PSU to undergo constitutional review

The 67-year-old constitution of the Public Service Union is soon to go under the microscope and may soon receive a facelift.{{more}}

Executive members of the Union hinted at constitutional review and reform last Thursday, July 29, at the launch of the Union’s website at its headquarters at Mckie’s Hill.

Union President Cools Vanloo, speaking to SEARCHLIGHT this week, said that the introduction of the site (www.svgpsu.org), along with other modern advances, has created new possibilities in terms of further democratizing the Organization.

“We have not only had a website, but we have had our data and accounting systems electronic… and the modernization process that we have undertaken in terms of the operations of the Union and modernizing those operations would require certain kinds of advances especially in the area of technology.”

“What we want to do is take a look at the Constitution and try to determine what sort of changes would be required for us to incorporate these various initiatives.”

Vanloo said that a revised, amended constitution may take at least nine months to a year to be realized if all goes well, since there are procedures that need to take place…

As a first step, we will have to set up a review committee to review the constitution in its current status vis à vis operations.”

“Then secondly, we have to go through a consultation process, and of course any review and any final adoption of whatever the recommendations are must go back to the general body.”

The President indicated that the Terms of Reference are currently being drafted, and that a team leader has already been identified, and that all these issues will have to go through the General Body at a general meeting in November.

Constitutional reform is nothing new to the PSU.

Last year, when this country was involved in debates on constitutional reform and participated in a referendum on November 25, the Union was very vocal on the matter.

The union published and presented its position on the issue, and was featured on a number of radio programmes and debates.

“We were very active because there were certain critical things that we had to safeguard in a new constitution as far as public servants were concerned, Vanloo noted.

“We had a general meeting and what we voted on was not so much the whole constitution, we restricted ourselves to the areas concerning public servants and the general body was not satisfied that the changes that were there were going to enhance public servants’ position.”

Speaking on the Union’s 67-year-old document, Vanloo said that the constitution is good as it is, but can get better in order to go along with the changing times.

“The Constitution as it is, it is a solid document. The original drafters did a very good job and it still contains very critical and important elements that would live the passage of time… but there is always need for reform,” Vanloo said. (JJ)