By Sue-Ann Wayow

THE Members of Parliament in Trinidad and Tobago must fight hard for what they believe in and for the citizens.

“Parliament is at its most effective when its members fight and fight hard for what they believe in and at a moment in history in which we find ourselves as a nation, there is much for this new Parliament to fight hard for,” said President Christine Kangaloo as she addressed both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Friday.

Delivering the keynote address during the ceremonial opening of the thirteenth parliament in Port of Spain, she mentioned some of Government’s announced plans to deal with matters of national interest including the bleak economy.

Kangaloo said, “The times in which we live and the geopolitical shifts and the uncertainties that surround us will require this parliament to fight harder than perhaps any parliament before it for policies and for legislation that protect our economy and promotes its expansion. In a frighteningly real sense, our very survival depends on parliament doing so.”

In her address, the president also repeated some of her items that she would like to see be given parliamentary focus.

This includes the regulating and research of Artificial Intelligence adding that the Ministry of Public Administration and AI sought to deal with both challenges and benefits.

“What would be even more commendable would be for Parliament to consider legislation that puts our country in the forefront of regional legislation in this area,” Kangaloo added.

She also asked that parliament consider laws relating to enduring power of attorney especially for persons with challenged mental capacities as more citizens were becoming diagnosed with Alzheimer’s including younger persons.

Additionally, the president also advocated for laws to protect persons who were differently abled.

She said, “If we are to build a society that is truly inclusive, we need to enact laws that protect the rights of persons with disabilities to enter and remain in the mainstream of social and economic activity.

Kangaloo applauded both the government and opposition for raising the issue of inclusivity.

Speaking from a personal standpoint, she however advised that more measures be put in place to ensure road safety with the proposed scrapping of the demerit point system.

She congratulated again, the new government led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles as they embark on their new roles.

She praised them for their inaugural addresses which highlighted inclusivity of all citizens.

Kangaloo also praised them for the manner in which they transitioned peacefully into their new portfolios and congratulated citizens for allowing the peaceful transition of power.

The transfer of power involved far more than the ceremonial aspects.

“It involves every citizen recognising the validity of the electoral process in which he has participated and accepting the conclusiveness of its results in his heart,” she said.

Some might accept it with zeal and enthusiasm while some hearts might be heavy Kangaloo said.

She said, “The effective transition of power will speak to that brokenheartedness and will find ways to ensure and include rather than to hurt and alienate.”

With an all female lead of herself, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles,  citizens hopes were higher to see a better system of governance.

“With female leadership manifesting itself this way in the parliament, the country’s hopes are understandably high for a Parliament and for a system of government that functions more collaboratively and embracingly and with less of the bitterness and hostility we have sometimes seen in the past. I think we should be careful not to disappoint that hope,” Kangaloo said.

She ended her speech by saying she hoped that when this Parliament has ended, “We can share reports of a Parliament whose members fought hard but without respect for one another to create a better Trinidad and Tobago.”