Trinidad and Tobago operates under a first-past-the-post electoral system, where the political party winning the majority of parliamentary seats forms the government. How can a new government be formed without holding a General Election? Is this a breach of our constitution? Why have we not seen any challenges by our constitutional lawyers?
Historically every government has been formed after eletions when the leader of the victorious party is appointed Prime Minister he then selets the Attorney General. After 62 years of independence a PNM leader has moved away from that system and is changing the government without an election.
This raises the serious question of whether our democracy is being manipulated for political convenience. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, rather than allowing the electorate to determine the country’s leadership through a General Election, instead facilitated an internal process where his party’s Members of Parliament (MPs) elected his successor who will now appoint a new Attorney General.
This maneuver, which bypasses the voice of the people, is deeply troubling. It challenges not only fairness but potentially the legality of such a transition. The fundamental principle of democracy is that governments derive their legitimacy from the will of the electorate. How can a new government be formed without holding a General Election?
Surprisingly, no constitutional lawyer or legal expert has come forward to challenge this move. But silence does not equate to legality or fairness. The implications are significant:
- Does the Constitution allow for a Prime Minister to unilaterally facilitate a transfer of power through internal party mechanisms?
- Should the people not have a say in their governance?
- Is this setting a dangerous precedent for future leaders to sidestep democratic elections?
If this move stands unchallenged, what other violations of our democracy have taken place under Dr. Rowley’s leadership?
Dr. Rowley’s departure should have been an opportunity for reflection and renewal through the ballot box. Instead, it sends a disturbing message to the people of Trinidad and Tobago:
“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
If the outgoing Prime Minister can facilitate a process where his party selects his successor without the people’s approval, what does that say about our democracy? Are we to accept that leaders can manipulate the system to suit their own agenda rather than respecting the will of the electorate?
The democratic process exists for a reason—to ensure that power remains with the people, not political elites. The legitimacy of a government should be determined through elections, not internal party selections. The people of Trinidad and Tobago deserve transparency, fairness, and above all, a government that upholds the spirit and letter of our Constitution.
Dr. Rowley, thank you for your service, but this is not how democracy should function. The people—not a party’s internal process—should decide the next leader of our nation.
Dennise Demming 