Referendum on new Constitution

Vincentians may find themselves having a referendum by October next year on the matter of the new constitution.{{more}}

Bringing the country up to date on the issue of the Constitution Reform process at a press conference held at the Main Administrative Building on Monday, August 18, 2008, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves stated that it would be lovely if the country can have the referendum on the new constitution just about the time the country celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Dr. Gonsalves said the country will have to decide some very important issues before March 20, 2011, (the outside date of the next general elections) such as when will the new Constitution come into effect, increasing the number of seats, the First Past the Post System and a mixture of Proportional Representation, or simply the existing system of First Past the Post.

Dr. Gonsalves remarked that he would like to see the Opposition return to the table where the Constitutional Review Steering Committee and the Committee of the Whole House can continue discussions on the issue of the Constitution.

He disclosed the three new dates for further meetings on the issue as being September 4, September 11, and September 18.

Constitutional review has been a bone of contention here for many years. On October 31, 2001, the House of Assembly here set up a Select Committee to begin the exercise of making a new constitution.

The Commission started its work on January 2, 2003, with a mandate by the Unity Labour Party-led administration to review the existing constitution and submit recommendations in reports to the House of Assembly regarding reforms of and or changes in the existing constitution.