposed the 1976 Republican Constitution which gave the Prime Minister slightly more power than before, and made “independent” institutions a sham, as they were appointed by the President, who became a creature of the ruling party.”
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar went on to list major reforms implemented under United National Congress (UNC) administrations, aimed at strengthening Trinidad and Tobago’s democracy and making government more open, fair, and accountable to the people.
“The UNC Government of 1995–2000 advanced the Freedom of Information Act, Judicial Review Act, and Equal Opportunity Act. During my first tenure as Prime Minister (2010–2015), we modernised Parliament with Prime Minister’s Questions, introduced Proportional Representation in Local Government, enacted landmark Procurement legislation, and advanced measures for fairer resource distribution. Each of these initiatives upheld one principle: democracy must empower all our people.”
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of restoring the independence of State institutions to ensure a just and equitable future.
“Today, we look forward and recognise that the independence of our State institutions must be renewed to drive fairness, accountability, and progress so future generations can inherit a Republic defined by freedom and equal opportunity for all citizens.”
* See Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Message on the occastion of the 49th Anniversary of Republic Day below:
On this Republic Day, I extend warmest greetings to every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. Forty-nine years ago, on 1st August 1976 Trinidad and Tobago became a Constitutional Republic. The then Government declared 24 September 1976 as Republic Day which coincidentally was the 20th anniversary of the PNM’s first election victory in 1956.
Republicanism is a form of government that is more than just a democracy. A Constitutional Republic, in addition to honouring democratic principles, institutes checks and balances on the government, to limit power and protect the constitutional rights of individuals and minorities.
In 1976, when Trinidad and Tobago replaced the British monarch with our own President, our new Republican Constitution should have established checks and balances and created independent institutions to protect rights and ensure that governance served citizens, not partisan interests.
However, the Republican Constitution that was imposed on citizens was highly flawed. It was passed when there was no elected Opposition, due to the “No Vote” campaign of 1971, after the Black Power uprising. In 1972, former Prime Minister Eric Williams appointed Sir Hugh Wooding to head a Constitution Commission.
The Wooding Commission created a widely respected Constitution, which made progressive changes to our system of government. These changes included a fairer electoral system with proportional representation, an end to the unelected Senate creating a single-chamber National Assembly, a President widely elected by members of the National Assembly, City, Borough and County Councils, and many other innovations.
Williams rejected the Wooding Commission report and imposed the 1976 Republican Constitution which gave the Prime Minister slightly more power than before, and made “independent” institutions a sham, as they were appointed by the President, who became a creature of the ruling party.
Since then, efforts have been made to reform and strengthen our Republic. The UNC Government of 1995–2000 advanced the Freedom of Information Act, Judicial Review Act, and Equal Opportunity Act. During my first tenure as Prime Minister (2010–2015), we modernised Parliament with Prime Minister’s Questions, introduced Proportional Representation in Local Government, enacted landmark Procurement legislation, and advanced measures for fairer resource distribution. Each of these initiatives upheld one principle: democracy must empower all our people.
Today, we look forward and recognize that the independence of our state institutions must be renewed to drive fairness, accountability, and progress so future generations can inherit a Republic defined by freedom and equal opportunity for all citizens.
Happy Republic Day, Trinidad and Tobago. May God always bless our great nation.