Dr. Gonsalves knocks CRC for slighting regional integration

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has chided the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) for not paying much attention to regional integration in their final report on constitutional reform.

He said that mention of regional integration was only made in passing.{{more}}

On Monday, July 16, legislators began debating the final report of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) which will move forward the process of having a new constitution in St Vincent and the Grenadines by the end of 2009.

The prime minister also called on regional Governments to fashion all constitutional reforms in their various countries in a way that will remove all barriers to regional integration.

Dr Gonsalves identified four other areas key to constitutional reform in addition to regional integration: The strengthening of the individual’s rights and freedoms, the deepening of political democracy, making Government more transparent, honest, accountable and effective, and the consolidation and extension of independence of the judiciary.

Speaking of regional integration, Dr Gonsalves said, “It is agreed that a deepening of integration including political union is a matter which is a strategic option to come to terms with modern globalization and the challenges arising from it.”

He noted that under the present constitution, any move towards political integration would require a two-thirds majority vote in parliament followed by a referendum of the electorate, of the same margin.

He said that he found the requirements too much and suggested that the new constitution, as it should be around the region, should make the process of integration easier. (KJ)