St. Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution: A Closer Look

The Constitution or the supreme law of any nation is a body of laws that should be instituted by the people to meet specific needs. Some of the more pertinent requirement is to safeguard the needs and rights of the people of that generation and future generations from certain ills, and to ensure that an acceptable way of life is preserved while securing the following:

Guard against injustice in its widest from.

2. protect societal values, morals and norms

3. Guard against Anarchy of all kind.

4. to ensure the rule of law prevails and it is actually blind,

5. To provide a justice system that is free from corruption, as well as ensure that justice is free, fair and available to all.

6. And to ensure that the systems are in place to preserved peace, foster goodwill and ensure the wellbeing of those that dwell in that land.

The enacting or the revision of a nation’s constitution is not an assignment that should be taken lightly; neither is it a task that should be undertaken by selfish men, with egoistic personalities, who lack strength and wisdom. For such a critical endeavor can have far-reaching consequences on the people of the day and on future generation if prudence, wisdom and good judgment are not exercised.

It is no secret that I do not trust Ralph Gonsalves: the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines or any of his actions. So when I heard that he was going to undertake the awesome responsibility of overseeing a constitutional review, I took that news with a pinch of salt, tremendous worry, apprehension and fear. This along with the fact that everyone knows that anyone Ralph Gonsalves hand pick and who later receives the rubber stamp of approval from his cabinet is either a stooge or a puppet. One who is willing to Jump, hop or skip at his command.

We have seen this in the behavior and example of the following:

1. Colin Williams the Director of Public Prosecution in St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Colin was a young man with lot of positive potential who had failed to realize his potential.

2. We also have the example of Keith Miller the Commissioner of Police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Keith is a young man who unfortunately lived up to his true potential.

3. And there is the elder statesman: Mr. Parnell R Campbell QC, who was made to resign his NDP held political portfolio, by Ralph Gonsalves: when he leader of the opposition. By this incident we can conclude that Mr. Campbell integrity can be questioned. In my opinion he is one who should have been wiser; but unfortunately he is one who has become giddy from going full political circle on to many occasion, one whose inconsistency have caused him to become so intoxicated that he cannot serve no objective purpose.

It is for these reasons that I have been going through the document that is titled “The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution act 2009.” As a result, my scrutinizing eyes have picked up the following discrepancies.

I was of the opinion that the constitutional review and the Commission that was to undertake that review had an objective of ensuring that the Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines kept up with the changing times, legal changes, and international advancements. However section 14 (1) of the preamble makes provision to replace the Governor General with a president. This section had therefore convinced me that; the constitution review which was ordered by Ralph Gonsalves Government was not only to bring the nation’s supreme law up to date with local, legal and international changes; but it was and is intended to equip St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the transition from an independent State to a republic. Am I the only person who was not aware that, this was the expressed intention of the constitution review or is Ralph Gonsalves and his government trying to put one over on us (Vincentian)?

I also find it strange that according to the preamble, section 6 (2) of the soon to be instituted President will have a tree years grace period to change “any” existing law that he sees fit, by publishing such in the official gazette. What is unfortunate is this part of the constitution did not specify which type of laws the president has the power to change, alter or amend. Here we have a situation where one man has the power and authority to bypass parliamentary procedures and amend any portion or body of laws he feels like; depriving the people who were elected for that purpose the opportunity to function in their capacity to draft, prepare and present amendments to bad laws to the house. This is the perfect way of sneaking a piece of no-good law onto the people, (selling them into slavery) and thus creating an unstable political and social environment. Such Wily Nelly method of changing, and or amending any portion or body of law, presents the perfect opportunity for unscrupulous men to act in their own interest or in the interest of a group etc. and sell the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the highest bidder. In such cases the highest bidder is often the head of government who is obsessed with power; or some multimillionaire from a distance shore.

Another issue I am going to address in this discourse is one which aroused my suspicions. I am very suspicious of the reason why Chapter 6, section 69 (1) (a) is so wide. This section opens up the opportunity for people with duel or more citizenship to hold elected office in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Now let us for argument sake conclude that such a person is elected or appointed to one of the political offices in the St. Vincent House of Parliament and after taking such office, that individual mess with our country’s finances and steal the little money we don’t have. Then that individual can run off to anyone of the countries they are citizen of and enjoy the good life.

In my opinion this is the Prime Minister’s way of ensuring that his son Camillo Gonsalves who is a citizen of three countries, St. Vincent the country he is least loyal to, has a secured political career in S.VG; and so this part of our constitution is dedicated to Camillo Gonsalves. I cannot see the sense in imbedding such into the constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; this can and will have serious implication in the present as well as the future. It is a sad thing that we are not mature enough to think of the future; unfortunately we can only see in the now and how it is going to benefit me.

Today we are living in an era of sophisticated technological advancement, an era where there has been unbelievable advancement in teaching and teaching aids. Now people with disabilities after they have received the correct training to offset their disability; they have been attending IV league schools, attaining note worthy education advancements, have excelled in various fields, (holders of degrees) functions in many capacities and in many instances they have even excel beyond their able body colleagues. Yet we see Chapter 6, section 68 of the new and soon to be enacted constitution discriminates against people with disabilities.

Isn’t it a shameful that in such an era like this one, the new Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has discriminatory clauses? And isn’t it embarrassing that the blind, the hearing impaired and the physical disable are the ones who are subject to such discriminations.

Sec. 68 (1) “A person shall be qualify to be elected or selected to be a representative if, and shall not be so qualify to be so elected or selective unless he (the term “he” here is sexist and therefore automatically disqualifies females)

(d) is able to speak (this disqualify the person who is unable to speak no matter their academic qualification and competences there are so many intellectuals that cannot speak) and, unless incapacitated by blindness (people with the learning and ability of New York City Governor David Paterson is excluded) or other physical cause (this automatically disqualify People with the ability and tenacity of four term US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt FDR and would have automatically disqualify Larry Bascombe if he was alive), to read the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to allow him to take an active part in the proceedings of the national assemble.

This in its-self is indeed a primitive step which will take St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the wrong direction. Can you believe the audacity of the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to discriminate against people with physical or other impediment? Not only in though and actions; but such evil, discriminatory and insensitive biases will soon be legally enforced; as such are embedded into the supreme law of St. Vincent, are you kidding me?

In my opinion there are too many ambiguities in the constitution as it stands. I am of the opinion that cobweb has taken over the legal minds that was entrusted with such an important responsibility. I cannot wait to read the final draft.