| The final report on the work of the
Constitution Review Commission was publicly launched
about a month ago. The greater part of the report
consists of proposals for constitutional change. The
proposals have already been presented to Parliament for
consideration with a view presenting them in a
referendum. The proposals have been
based on the issues raised during extensive public
consultations held with the members of the Constitution
Review Commission for the past two years, both at home
and abroad.
Although
the final report has already been presented, the issues
raised during the local consultations are now being
presented in their original form. The issues being
presented here relate to Chapters 2, 3, and 4 which are
felt to be the core of our Constitution since they are
foundations of the governance of the nation. Indeed all
of the other changes will only come about through the
instrument of governance.
The
issues are presented below almost exactly as they were
articulated but were organized according to categories
for easy reading. Also, issues are separated by
"//". Readers may scrutinize these issues to
determine, to what extent they are reflected in the Final
Report which is found on the Commission’s website www.crc.vincy.com
| CATEGORIES |
ISSUES
UNDER CHAPTER 2. GOVERNOR GENERAL
|
| ESTABLISHMENT
OF OFFICE |
GG should be
elected// Present arrangement leads to bias// We
must choose our own head of state// Head of state
should be appointed by Parliament |
| AUTHORITY |
Monarchy is
an outdated symbol// Allegiance to Monarchy
inconsistent with our Independent status// Why
should we not have Queen as Head of State?// The
Head of State should personify the dignity of
state and citizens// The authority of the Queen
in the state has been eroded. |
| ROLE |
Monarchy
does give benefit// Either the GG has an
important role or no GG. Will the GG be executive
or just a puppet// Cannot replace GG with
President with same role and functions. |
| ALTERNATIVES |
GG should be
replaced by President who should have more
power// GG should be replaced by President in a
republican system |
CATEGORIES
|
ISSUES
UNDER CHAPTER 3. PARLIAMENT
|
| MODEL |
PR is should
be considered// Floor Crossing should be
prohibited// Need to consider a system which
eliminates political parties // Consider a
bicameral legislature with Senators advising PM
on Cabinet appointments// Minority Leader instead
of Opposition Leader// Is separation of powers
feasible under present circumstances// The
Republican system is justifiable// Need a
national youth parliament// Bicameral situation
is attractive but has problems// Ministers not
necessarily elected// Public must be protected
from the excesses of parliamentary immunity// Govt. Tenure
to be reduced from five to three// Minimum age
for standing for elections should be 18 years//
Can our economy support so many Ministers?// All
elected reps. should be part of Govt.// PM should
have limited term// Executive and legislature
virtually one and the same// We should create our
own model for our constitution//
|
| PROCESSES |
There should
be provisions for recall of reps.// Voting should
be mandatory// Can a Minister of Govt. be
recalled?// Speaker should not be elected in the
present manner – Cannot be independent//
There should be fixed election dates// PM should
serve no more than two terms// Floor Crossing may
be acceptable but must be a waiting period before
joining other side// No need for fixed date
– five-year period already in place// Care
must be taken that LG does not conflict with CG//
Excesses under parliamentary immunity should be
stopped// |
| ESTABLISHMENT |
Ministers of
Religion should not stand for elections// FPP is
a problematic system of elections// Sizes of
Constituencies need to be more equitable// Direct
election of PM by people// Election cases should
be dealt with within a year// It will be useful
to combine the FPP and PR// Election officials
should declare assets// People from each
Constituency should sit on the Boundaries
Commission// Constitutional Sanction for poor
representation by parliamentarians// The
opposition should appoint Deputy Speaker// PR
will probably throw up the right Ministers//
President should be elected by people –
non-elected persons should run country// Pastors
should be able to contest elections – the
righteous should rule// Need to strengthen the
Independence of the Boundaries Commission//
Elections should be for two set of people –
legislative and executive// Campaign funding to
be regulated// Those who lose elections should
not be nominated senators// |
| CATEGORY |
ISSUES
UNDER CHAPTER 4. EXECUTIVE
|
| PRIME
MINISTER |
Curtail the
overriding power of the PM// PM should not have
the power to call election// PM has too much
power in appointing GG// PM should have limited
term (2 terms) |
| MINISTERS |
There are
too man Ministers for this small country// Method
of appointing Ministers to be reviewed// The PM
has the power to select his Cabinet since he is
CEO// The PM should give reasons for removing
Ministers |
| OTHERS |
Executive
power should not override legislative power// The
power of PM should remain but shared with
Opposition// Directors should be appointed to
manage various positions (Ministries?)// Local
Govt. should strengthen the executive arm of
Govt.// |
|
