c ss Issue 04 ... June - September 2015 Contents The Parliament's Maces 3 The Election Process 5 The Constituency Office & Representation: 8 o 'AbadiejO'Meara A New Chapter for the Red House 10 And National History Visits by Parliamentary Delegations from: 13 Bermuda, The United Kingdom 0-- Canada Our Region, Our Parliaments: 16 5t. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana School Outreach: Taking the Parliament to the nation's youths 19 Here's What's Showing on the Parliament Channel 22 We welcome your comments and suggestions Send CrossTalk feedback to [email protected] or Tel: 624-7275 ext. 2275 2 Issue 04· .. June - September 2015 ~ THE PARLIAMENT'S MACES By Lorraine Berahzer & Danielle Williams The Trinidad and Tobago Parliament is steeped in rich history that embeds almost During the 13005 to 14005 the every symbol, rule and procedure. Two beau­ mace gradually evolved by tiful pieces of that history take shape in the form of the Parliament Maces. being decorated and adorned Originally used as a weapon by a royal bodyguard to defend the King, the mace has with precious metals and be­ now become a symbol of the power the Mar­ came known as the civic mace. shal of the Parliament holds. It also symbolises the authority and privileges of the House. It is interesting to note that this metal staff, which is held over the right shoulder of the Marshal when he escorts the Presiding Officer in and out of the Chamber at the beginning and end of each sitting of the respective House, originated in the 13th century. After some years the mace proved to be too heavy to be used as a weapon and so began its transformation from being a weapon to being a ceremonial artefact. Parliamentary practice dictates that if the mace is not present in the Chamber then the sit­ ting of the House or Senate cannot take place. The Marshal, or a person performing the role in his absence, is the only one authorised to handle the mace. Anything contrary is viewed as wilful disobedience to the rules of the House. 3 c ss Issue 04 ... June - September 2015 During the 1300s to 1400s the mace gradually evolved by being decorated and adorned with precious metals and became known as the civic mace. In the Parliament, while the uses and func­ tions of the maces may be the same, they are both individually styled. The Mace of the House of Repre­ sentatives, crafted in 1899 by Silversmith Messrs Garrett of England, is silver gilt and has a two-dimensional silver carv­ ing of the Coat-of-Arms to the top. Its head is ornamented with carved mo­ tifs depicting the landing of Christopher Columbus. Although it was donated to the Leg­ islative Council, when Trinidad and To­ bago achieved Independence in 1962 it found its place in the House of Repre­ sentatives. This made room for the crea­ tion of a second Mace for the Senate. While it may not bear the same historical significance of its silver counterpart, the relevance of the Senate mace is unde­ niable. Loosely patterned around the Tanza­ nian Mace, the mace of the Senate of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is crafted in gold and features two cop­ ies of the Coat-of-Arms, a three dimen­ Today th e mace is used in many sional figurine at the top and an engrav­ ing of the national emblem on its knop. Parl iaments across the world Four round panels along the stem of the a nd bears much sig nificance as mace depict the oil industry, the sugar it did in the olden days. Wh ile industry, the cocoa industry and the symbol of the manufacturer's associa­ the Marshals, Speakers of th e tion. House and Presidents of the At the top of the base of the Shaft Senate may change, th e there appears the National Flower; the Chaconia and another popular flower; symbol of that a uthority, the the Anthurium Lily. The Fleuron or end sign that Parliament is in Se ss ion, of the Mace is in the shape of a cocoa remains th e sa me. pod. 4 Issue 04· .. June - September 2015 ~ THE ELECT ON PROCESS By A tiba Wiltshire At any time between now and September 17th a date will be announced for general elections and citizens of Trinidad and Tobago who are over the age of eighteen (18) will be called upon to exercise their civic duty and vote for the political party which, in their view, would best lead this nation for the next five years. Sensing the inevitability of having to be on the political hustings once again, the ma­ jor political parties have already begun screening candidates to represent them in the forty one (41) constituencies through­ out our twin-island state. As such, we at CrossTalk wanted to inform our readers (some of whom may themselves be con­ sidering running for political office) of the processes that come into play in running for elections, participating in the election process through voting and the role the Parliament plays during this period. 5 c ss Issue 04 ... June - September 2015 How the process begins: On Nomination Day all nomination The Prime Minister advises the Presi­ papers are examined by the Return­ dent of the Republic of Trinidad and ing Officer and, once they are valid Tobago of the date on which the and a deposit is paid ($5,000 due on General Election is to be held. Nomination Day for General Elections Once the date for the general and $2,000 for Local Government election is announced, a Writ of Elec­ Elections), the nominee is declared an tion is issued under the seal of the Pres­ election candidate for the respective u ident. The Writ of Election is addressed constituency. to each Returning Officer and fixes The Representation of the People the date for the nomination of candi­ Act Chap 2:01 explains in detail the o dates (Nomination Day) and the date processes that must be followed in the on which the poll will be held (Election run-up to an election and also con­ 0::: Day). tains copies of all official documents Election Day must be held no more issued during an election, including c.. than twenty one (21) days after Nomi­ copies of Nomination Papers and the nation Day. For example, if Nomina­ Writ of Elections issued by the Presi­ tion Day is June 1st then Election Day dent of the Republic. must be held by June 22nd. Z For the Voter: For the Candidate: Prior to Election Day, each regis­ Any person who wishes to be a tered voter should receive a poll card o candidate for an election must first in the mail. The poll card would con­ be nominated by at least six (6) reg­ tain, among other things, the address istered voters in that constituency, of the voter's polling station. If he orshe meaning that their names must ap­ does not receive a poll card before pear on the list of voters in the con­ Election Day, one will be prepared for b stituency for which the candidate is him or herat the respective polling sta­ UJ seeking nomination. An election can­ tion and the Elections and Boundaries didate can only be nominated in one Commission can be contacted via ....J constituency. their hotlines at 627-1516 or 627-0745 Candidacy hopefuls for an elec­ to find out the address of the polling UJ toral district must fill out the respective station. On Election Day voters need nomination papers which they can to present their photo ID (whether Na­ collect and return to the Returning tionallD or Driver's License) when they Officer (the person who has overall go to the polling station. In the event responsibility for the conduct of the that more than one polling station is election) on or before Nomination located on the same compound, an Day. There are forty one (41) returning Information Officer will be on hand to officers, each of whom has an office direct them to their polling station. in his respective constituency in Trini­ If a voter's name is on the list of dad and Tobago. Electors and they have a valid ID It is advisable for prospective can­ card, he or she would be asked to join didates to return their nomination the green line for voting at the poll­ papers at least seven days before ing station. If not or if that individual is Nomination Day. This is because a pre­ physically handicapped or visually im­ liminary examination of filed papers is paired, they would be asked to join the conducted on the seventh day prior red line. Each voterwould be asked to to Nomination Day. sign their poll card in front of the Poll 6 Clerk. The Deputy Presiding vise the President of the date tional emergency should arise Officer would then examine that Parliament should be dis­ between the date that Par­ the voter's fingers and, if there solved and the date on which liament is dissolved and the is no evidence of electoral the poll will be taken. Accord­ date of election in which the ink stains, the voter would re­ ing to Section 69: 1 of the Con­ involvement of the Parlia ment ceive a ballot paper. The bal­ stitution "A general election of would be needed? Well, ac­ lot paper should be marked members of the House of cording to Section 68:4 of the and folded, with the use of a Representatives shall be Constitution, if such a situation, guidance ballot, to display the held at such time within three on the advice of the Prime initials of the Deputy Presiding months after every dissolution Minister should arise, "the Pres­ Officer and the Polling Station of Parliament as the President, ident, acting in accordance Number.