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CHANGING OUR CONSTITUTION A Comparison of the Existing Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago and the Working Document on Constitutional Reform for Public Consultation The University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies CHANGING OUR CONSTITUTION A Comparison of the Existing Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago and the Working Document on Constitutional Reform for Public Consultation By: Dr. Hamid Ghany Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Coordinator, Constitutional Affairs & Parliamentary Studies Unit, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies Jointly published by: The Draft Constitution Secretariat, Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and The Constitutional Affairs and Parliamentary Studies Unit, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies © 2009 Dr. Hamid Ghany Printed in Trinidad and Tobago by: Cassims Commercial Enterprises [email protected] | 868-791-0903 CHANGING OUR CONSTITUTION TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 4 (i) Eric Williams and the Introduction of a Nominated Senate ............................................................ 6 (ii) The Office of Speaker in Trinidad and Tobago ............................................................................... 7 (iii) The Judiciary ................................................................................................................................. 10 (iv) The President ................................................................................................................................. 13 (v) The Westminster-Whitehall Model in Trinidad and Tobago ......................................................... 17 (vi) Notes................................................................................................................................... 21 Part One – Constitutional Controversies and Constitutional Reform ......................................... 23 Part Two – The Working Document on Constitutional Reform for Public Consultation .......... 32 Part Three - Comparison with the Existing Constitution .............................................................. 41 3 CHANGING OUR CONSTITUTION Introduction The island of Trinidad was claimed by Christo- of Paris of 1783. The British captured the island pher Columbus in 1498 on behalf of Spain. The in 1793 during the French and Napoleonic Wars, island was a Spanish colony until its capture by but it was restored to France by the Treaty of Britain from Spain during the French and Napo- Amiens in 1802. However, it was recaptured by leonic Wars in 1797. Formal cession of Trinidad Britain in 1803 and was formally ceded to Britain by Spain to Great Britain was effected by the Treaty by the Treaty of Paris in 1814. 2 of Amiens in 1802. 1 As a consequence of the Trinidad and Tobago Act Columbus sighted Tobago in 1498 however the 1887 3 of the British Parliament, the two colonies island remained unoccupied by any imperial power were joined as one under the authority of an Or- until 1632 when some Dutch colonists tried to der-in-Council made on 17th November, 1888 4 that settle the island but were forced out by came into effect on 1st January, 1889. Amerindians and Spaniards in 1634. This Order-in-Council also made provision for the Two proprietary grants were made by King Charles abolition of the Legislative Council of Tobago. The I for British settlers in respect of Tobago. The first unification of these two British colonies, with was made to the Earl of Pembroke in 1628 and, completely different historical backgrounds, cre- the second, was made to the Duke of Courland ated the need for the British Government to es- (the Dukedom of Courland was a coastal district tablish a single legislature for the twin-island of what is today Latvia and was under British pro- colony and also to ensure the continued operation tection) in 1642. of all laws in force in Trinidad and all laws in force in Tobago. A number of Courlanders settled in the north of the island, while a colony of Dutch settlers estab- This was effected by way of an Order-in-Council lished themselves in the south of the island. The made on 20th October,1898 5 that came into force Courlanders were eventually overpowered by the on 1st January, 1899. This Order-in-Council made Dutch settlers and they remained in possession of Tobago a ward of the colony of Trinidad and To- Tobago until surrendering their rights to the is- bago. It further provided that all laws that were in land in 1662. force in Trinidad on 1st January, 1899 would also extend to Tobago and that all laws that were in In 1664, King Charles II renewed the grant of force in Tobago, at that date, that differed from Charles I that had been made to the Duke of the laws of Trinidad ceased to be in force. The Courland in exchange for the Duke’s surrender of Legislature in Trinidad became the Legislature for his African interests in the River Gambia area to the twin-island colony and all future laws enacted Charles II. In 1681, the Duke of Courland trans- by that legislature would be deemed to extend to ferred his title to a company of London merchants. Tobago. 6 During the American War of Independence, France In this way, the British Government made a po- captured Tobago in 1781 and the formal cession litical and legal decision that would have ramifi- of the island to France was effected by the Treaty cations for the twin-island colony long after its 4 CHANGING OUR CONSTITUTION unification by imperial law. The political, psycho- For the 1956 general elections, the Legislative logical and legal effect of the decisions expressed Council consisted of twenty-four elected members, in the 1899 Order-in-Council continue to mani- five nominated members and two official mem- fest themselves in the post-independence era of bers. In 1961, a bicameral legislature was intro- the twin-island state of Trinidad and Tobago. duced which consisted of twenty-one nominated Senators in a Senate and thirty elected M.P.s in a In 1924, the first major reform towards the intro- House of Representatives. At independence in duction of elected representation into the Legisla- 1962, the Senate was increased to twenty-four and tive Council of Trinidad and Tobago was made in 1966 the House of Representatives was in- under the authority of the Trinidad and Tobago creased to thirty-six M.P.s. (Legislative Council) Order in Council 1924 7 which was subsequently amended in 1928, 1941, In 1976, Trinidad and Tobago became a republic 1942 and 1945 before being revoked and replaced within the Commonwealth and a President re- by a new Order-in-Council that provided for a new placed Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Head Constitution for the colony in 1950. 8 of State, while the Prime Minister remained as Head of Government in a parliamentary system In 1924, the Legislative Council consisted of the of government. It retained its bicameral system Governor (who also presided over its sittings), with a House of Representatives of thirty-six M.P.s twelve official members and thirteen unofficial and an enlarged Senate of thirty-one Senators. In members (of whom six were nominated and seven 2007, the number of seats contested for the House were elected). In 1941, the number of elected of Representatives was increased to forty-one. members was increased to nine and the number of official members stood at three. 9 5 CHANGING OUR CONSTITUTION Eric Williams and the Introduction of a Nominated Senate The advent of the People’s National Movement advice of the leader of the Opposi- (P.N.M.) led by Dr. Eric Williams, who became tion; and the Chief Minister following the 1956 general elec- (c) seven shall be appointed, to represent tions, changed the political landscape of Trinidad religious, economic or social interests and Tobago in relation to the structure of the Leg- in the Territory, by the Governor, act- islature. One year before Williams became Chief ing after consultation with such per- Minister, he embarked on a lecture series through- sons as, in his discretion, he consid- out Trinidad and Tobago in which he publicly pro- ers can speak for those interests and claimed his preference for a bicameral system. ought to be consulted.” 11 Once in office, he opened negotiations with the In 1962, Trinidad and Tobago attained fully re- Colonial Office to bring about such a change and sponsible status within the Commonwealth and after five years of political dialogue, both locally this bicameral system was, in general, retained and with the Colonial Office, Trinidad and Tobago with some modifications to the numbers of Sena- had its legislature changed from a unicameral to a tors with the number appointed on the advice of bicameral system with an elected House of Rep- the Prime Minister being set at thirteen (13) and resentatives and a nominated Senate. the number appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition being set at four (4). The seven In 1961 Trinidad and Tobago was granted a Con- Senators who were previously appointed by the stitution that conferred full internal self-govern- Governor in his discretion were, at independence, ment on the Colony. 10 General elections were held to be appointed by the Governor-General on the in December 1961. The actual provisions in the advice of the Prime Minister after the Prime Min- Constitution mirrored exactly those that had been ister