1 Prayers 2016.10.20 SENATE Thursday, October 20, 2016 The Senate met at 1.30 p.m. PRAYERS [MADAM PRESIDENT in the Chair] VACANT SEAT Madam President: Hon. Senators, I have received the following correspondence from His Excellency the President, Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, S.C., O.R.T.T.: “THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO By His Excellency ANTHONY THOMAS AQUINAS CARMONA, O.R.T.T., S.C., President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago /s/ Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona O.R.T.T. S.C. President TO: MR. GERALD HADEED WHEREAS by the provisions of paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section 43 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, is empowered to declare the seat of a Senator to be vacant: NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANTHONY THOMAS AQUINAS CARMONA, President as aforesaid, acting in accordance with the UNREVISED 2 Vacant Seat 2016.10.20 advice of the Leader of the Opposition, in exercise of the power vested in me by the said paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section 43 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, do hereby declare the seat of you, GERALD HADEED, to be vacant, with effect from 20th October, 2016. Given under my Hand and the Seal of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the Office of the President, St. Ann’s, this 20th day of October, 2016.” SENATOR’S APPOINTMENT Madam President: Hon. Senators: “THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO By His Excellency ANTHONY THOMAS AQUINAS CARMONA, O.R.T.T., S.C., President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago /s/ Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona O.R.T.T. S.C. President TO: MR. GERALD RAMDEEN In exercise of the power vested in me by paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 40 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, I, ANTHONY THOMAS AQUINAS CARMONA, President as aforesaid, acting in accordance with the UNREVISED 3 Senator’s Appointment 2016.10.20 advice of the Leader of the Opposition, do hereby appoint you, GERALD RAMDEEN, a Senator, with effect from 20th October, 2016. Given under my Hand and the Seal of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the Office of the President, St. Ann’s, this 20th day of October, 2016.” OATH OF ALLEGIANCE Senator Gerald Ramdeen took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance as required by law. CONDOLENCES (ALLAN ALEXANDER SC) Madam President: Hon. Senators, as you are aware, former Senator, Allan Joseph Alexander SC, passed away on October 01, 2016. I now invite Senators to offer tributes. The Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development (Sen. The Hon. Jennifer Baptiste-Primus): Thank you very much, Madam President. On behalf of the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago, I rise to join the multitudes who, over the past few days, publicly and privately have been paying immeasurable tribute to our deceased distinguished son of the soil, legal luminary, Mr. Allan Alexander, a former Senator of this Honourable Senate. Madam President, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, a member of which I am humbled and privileged to be part, do sincerely and wholeheartedly add our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of our most distinguished brother on the occasion of his recent and regrettable passing. From time to time, I wonder whether civilization does not have it all wrong, Madam President. For UNREVISED 4 Condolences (Allan Alexander SC) 2016.10.20 Sen. The Hon. J. Baptiste Primus (cont’d) some unexplained reason, we honestly and sincerely shower recognition and appreciation of the unquantifiable contribution, which so many of our leaders and exemplars make in creating a better way and a better life for all of us, only after they have passed to the great beyond. We do so at this finite hour when they are not around to savour the well- deserved wealth of accolades, which we so selfishly sometimes stifle within ourselves, deliberately concealed or find opportunistic to withhold from public acclaim for reasons unknown. It is that one real moment of truth, Madam President, when we find difficulties sometimes in restraining ourselves, and come to terms with the dictates of our own consciences. When I reflect upon all that has been said so far about the man, the man that was called Allan Alexander, one description keeps reverberating in my mind, any unadulterated vision of the depth, the height, the latitude, the longitude and the magnitude of the contribution, which Allan Alexander has made in advancing the welfare and well-being of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. The region and the world, at large, could only lead to one conclusion, Allan Alexander was a man among men. Allan Alexander was a great friend of the labour movement of Trinidad and Tobago. Whether it was in his capacity as lawyer or lawmaker, advocate or adversary, moderator or mediator, his knowledge, his wisdom and his understanding flowed effortlessly. Whether he was protesting or protecting, defending or defying, confronting or conciliating, he did so with flare, flavour and finesse. The wealth of his involvement in the affairs of our beloved country knew no boundaries. Whether he was commenting or officiating in the sapphires of economics, law or social endeavour, fighting for the inalienable rights of others, or for freedom and liberation, whether it was in trade unionism or the plight of the UNREVISED 5 Condolences (Allan Alexander SC) 2016.10.20 Sen. The Hon. J. Baptiste Primus (cont’d) poor, the vulnerable or the dispossessed, or for better social and just conditions for his people, or in seeking to revolutionize the way in which we ordered the institutional framework of our multidimensional society, Allan Alexander came, he saw and he conquered our collective hearts. He walked the talk, and was never afraid to confront injustice and those who sought to abuse power and authority over those who were unable to defend themselves. He played leading roles in governance on state boards, in civil society and in his professional bodies, locally, regionally and internationally. His brilliance was surpassed only by his love for his fellow men. I do believe, Madam President, he had the honour of serving not only as an Opposition Senator, but as an Independent Senator of this honourable Senate. His life was endowed with indelible marks of achievement and distinction, which many of our young citizens will do well to emulate. Above all, Allan Alexander was among the few who provided counsel and guidance to those in need, regardless of their status in life. He was a teacher, a leader, a philanthropist and dedicated attorney but, most of all, he stood out as a nationalist and a patriot of no mean dimension. He was to all who were close to him, a genuine and trusted friend. These extraordinary qualities which he possessed and so willingly shared with others would be surely missed, but will always be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to have known him and to have benefited from his God-given talents. Madam President, this is just a minute’s snapshot of this man, among men. We in Trinidad and Tobago owe Allan Alexander an enormous debt of gratitude, which we can best repay by walking in his footsteps having left behind the proud and powerful legacy, so magnificently stamped in the annals of the history of our beloved nation. UNREVISED 6 Condolences (Allan Alexander SC) 2016.10.20 Sen. The Hon. J. Baptiste Primus (cont’d) Madam President, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago wishes to thank his family for having so generously shared him with us. May his soul rest in eternal peace. I thank you. [Desk thumping] Sen. Wade Mark: Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I too, rise to pay tribute to an individual who has carved his name and his contributions to humanity in the hearts and minds of many, whose legacy will forever remain etched on the consciousness of the leadership and membership of many trade unions, both here at home and abroad. His well thought-out contributions in this Senate will forever remain stencilled on the mental sheets of unfolding generations. I speak of a great and extraordinary attorney-at-law, a staunch advocate for social justice, equality, self- determination and self-reliance. What an absolutely remarkable, awesome, extraordinary and outstanding citizen of our great Republic. Of course, he now belongs to the ages. 1.45 p.m. We speak of a former Opposition and Independent Senator, Allan Joseph Alexander SC, who died on Saturday October01, 2016. A father of six, a grandfather of 13 and a great grandfather of eight. The former Independent Senator epitomized all the values, principles and moral standards which the ideal citizen ought to encompass and strive towards internalizing. Allan Alexander served his country selflessly, and anchored all his actions and thoughts in a deep philosophy rooted in social justice, equality and humanity. Madam President, Allan Alexander served as an Opposition Senator in the first Republican Parliament during the period of September 1976 to March of 1978, in the capacity of the Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate representing the United Labour Front, and as an Independent Senator from UNREVISED 7 Condolences (Allan Alexander SC) 2016.10.20 Sen. W. Mark (cont’d) January1987 to November1991, in the Third Republican Parliament. Comrade Allan Alexander contributed richly and immensely to several critical pieces of legislation, inclusive of amendments to the Industrial Relations Act, Integrity in Public Life Act, Constitution (Amdt.) Act, the Dangerous Drugs Act, the Judicial and Legal Service Act, and several appropriation Acts amount a slew of other critical pieces of legislation.