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  • 1 day ago
There was unusual harmony in the Senate today, as both Government and Opposition Senators supported the Fireworks Amendment Bill.
In wrapping up his presentation, Opposition Senator Foster Cummings praised what he called a refreshing display of political maturity.
Transcript
00:00As debate closed on the fireworks legislation in the Upper House,
00:04Opposition Senator Foster Cummings commended both sides for working together in the national interest.
00:11I once again welcome the willingness of the government on this occasion
00:17to take on board the views that were put forward by the opposition.
00:24We do not offer any additional amendments today, but suffice it to say it will augur well for us as a country
00:32if the government and the opposition can find common ground on a more frequent basis.
00:41Cummings said to often sound unworthy recommendations are dismissed simply because they come from the opposing bench.
00:48It is in all of our interests and certainly in the interests of Trinidad and Tobago
00:54that we work when it is necessary as a group to push the development of this country.
01:00We must come to the point where a change in government does not mean the abandonment of good work and good policy.
01:10And I don't rest that at the feet of the current government.
01:14I say it as a broad statement for all parliamentarians and all party politicians in or out of office.
01:24He noted that hundreds of millions of dollars are sometimes spent on projects that are abandoned
01:30when administrations change, sparking a shout from the government bench like the Coover Hospital.
01:36I myself look on at projects that are left like that and some of them.
01:46I am from Coover.
01:48You're not going to get any objection from me from a Coover Hospital.
01:52OK, I come from Coover and I know the value of having a hospital in Coover.
01:58And not because I sit on the PNM bench.
01:59I'm not afraid to see that.
02:01So I mean all projects that move towards the development of the people of Trinidad and Tobago
02:08should not be affected merely because of a change in government.
02:13Cummings said citizens benefit when leaders put aside partisan divisions.
02:18Everything is not about yellow and red, right?
02:22We seem to attach too much to that.
02:25We seem to attach too much to executive office.
02:29And how do we behave in executive office, Mr. President?
02:33Because there is no security of tenure.
02:36I remember not too long ago saying to that side, that's why we are here and you are there.
02:44And I've heard many of the members of the government now, you know, part in the same statement.
02:52That's why you are here and you are there.
02:53Because sometimes when you're in office, you feel that there is some, you know, you're not moving from here.
03:02He ended by urging all sides to continue finding common ground more often,
03:07saying the people of Trinidad and Tobago deserve nothing less.
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