Head of state selection process due for review

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Express - Now that it's all over bar the secret voting for a finally named candidate in Justice Anthony Carmona, the process of electing a President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has advertised itself as crying out for reform toward realising today's expectations of transparency. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last week appeared to voice regret that the public get to play no part in an exercise restricted to the Electoral College, comprising members of both houses of Parliament. The President of the Republic, the head of state, occupies a hybrid stature as neither entirely ceremonial nor credibly executive. The President is titled commander in chief of the T&T armed forces, takes the salute and inspects the troops. Unlike, say, the US President, however, the T&T head of state is not empowered to deploy the troops, except on the say-so of the Cabinet and the Prime Minister.