By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Opposition is not questioning the legality of the nomination of Senate President Christine Kangaloo for President of Trinidad and Tobago but her impartiality.
This is according to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar who said Kangaloo will only be used as a “presidential puppet” for Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
The Opposition on Monday filed the nomination for senior counsel Israel Khan to be President while the Government filed the nomination for Kangaloo.
In a media release on Monday, Persad-Bissessar stated, “The Opposition has never questioned the legality of Kangaloo’s appointment, we question her ability to impartially represent the interests of all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. This concern is not based simply on the fact that Kangaloo is an active politician and former PNM Minister and Senator. It is based on her actions, especially her involvement in the unlawful termination of the former governor of the Central Bank, Jwala Rambaran.”
She referred to statements which Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said at an earlier press conference.
He said Kangaloo’s nomination was being done following the guidelines of the Constitution.
Dr Rowley also said that Kangaloo was acting upon the directive of Cabinet when Rambaran was fired and Kangaloo was acting as President of Trinidad and Tobago.
Persad-Bissessar said, “I remind the nation that it was the acting President, Christine Kangaloo, who signed a termination letter to unlawfully dismiss the then Central Bank Governor. It was the High Court that subsequently declared the Acting President’s action unlawful. The PM’s words today confirm that Kangaloo did so on the instructions of the Rowley cabinet. This is evidence that Kangaloo is more than willing to ignore the rule of law and the good of the citizens of our nation in favour of the unlawful instructions from her PNM masters.”
As President, Kangaloo will be able to appoint the Chief Justice, members of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, members of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, and several other Commissions among many others and the issue was whether she would make such appointments impartially or on the instructions of the PNM, the Opposition Leader stated.
She said Kangaloo’s partisanship has been displayed not only on the political platform but also in her role as Senate President.
“These bodies will not have the independence required to keep the Government accountable and in check, as the Republican Constitution intended,” Persad-Bissessar said.
