Before the vote was called on the Prime Minister's Pension Amendment Bill, it was clear that there was some division among the Independent Senators.
The differing views among the Independents ranged from the constitutionality of the bill because of its retroactive element, to the impact it could have on the families of deceased former Prime Ministers.
00:00How would we deal with a Prime Minister who sadly dies in the line of duty within one year, having not yet met the minimum criterion to receive a pension?
00:12How would the spouse and family be affected?
00:15The question posed by Independent Senator Dr. Desiree Murray on Monday as the Senate debated the Prime Minister's pension amendment bill,
00:25which was passed via the government's special majority in the House of Representatives just three days earlier.
00:32The Parent Act provides pensions to the widows or widowers and the entitled child or children of all former Prime Ministers.
00:43If this amendment reduces a Prime Minister's pension based on tenure, that reduction will extend to the pensions paid to their surviving relatives.
00:55At a time of grief, should families face reduced support?
01:00The bill proposes to establish a pension for former Prime Ministers based on their years of service from March 10th of this year, 2025.
01:10I respectfully suggest making any amendment retroactive to 31st August 1962, the date of our independence and the date used in the Parent Act.
01:22That historic date would ensure that all former Prime Ministers are treated equally and help dispel any perception of ad hominem.
01:36Independent Senator and Senior Counsel Anthony Vieira made reference to the contribution made by Opposition Senator Farris Arrawi.
01:44I can see no escape from the conclusion that this bill is plainly ad hominem, aimed at a specific individual, the Honorable Stuart Young.
01:57And this must ring alarm bells in this Senate because ad hominem legislation undermines parliamentary integrity.
02:06MP Young served as Prime Minister for March 17th of this year until April 28th of this year, when the PNM lost the general election.
02:17Independent Senator Michael Simon-Victor de Labestede, who is also a senior counsel, made reference to some taxpayers in Trinidad and Tobago.
02:27They're struggling, and their taxes are going to fund a pension that is being given to someone who has done maybe 30 days of service,
02:40but who is walking away with a pension of $87,000 a month, and they maybe are not getting a pension.
02:48And so, I think the aim of the objective of the bill is to rectify that kind of inequity.
02:58Reference was also made to past Privy Council rulings.
03:02Just because something is ad hominem doesn't mean that it's unconstitutional.
03:07It has to have the effect of usurping the functions of the court.
03:11Now, in our context, there are no proceedings.
03:19This legislation doesn't affect any court proceedings.
03:23It fixes the law.
03:26Independent Senator Courtney McNish said he was impressed with Senator Alwari's contribution,
03:32but thanked Attorney General John Jeremy for, quote, his clarification, end quote.
03:37I think each and every one of us, particularly here on the independent bench, must make that call for themselves.
03:47I have made it.
03:48I have set it up in my mind, and therefore, I have no objections to the legislation from amendment as proposed.
03:58Given the opposition's objections that the prime minister's pension amendment bill was targeting one specific former prime minister,
04:05the bill would have required the votes of at least four independent senators to give the government the prescribed three-fifths majority.
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