Letter: Following the Irish example and why we must still vote 'No'
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| Published on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 |
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Dear Sir:
In his recent speech on constitutional reform, Ralph Gonsalves told Vincentians at Victoria Park to “follow the example of Ireland” and vote yes “for the love of country”. What he neglected to do is explain the context. He neglected to tell the whole story. He neglected to say that when the Irish people voted “No” in the first instance, they also did it for love of country.
In June 2008 the Irish people voted to reject the Lisbon Treaty (dealing with the European Constitution) by a vote of 54%. On October 2, 2009 they reversed their decision when about 67% voted yes in a second referendum. Those are the numbers Gonsalves threw out as he attempted to convince Vincentians to vote “Yes”, claiming that we could vote that way in the referendum, but still reject him and his party at general elections.
Let me point out two important facts. First, the context of the debate on the European Constitution in Ireland is quite distinct from what we as Vincentians must consider this November. Secondly, the Irish people voted on the same question on both occasions, that is, they held a second referendum on the same set of issues as opposed to a referendum followed by a general election.
In any event, much can be said and written about the Irish episode, but according to the experts it seems clear that two major things, among others, determined the reversal of the previously negative vote by the Irish people.
First, the global economic crisis helped to make things much easier as it impacted Ireland’s economy so that the country needed bailout aid from the EU. Then, more important for Vincentians to consider, there are the concessions that the state of Ireland, one of the smallest in the EU, wrested from the European Council including several so called "opt-outs" on abortion, taxation, military neutrality, and the continued right of every single EU member state to nominate a Commissioner.
It is true that at the end of the day the EU and the big EU states, and large multi-nationals got what they wanted from one of the smallest member states. The Irish did go to the polls and vote “Yes” on the Lisbon Treaty. It may be that their convictions had changed, or because they feared for their country’s economy.
The fact that in the case of Ireland there was a second referendum reversing the earlier vote rejecting the Lisbon Treaty, should also be instructive to us as Vincentians. I say this because what matters most here, is that the Irish—not just the state but, rather, the people of Ireland—also seem to have had their way. It also shows that an initial “No” vote will not mean that constitutional reform is dead.
In fact, with their initial “No” the Irish people highlighted important issues and expressed their fears, and as a result the EU, according to Ireland’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Geoffrey Keating, has approached these issues with a “positive and sympathetic” attitude, “accommodating the concerns of even the smallest Member States”.
There is a very simple yet important lesson that the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines need to take from the Irish experience with the Lisbon Treaty. It has to do with the way “plucky little Ireland” stood up to the entire EU with its first vote when its people believed its interests and their way-of-life were threatened. Clearly, this is not about troublemaking—it is not being unpatriotic—but about holding your ground. And that is not just when Ireland was still confident with a booming economy in June 2008. Long after the international crisis had hit, and the Celtic Tiger had to get EU aid, the Irish agreed to hold a second referendum only after getting the “opt-outs” and concessions from the European Council in June 2009.
For the time being, it is also reasonable to suggest that the Vincentian people can hold their ground in a similar way. Not because we are somehow backward or unpatriotic—not because we wish to keep the Queen—not because we don’t like to punish violent criminals—but rather, because we have visions and aspirations of deeper, more meaningful reforms, and constitutional change.
We must hold our own because we recognise some options in the proposed constitution that should be out, and many others that must be in. For instance, we must include language which supports and guarantees that citizens have inalienable rights. We must have the guarantee of at least market value for private property acquired by government.
We should not allow an increase in the size of parliament, because far from deepening democracy, it will only increase the cost of politics. And if we are going to have a mixed electoral system, then we should also have two separate ballots—one to vote for the candidate of your choice and one to vote for the party of your choice. Those two things do not necessarily coincide.
The other thing is: we must push for a popularly elected president, who would operate at the behest of the people rather than the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The president of St. Vincent and the Grenadines should be much more than a figure-head. He should have enough autonomy and power to control and operate certain functions of the state. Our president must have executive power.
By voting “No” in November we will be giving ourselves the opportunity to continue push for these things, and to address the many other concerns that we have. We will not “kill” constitutional reform as some might suggest, but we will hold our ground, pretty much like the Irish people did. We will hold our ground initially, and when we see greater, more meaningful change, then we can change, just like the Irish people did.
Hold your ground! Vote NO!!
Ovid Burke
Vermont, St Vincent and the Grenadines | | | | Reads : 1048 | | | |
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