A motion of No Confidence against the Prime Minister
of Trinidad and Tobago was brought by the Opposition in the Parliament, the
People’s National Movement (PNM), on Friday 2nd March 2012.
Seeing that this is Trinidad and Tobago, of course,
an announcement like that cause a whirlwind in the country. The Press was in FRENZY!
That hype was passed on to the public who were looking forward to bombshells.
The government which is the People’s Partnership (PP)
rallied all soldiers. Ministers were called to a special meeting. There was a slate
of massive public meetings to show support for the Prime Minister which were
broadcast live on all television stations and several radio stations. Leaders
of the five parties spoke and lambasted the PNM for wasting the Parliament’s
time by bringing such a ‘vacuous’ motion. Several government ministers called
for Rowley’s resignation after they predicted the failure of the motion.
On the day of the debate, hundreds of PP supporters
in party jerseys descended on the Water Front before the 1:30pm start of
parliament. The crowd greeted Ministers and MPs as they entered the building.
Shaking hands and exchanging hugs. The din of the crowd rose when the Prime
Minister appeared dressed in the colours of the national flag. Media
practitioners had a field day doing interviews.
 | ||||
| PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar greeting supporters. Photo courtesy Jyoti Communication |
The PNM were noticeably absent in support and MPs.
Guess they passed through the back door. And no one bothered to find them.
However it can be argued that Prime Minister Kamla
Persad-Bissessar is a victim of what she has dished out in her time as Opposition
Leader. As printed in a February 26th 2012 article “During
former Prime Minister Patrick Manning's tenure, a motion of no confidence was
debated against him in the Parliament. On the actual day of the debate in 2008,
a massive demonstration and meeting was organised in Woodford Square in support
of Manning by PNM supporters. Manning had addressed the crowd during the
Parliament's tea break which is usually for half hour but was extended to an
hour that day. In early 2010 Persad-Bissessar who was then Opposition
Leader filed a motion of no confidence against the then-prime minister
(Manning). The night before the debate was due Parliament was dissolved.
Manning subsequently called a general election which his party lost.” (Trinidad
Express)
Needless to say the motion was defeated 29-11. This tactic
may now be something every subsequent Prime Minister will have to face.
Sources
and further readings:
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