Will We Have Real People’s Involvement in Decision-making at Last?

At yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, despite expressing the hope that this matter would not divert attention from the announcement of assistance to Dorian-decimated Bahamas, PM Rowley devoted most of his presentation to a return to the issue of the Sedition Act.
The PM opened by trying to clarify his initial remarks made at the Police Service function on Independence Day, criticizing the media for not reporting his position accurately.
He read from a newspaper report of his remarks that day, however.
His main point yesterday was that despite his response to what he claimed was a call for repeal of the Sedition Act merely on the basis of its antiquity (which was not the point of most who commented on the Act and its use or abuse), was need to focus on “what exactly the law was meant to deal or is dealing with”.
He opined that T&T is a “very diverse society, full of potential fault lines and fractures whether it is ethnic, religious, racial or otherwise and it is for the protection of the groupings in Trinidad and Tobago, the groups of all kind we got to protect ourselves from those minorities, individuals that they might be who may behave in such a way to allow those fault lines to become fractures and this is where we should be look­ing.”.
Need for National Discussion on Sedition Act
I disagree with today’s headlines presenting some media houses’ response to the PM’s presentation yesterday – “No plan to repeal Sedition Act”, “PM digs in on Sedition Act”.
I prefer the headline “Rowley “open” to amending the Sedition Act”.
In fact, the PM made it clear that his remarks yesterday were in response to the national conversation which was proceeding on the Act.
Is this an invitation to a broad national discussion on this piece of legislation and what must be done about it?
I take the PM at his word, to be inviting same. Whether he is will be seen as the discussion proceeds. We must test our political leaders to see whether their word and their actions (deeds) coincide.
This discussion if it is to be useful for the society must be sincere on all sides. It is not a matter of persons “looking for an issue to latch on to”, as the PM most unfortunately put it.
This is a matter of serious national importance for the very reasons expressed by the PM quoted extensively above. This debate is part of developing agreement in this ‘very diverse society’ on the national purpose or at least part of it related to our rights and freedoms.
The Content of the Discussion
Freedom of expression must be protected and encouraged. At the same time, we must protect and safeguard the unity of our nation and prevent turning of ‘fault lines into fractures’ i.e. the incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against any group within our diversity based on racial, religious, ethnic, or any other basis.
This discussion must focus the parameters of any prohibition of such fomenting of encouragement of such fractures – definitions, thresholds, remedies, while protecting guarantees of freedom of expression.
This is not a simple matter. At the same time, it is not beyond the capability of our people to find the right balance in protecting all groups from hatred, discrimination, hostility or violence.
It is not merely a choice of 1) amend the Sedition Act; 2) repeal the Act and replace it with what or 3) Sedition Act or Hate Speech Laws. This is not a matter of either or.
This is a matter of guaranteeing freedom of speech for all and at the same time guaranteeing groups of our citizens freedom from and protection against discrimination, hate and violence.
This is an opportunity to give real content to the watchword “Tolerance” which we were reminded of in the messages of the top officeholders on the 57th anniversary of our Independence only 7 days ago.
This discussion on the Sedition Act has the potential to contribute to the development of the National Purpose, which was not permitted 57 years ago, but only if it is undertaken with sincerity on all sides including those now inviting the discussion.
Let us all, the people of this nation, take this opportunity to test whether we are being given an opportunity to be genuinely involved in decision-making on this important issue for our democracy and our nation-building project.
Come All. Join the discussion!!!
 
Clyde Weatherhead
A Citizen Fighting for the
Democratic Renewal of our
Society and the Empowerment of
Our People
6 September 2019