By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE motion to have President Paula-Mae Weekes removed from office will take precedence over all Parliamentary matters on Thursday.
There will be no debating on the matter but just the voting process that will involve 73 members of the Electoral College – 31 Senators, 41 MPs and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The guidelines for the motion were issued on Tuesday under Section 36 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
It states, “After the motion is proposed and supported, without amendment or debate, the House of Representatives shall be suspended/adjourned for the convening of the Electoral College for the vote on the adoption of the motion in accordance with section 36(1)(c) of the Constitution.”
The voting process
The convening of the Electoral College will be headed by Speaker of the House Brigid Annisette-George as Chairman.
The Clerk will call on each member of the Electoral College to vote. Each member may vote either “yes” or “no”. A member who wishes to abstain from voting shall do so by remaining silent when called upon by name. The Chairman will then announce the result of the vote. The meeting of the Electoral College will be adjourned by resolution. The motion succeeds if it is adopted by the vote of at least two-thirds of the total membership of the Electoral College.
If the motion is adopted by the vote of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the Electoral College, the Speaker shall inform the Chief Justice of the adoption of the motion by the Electoral College. The Speaker will then inform the President of the adoption of the motion by the Electoral College.
If the motion is defeated, the Speaker shall also inform the President.
A motion pursuant to section 36 of the Constitution shall not be proposed again in the same session.
The Constitution
Section 36(1) of the Constitution states, “The President shall be removed from office where a motion that his removal from office should be investigated by a tribunal is proposed in the House of Representatives; the motion states with full particulars the grounds on which his removal from office is proposed, and is signed by not less than one-third of the total membership of the House of Representatives; the motion is adopted by the vote of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the Senate and the House of Representatives assembled together; a tribunal consisting of the Chief Justice and four other Judges appointed by him, being as far as practicable the most senior Judges, investigate the complaint and report on the facts to the House of Representatives; the Senate and the House of Representatives assembled together on the summons of the Speaker consider the report and by resolution supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the Senate and the House of Representatives assembled together declare that he shall be removed from office.”
The motion to have the President removed from Office was filed by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar last Friday.
Major problem.
Let us never forget that all the players are mere REPRESENTATIVES of WE, the PEOPLE and the very word ‘Parliament’ means TALK.
We the PEOPLE are ENTITLED to hear the FACTS and each side points of view. This is critical if, we are TRULY to be involved.
Using one’s majority and a politically elected Speaker to deny the people their RIGHT to hear all sides can Never be correct or Democratic. It May be a cunning move but, we have enough cunning in T&T.
We are now on a slippery slope . It’s the
Same with vaccines. Only one side of the story is being allowed to be heard.
Very Frightening.
Having been denied my Right,as the People, to hear all sides, this is my take on the politically appointed Speakers ruling.