The Antigua and Barbuda government is demonstrating its intent regarding a comprehensive review of the Constitution, which went into effect on the attainment of political Independence on November 1st, 1981.
Attorney General, Sir Steadroy Benjamin announced this week that a Constitutional review is now necessary as the country approaches its 45th anniversary of Independence and with the Constitution remaining largely intact over that period.
Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of a Constitutional Review Committee where Sir Steadroy will serve as its chairman. The deputy chairman is Justin Simon, QC, with members being appointed from Non-Government Organisations, the Bar Association, and civil society groups among others.
The mandate of the Committee will include an examination of the Constitution to determine areas that can be amended without having to go to a referendum and to make recommendations to address those areas of concern.
“One of the areas to be considered is whether we should maintain the bicameral system of parliament (having two chambers – the Lower House and the Senate) or whether the country should instead, opt for a unicameral parliament. Another area of much interest is whether Ministers of Religion should be allowed to actively participate in politics as elected representatives,” Benjamin revealed.
Those would be just some of the areas that the committee will have as its mandate when it convenes its first meeting in January next year, according to the Attorney General.
Sir Steadroy announced that a special place will be reserved on the committee for the Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Reform group spearheaded by Ralph Bowen, an attorney based in the United States, which he said has been carrying out a commendable job educating the nation about the Constitution and the need for reform.
He said he believes that the referendum on the CCJ would probably have been successful had this type of education had been ongoing prior to the vote.
