Final USVI constitution draft sent to Government House
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| Published on Friday, June 5, 2009 |
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By Susan Mann
Caribbean Net News US Virgin Islands Correspondent
Email: susan@caribbeannetnews.com
ST THOMAS, USVI -- Late Monday, US Virgin Islands Governor John deJongh forwarded to Attorney General Vincent Frazier for review, a copy of the 5th Constitutional Convention document, which delegates hope will be sent to President Obama and the US Congress for approval.
The Governor said that it was his understanding that the Proposed Constitution must meet certain constitutional and legal requirements as set forth in Act 6688 (Local Law) and Public Law 94-584 (Federal Law). He requested that the Attorney General provide a statement regarding the legal requirements of both federal and local laws and a legal opinion as to whether the Proposed Constitution meets those requirements.
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USVI Governor John
deJongh, Jr. Photo:
Susan Mann |
The Convention Delegates voted to approve the draft on May 26th, by a two-thirds vote, and after the VI Legislature passed a last minute law to lower the required number of delegates which must be present for the elected representative body to carry out official business.
There was ongoing divisiveness among a few of the delegates throughout the twelve month process, including name calling and racial oriented remarks to a white reporter. In the end, each elected member was allowed to remain in his ad hoc capacity by the USVI Legislature.
The biggest sticking point, whether “native” Virgin Islanders should have more rights than “non-native” Virgin Islanders, caused both members of government and the general public to repeatedly express in writing and over the air waves, serious doubts that what would be offered up would have a chance to ever be signed in to law - due to the fact that it would not be viewed as fitting within the frame work of the Constitution of the United States.
The final draft submitted to the Governor by Constitutional Convention President Gerard Luz James II can be viewed by clicking on the banner at the top of the US Virgin Islands, Legislature website at, http://www.legvi.org/default.htm The USVI is the only state or territory under the US flag which does not have a constitution. | | | | Reads : 970 | | | |
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