PNM laments no support from UNC on constitutional reform

The red of the People’s National Party took over the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port-of-Spain yesterday as hundreds of party supporters showed up for the PNM’s Special Convention to consider the Report of the party’s Constitution Review Committee. The Prime Minister, past and present Cabinet members, old and new executive members, and loyal PNM supporters filled NAPA’s auditorium. Meanwhile, in the car park, scores of followers sat and watched on television screens.

According to the committee’s chairman Keith Scotland, more than 800 people were consulted, while more than 125 people submitted oral and written contributions. He said the review began in January and ended in July when a report was handed to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

“Look at how much our lives have changed in 2024, don’t you think in that context, don’t you think in that context the Constitution ought to be looked at again from 1976? And that is why we are here.

“We must be careful when we interfere with our constitution because if it’s not done in a systematic and mature way, it can lead to undesirable results,” Minister in the National Security Ministry Keith Scotland said.

Scotland said the committee presented its findings to the party’s general council and central executive. He said the committee was also presenting its report to the party convention yesterday, as the PNM seeks to implement the proposed changes as the government.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley congratulated the committee, maintaining that constitutional reform was essential for the country’s future well-being. He said 32 civil society institutions, the Elections and Boundaries Commission, the Judiciary, the Environmental Management Authority, the Equal Opportunities Commission, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the Service Commissions, the Tobago House of Assembly, the Movement for Social Justice, HOPE, the National Party were among the entities that were part of the process.

However, he expressed disappointment that the Opposition, UNC, was not.

“I’m disappointed to say, at this stage, that the group of people who are, in fact, an arm of the government in Parliament under the UNC leadership…I am disappointed to say that our country’s Opposition chose, up to this point, not to partake in this process,” he said.

He said he hopes that the UNC will eventually engage in the process.

—JOSHUA SEEMUNGAL

Recommendations:

The committee examined 16 key areas of the constitution and made the following recommendations.

Proportional representation for General Elections – Rejected

Fixed dates for elections – Rejected

Referendums – Accepted

Making the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal – Accepted

Increased Autonomy for Tobago – Accepted

Reformation of the Salaries Review Commission – Accepted

Reformation of the Responsibilities of The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions – Accepted

Reformation of the Powers and Role of the President – Accepted

Reformation of The Appointment of the Commissioner of Police – Accepted

The Right to a Trial in a Reasonable Time – Accepted

Reformation of Sexual Orientation rights – Rejected

Persons With Disabilities – Accepted.

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