By Lara Pickford-Gordon
snrwriter.camsel@catholictt.org
On August 1, a brief ceremony took place at President’s House for the swearing in of Sir Ellis Clarke, 58 years, as interim President by the Chief Justice Sir Isacc Hyatali. Sir Ellis was the Governor General since January 31, 1972. “The constitution vested executive authority in the monarch, which was exercised by the Governor-General of Trinidad and Tobago.[9] While the Queen remained head of state, her representative, the governor-general, could only act on the advice of the prime minister.[5]”
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_of_Trinidad_and_Tobago#History)
The Trinidad Guardian August 1 reported the press were initially not invited to cover the event but after some protests by press workers, they were allowed. The absence of festivity, the paper reported “is due to the fact that today is not being observed as Republic Day. It is only the date on which the new Constitution has come into force. Republic Day and its attendant celebrations will be announced shortly”.
Sir Ellis, after taking his oath, pledged himself to the “service and well-being” of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. He acknowledged that citizens are not required as he was, under Section 37 of the Constitution, to take an oath before beginning the duties of office. However he appealed for all to pledge themselves “to bear true faith and allegiance to Trinidad and Tobago” and devote themselves to the service and well-being of their fellow citizens.
Sir Ellis Clarke’s first public appearance as President was at an ecumenical service held 10.30 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain. Archbishop Anthony Pantin CSSp presided. Churches in San Fernando also had services to pray for the new Republic.
First Parliament Sitting
The first session of Parliament as a Republic was on September 24, 1976, the date when Republic Day is observed. There was a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate at 10.30 a.m.
‘The Parliamentary Debate Official Report’ House of Representatives stated that President Sir Ellis Clarke gave an address stating the government “proposes to take as its major concern the implementation of election pledges related to public integrity and accountability and the necessary constitutional amendments involved”.
Laws were to be “expedited” to address:
It was recorded that one of the first acts of the new Cabinet of the Republic was to approve at a meeting a day prior, the establishment of a National Advisory Council comprising experts and technicians to advise the government on “urgent and important” matters of national concern.
The Council was chaired by Professor Kenneth Julien and Vice Chair was Dr Vernon Gocking. It was given four areas of priority.
According to the Hansard: “The first is the report of the symposium on the mobilization of local financial resources held last May, with particular reference to the reports of the many committees which arose out of the symposium. The most important of these reports relate to proposals for the revision of the tax structure, the possibility of equating agricultural with industrial wages, proposals for the absorption of more O’ level graduates in the industrial development of the country, measures relating to the investment of National Insurance funds, and new incentives to citizens in the field of house construction and acquisition of the land related thereto”.
The second priority was the improvement of the efficiency of public utilities with the aim of accelerating the improvement of all infrastructure facilities towards enhancing the quality of life of all citizens. Third was the improvement of the quality of the system of public administration and advice on such changes in the bureaucracy considered necessary for the greater efficiency and more rapid implementation of development projects and fourth, “the diversification of the economy with a view of decreasing the dependence on oil and strengthening agriculture and increasing food production”.
“The new government will also give major attention to the proposals which have emanated so far from the Co-ordinating Task Force for the development of heavy industries based on our hydrocarbon resources. This is one major measure, both in terms of its indirect and ancillary effects, for reducing the level of unemployment and drastically restructuring the former colonial base of the economy of the country.”
Changes with the Constitution
The change over to Republican status, resulted in the removal of the Queen and the Order-in-Council of 1962.
“…under this Order the Governor General has power to make any appointment, to make any order or to do any other thing for the purposes of this Order that power may be exercised by the Governor of the Colony of Trinidad and Tobago at any time after the 25th August 1962 to such extent as may, in his opinion, be necessary or expedient to enable the Constitution established by this Order to function as from the 31st August 1962” – Trinidad And Tobago (Constitution) Order in Council 1962 made under section 5(1) of the West Indies Act 1962 (a).
Under the Republican Constitution, legal amendments, exemptions, etc. would be made to laws as required, to be in conformity with the Constitution. Other changes:
The bicameral Parliament system was retained; the House of Representatives with 36 members but the senate was increased from 24 to 31.
The Constitution had provision for an Integrity Commission, Salaries Review Commission, an appointment of an ombudsman and a director of public prosecutions.
Citizens 18 years were eligible to become a member of the House of Representatives but for the Senate had to be 25 years.