A governance model where an MP holds a singular, full-time portfolio, unconstrained by being a government minister, is a system that political analysts believe can work in T&T. However, drafting the required constitutional amendments would require significant work for the change to happen.
During the People’s National Movement (PNM) internal constitutional consultation in Bon Air last Sunday, Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales said it may not be in the best interest for MPs to wear two hats. Gonzales said that the workload of attending Cabinet, parliamentary and ministerial meetings sometimes infringes on constituency time. He also believes the $20,000 monthly salary is too low for MPs, given the work they have to do.
Commenting on the statements, political scientist Dr Indira Rampersad said this was a thought she previously had, as one role is an elective representative while the other is a minister. However, Rampersad said few people may want to become MPs if they do not get ministerial portfolios.
“Because fewer people want to serve the people and more people want office, so there will be that challenge of getting people wanting to serve and not given a ministerial portfolio. To counter that, they will have to pay MPs good salaries, probably even higher than ministers, because they do the dirty, hard work on the ground,” Rampersad said.
She said MPs would have to deal with bridges, drains, flooding, and housing issues that ministers do not like to do, apart from what she described as their laziness. While she believes MPs should earn more money, there should be constitutional amendments to allow constituents to participate in a referendum to recall non-performing representatives. She said Gonzales would also have to consider Opposition MPs in his proposal.
Political analyst Dr Winford James said there was always a conflict of roles for MP/ministers under T&T’s governance model but questioned whether it was a strong enough reason to warrant a change. James said if Gonzales suggested that the selection of ministers must come from another pool, he should elaborate. He said some MPs perform their duties better by being a minster.
Despite this, James said this system could work by increasing the size of the Senate. Noting that some ministers are senators, he said the question is whether this method provides the best governance. He said there were cases where some MPs could not provide equitable representation within their constituencies, and some senators could not handle their roles in the Upper House.
“And now what we have in place is a Cabinet being in control of the lower house and the upper house by design. Once you have a majority, you are guaranteed, almost, except you have special legislation,” James said.
James said it would be interesting to have MPs carry out their singular portfolio and have the Prime Minister select the Cabinet. He said this is available in other countries, where presidents select people to oversee administrative arms of government.
“I am saying you can have a situation where you elect the MPs, and they remain only as MPs so they have enough time to do their work. Of course, they would have oversight of all legislation.”