Fyzabad MP, Dr Lackram Bodoe has congratulated activist Ravi Balgobin-Maharaj on his victory with the Privy Council.
In a statement, Bodoe added his voice to the many other voices who spoke on the recent victory of the people of Trinidad and Tobago at the Privy Council against the government, which sought to undermine the democratic principles of our Constitution.
He said, the United National Congress (UNC), under the leadership Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC, has always fought, and will continue to fight, for the rights of the people of this nation.
“I wish to congratulate Mr. Ravi Balgobin-Maharaj on his victory and I also congratulate Mr. Anand Ramlogan SC and his team for their advocacy in this landmark legal decision.
The ruling by the Law Lords of the Privy Council made it quite clear that the government cannot subvert the right of the people to vote in elections. This PNM government, led by Dr. Keith Rowley, has shown time and time again that it is prepared to do anything to deny the right of citizens to voice their displeasure at the way this country is being governed.”
Bodoe said the Law Lords said that “the right to vote out representatives is as important as the right to vote in representatives.” They went further to say that “it is inimical to a representative democracy that the representatives are chosen by anyone other than the electorate.”
He said: “This is a mighty slap in the face for the PNM government – a stinging rebuke from the Privy Council. Citizens must remain vigilant where the machinations of this government are concerned. They will not be allowed to take away our rights and get away with it. We must rigorously defend our democratic principles and say to this government: Call Local Elections now! As a matter of fact, in the face of this damning judgement against them, they should call a General Election now as this nation has had enough of their gross incompetence, inaction, and undemocratic modus operandi.”
He said the UNC will continue to hold this government to account and under the Political Leadership of Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, we will continue to advocate for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.