Constitutional report presented to St Vincent parliament

Thursday, April 1, 2004

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: The first interim report from the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) was tabled in the St Vincent and the Grenadine's House of Assembly on Monday.

Commenting on the significance of the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said it was a historic moment for independent St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

He noted that since 1979, this country has operated on a liberal democratic constitution. However over the years, it became necessary to review the constitution to make it more appropriate to our circumstances and to the changing external environment.

The Prime Minister described the consultative process that took place last year as "the most remarkable constitutional review exercise ever to take place in a Commonwealth Caribbean country". He said this country is now regarded as a model for constitutional reform and in parliamentary democracy.

Dr. Gonsalves also pointed out that within recent months, Deputy Chairman of the CRC Parnell Campbell QC has been performing the role of Chairman. The Prime Minister said this issue has to be regularized shortly, since Chairman Professor Nicholas Liverpool has had to demit this office, following his appointment as President of Dominica.

Dr. Gonsalves says he is grateful to the CRC for the work it has done so far. This work, he said, would be immortalized and would put them in this country's history books. Members of the CRC were present in the House of Assembly for this historic occasion.

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