PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Feb. 7, CMC – A statement by National Security Minister and chairman of the United National Congress (UNC) Jack Warner has been brushed aside by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
On Tuesday, Warner was quoted as saying that Independent Senators should resign ahead of the election of a new president as this would be “the honourable thing” to do.
But in response, Persad-Bissessar said the statement was Warner’s personal opinion and not that of the Government.
“It is not the place of the Government to call upon, or to seek or to harass anybody to leave or resign. That will be totally within the purview and the jurisdiction of the President…his Excellency…and his office, and that will also be within the purview of those persons.”
The Prime Minister said it was inappropriate for any Government to seek to trespass on the purview of the President in calling for the resignation of Independent senators.
“I do not endorse that view, and that would have been the personal view of Mr. Warner. They do not reflect the view of my Government,” she said.
The term of current President George Maxwell Richards comes to an end on March 17. He will be succeeded by Justice Anthony Carmona.
