Your Questions

Here is a condensed list of the questions that have emerged from you, the members of this movement, over the course of the last 2-3 weeks. Some questions have been formatted but the content and intent remains intact.

1. To the Ldr of the Opp: Should you be elected to office, what immediate steps would you take to (i) halt the increase in serious crime and (ii) initiate a reduction in serious crime?

2. To both: What measures would a government, led by you, implement to (i) improve the distribution of a safe and reliable water supply (ii) in the midst of a debilitating drought, what long term measures would your administration undertake to secure a reliable source of potable water?

3. To the Ldr of the Opp: With a brief explanation of your answer, do you see the need for reform of bodies such as (i) The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, (ii) Town and Country, (iii) Board of Inland Revenue?

4. To both: Let us imagine a post-energy Trinidad and Tobago. From what source, in your opinion, do you see the majority of our nation's revenue being obtained and what steps would a government, led by you, take to bring this to fruition?

5. To the PM: There has been much agitation about basic human rights for the unprivileged and differently abled in society. How has your government sought to relieve the plight of such citizens and what measures have you identified still remain to be addressed?

6. To the PM: What is the status of the proposed Mega Farms and how close, in your assessment, has the nation reached in obtaining Food Security? How do you respond to critics who say that much arable land has been destroyed for the use of housing and other non-agricultural projects?

7. To the Ldr of the Opp: Inflation has ranged between 1% and 15% over the last 3 years. What immediate measures would your administration take to stabalise the inflation rate, while at the same time ensuring that economic growth takes place?

8. To the PM: As a 4 term Prime Minister who has served 13 years, do you agree that there should be a limit on the number of terms that a Prime Minister could serve? Further, do you believe that the date of elections be a set date, with the PM having no prerogative in the naming of an election date? Please explain your choice of answer.

9. To the Ldr of the Opp: In many countries, proportional representation has led to the formation of minority governments or unstable coalitions. Are you in support of this system of electing governments and, if yes, how do you counter the argument that it leads to unstable administrations.

10. To both: Switzerland has had a long history of Canton rule and government by referendum. Do you see a place for National Referendums on major issues, should constitutional reform be effected in Trinidad and Tobago?

11. To the PM: Local Government Elections has been postponed for 3 years pending Local Government Reform. Are you, and by extension, your administration happy with the progress of such reform and, should you be re-elected, how soon can we see the implementation of such reform and Local Government Elections?

12. To the Ldr of the Opp: You have stated that, should you be elected PM, your administration would provide laptops to all school children. This can be viewed a a very superficial and populist proposal, as many of our school children are more computer literate than their teachers. What policies governing teaching via IT would your administration implement to avoid the abuse, misuse and under-use of these computers?

13. To both: Is there a need for reform of the Teaching service? If yes, what aspects of the Teaching service do you view as needing to be reformed and how does your party propose to deal with it?

14. To the Ldr of the Opp: Your party has criticised the amount of funds distributed to other Caribbean Islands in recent years, namely the poorer and lesser developed nations. Does your administration and you, as Prime Minister of the wealthiest Caribbean nation, intend to continue assistance programmes to these nations? If yes, how will it differ from the current administration and if no, how will you address the economic fallout in Trinidad and Tobago by the failure of these island economies?

15. To both: Do you believe transparency and accountability of Campaign Finance? Are you (i) willing to make it law and (ii) in the interest of transparency, accountability and goodwill, fully disclose your sources of funding for the current election campaign?

16. To the PM: Many have criticised CEPEP and URP as a hotbed of alleged corruption and a channel to finance a criminal element in society. How do you respond to that and what role do you envisage for CEPEP and URP should you be returned to office?

17. To the Ldr of the the Opp: The Caribbean Court of Justice was established under the watch of a previous administration of which you were a part. What is your party's official position on the CCJ becoming the final Court of Appeal in Trinidad and Tobago?

18. To Ldr of the Opp: Your party has criticised the construction of a Rapid Rail system. What tangible proposals does your party have to reduce the massive congestion that leads to millions of hours of lost productivity each year?

19. To the PM: Has your administration taken steps to move the government into the 21st century, in terms of Information Technology? What is the status, if initiated, of a fully computerised Licensing Department, Medical Records, Criminal Databases and Police Records among other things?

20. To the PM: The implementation of the Property Tax was halted soon before the calling of General Elections for the purpose of review. What is the nature of this review and as it is now law, if returned to office, when will implementation begin?

21. To the Ldr of the Opp: Your party has roundly criticised the government's housing drive. As Prime Minister, and for the some 100,000+ applicants for houses, how will your government's policy on housing differ from the present?

22. To both: How do you view the role of the Rent Control board, and what assurances can you give tenants who have seen their rents double, triple and raised without explanation by landlords?

23. To the PM: What is the status of the Scarborough Hospital and the National Oncology Centre? How much more money is needed for the completion of these projects and have new dates of completion been determined?

24. To Both: Many times we hear of pleas from distraught parents whose children require medical attention abroad. How do you propose to deal with special needs medical cases, where care cannot be obtained locally and where hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars are required, per case, to be treated abroad?

25. To the PM: There has been protracted periods where appointments to the offices of DPP and Commissioner of Police. Do you believe that independent bodies, such as the Judicial and Legal Services Commission be allowed to appoint persons to those offices without the threat of veto from the Prime Minister? Do you believe the power of veto by the Prime Minister in these appointments blurs the lines between the separation of powers of the Executive and Judiciary? Explain your answer.

26. To Both: Would your administration agree to audits and performance appraisals of your Ministers of Government, Permanent Secretaries and other senior public servants on a regular (annual) basis?

27. To the Ldr of the Opp: How does your party propose to aid small business, cottage industries and entrepreneurship from the aspect of funding (loans), education and training and marketability for exportation?

28. To Both: Oil prices are currently in the region of US$80 a barrel. What is your party's policy on treating with debt financing and the issuance of new government debt to stimulate the economy and finance development?

Thank you to: Joanne Haynes, Karen Hunter, Brandon Forde, Patricia Smart, Shivan Singh, Alana Abdool, Gabrielle Gellineau, Jacqueline Morris, Alvin Narine, Marc 'Roots' de Verteuil and Yugashe Sampath.

Please continue to build on YOUR compilation of questions for this debate and encourage others to do the same. We are very serious about this debate coming off.