Constitutional review docs to be brought to Cabinet 'as matter of urgency'- Hon Fahie
"Six months ago, COVID-19 did not exist. Today, everything thing we do and say is dictated by COVID-19," Premier Fahie said in a statement at the Eighth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) yesterday, June 8, 2020.
He said Technology has also been rapidly changing and, as such, the VI constitution which had its last revision in 2007 must now reflect with the changing times and new global environment.
Documents already prepared for Cabinet - Hon Fahie
"Mr Speaker, I wish to advise Honourable Members that as Premier I have caused the necessary documents to be prepared for the matter of a review of the constitution to be brought before the Cabinet as a matter of urgency. His Excellency the Governor [Augustus J. U. Jaspert] has already been advised of your Government’s intentions to review the constitution."
The Premier said the 'Cabinet Note' asks for the matter to be referred to the HoA where the Elected Representatives from the 9 Districts and the 4 At-Large Representatives will debate this issue.
While championing a transparent process, he also said it is not a one-man job or a one-party exercise but should be about all Virgin Islanders, regardless of social status and political affiliation, working together on the process.
"This is why the issue will be debated in the House of Assembly and why Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition will have input into the composition of the Constitutional Review Commission."
Constitutional Review Commission to be launch
Hon Fahie noted that providing the resolution gains the approval of the House of Assembly, the next step will be the establishment of a Constitutional Review Commission.
"The Commission’s work will include engaging the population to find out their views on our present constitution and what the citizens of the BVI would like to see changed."
According to Hon Fahie, it has now been 70 years since the VI got its first written Constitution, the 1950 Constitution which returned certain powers to the reformed Legislative Council in the VI from the Governor of the Leeward Islands where decision making had been vested previously for some time.
The Premier said steps have already been taken to convene a special informal meeting of the HoA, set on on June 16, 2020, to discuss the dynamics of the constitutional review exercise.
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16 Responses to “Constitutional review docs to be brought to Cabinet 'as matter of urgency'- Hon Fahie”
It is people in authority who continue to fight with born tolians and don't want to accept a child born here from one parent who also born here,and all immigration and other doing is making a fool of theirself,so don't know who from here and who not from here.You know what,as we do for everything else.The Constitution good how it is.....
Blame the Governor for that too.
This Constitution is not across the board. It's being used for who it wants. It's states an accused should ge given a fair trial within a reasonable time. The word fair doesn't exists in the BVl legal system. Reasonable time, what's reasonable time, people waiting for trials for years.
It's being used to convict people but not free them. Tge DPP reports to no one and does as they please. Another thing much people don't talk about how can 2 legal professionals who work together be the head of 2 legal entities of the country.
Tamara Richards is over the Magistrate's Court and now Tiffany Scatiliffe is over DPP... How people going perceive to get a fair trial? Such was efficient when Tambu Frett went for sentencing and the manner Tamara conduct her self. She going do as she please if you don't like it appeal it. Such isn't the way a professional should conduct themselves.
No locals should be passing judgement in the courts where they presides/lives/from. Feelings must get involved one way or the next. The BVl legal system is the most c***** in the ECSC. The elected members know such as well. All them k ow the BS that's going on and does nothing. Love to say they can't get involved, but refuse to pass the laws needed for one's rights to be protected...
To date the Human Rights Commission can't be established... Why 13 years later neither VIP or NDP can create the need Human Rights Commission which should be according to the saus constitution...
Thats a lie straight from hell.
Any child born in yhe BVI to a parent from the BVI and a foreign national, that child is deemed to Belobg to the BVI. Stop writing piss.