Dominica’s president opens debate on constitutional reform

Dr Nicholas Liverpool

Wednesday, August 3, 2005

ROSEAU, Dominica: President of Dominica, Dr Nicholas Liverpool, has opened up a debate in Dominica on reform of the Constitution and the structure and role of Parliament.

The Dominican Head of State made the remarks at the opening of the First Meeting of the Seventh Session of the Seventh Parliament last week. 

Dr. Liverpool told Parliamentarians that the House might wish to consider “whether Dominica should opt for an Executive President who is chosen by the electorate, and who is both Head of State and Head of Government”.

The President also quoted from a recommendation of the Constitution Review Commission on the subject of the designation “Leader of the Opposition”. The Constitution Review Commission recommended that the designation “Leader of the Opposition” should be changed to “Leader of the Minority Party”, or “Leaders” if there was more than one minority party.

The Dominican Head of State added that the main reason advanced for this proposed change was that there “would be benefits in stressing that the role of members of the House who do not belong to the ruling party is not merely that of opposing at all costs; but on the contrary, the fundamental role should be that of critical analysis of policies put forward, and the making of proposals for change and improvement”. 

Dr. Liverpool also suggested that Parliament should not only be convened when there are laws to be passed. He is of the view that the House should also meet periodically to debate matters of general importance, like the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the several recommendations of the report of the Constitution Review Commission and other aspects of Government activity such as Education, Housing, Immigration, Health, Agriculture and Tourism.

Dr. Nicholas Joseph Orville Liverpool is Dominica’s eighth President since the country became a Republic following political independence on November 3rd 1978. He was sworn in as President on October 2, 2003. In 2003, he was bestowed Dominica’s Highest Honour, the Dominica Award of Honour. 

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