UK may not accept all changes we want in constitution — CRC Chair
Chairperson of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), Lisa Penn-Lettsome has said residents should note that the United Kingdom may not accept all the changes proposed to the BVI constitution.
Penn-Lettsome made the revelation on the Real Talk Show hosted by Karia Christopher while explaining the process that will be taken to update the BVI’s constitution.
She said once the commissioners submit their report on the constitutional review process, the BVI will form a negotiating team responsible for discussing the recommendations with the United Kingdom.
“Their job would be to take the recommendations in the report and negotiate them with the United Kingdom. And so that is where the process of give-and-take will come in. So all recommendations probably won’t be accepted, some may be rejected and some won’t,” Penn Lettsome explained.
Former legislator Minister Ronnie Skelton, who was also part of the interview, further explained that the negotiating team and constitutional review commissioners have to skillfully present multiple options when making recommendations so that there may be favourable alternative options if the United Kingdom pushes back on any of the recommendations.
“Let’s say, for example, there is a recommendation that we implement term limits for some people. When we go to negotiate it, they (UK) might have some counterpoints why they don’t agree with it. Therefore, this is where we need Lisa and all the others to come up with option A, B and C so we can get what we want,” Skelton explained.
After the Commissioners finish the review process, they will have some nine months to finish their report and present it to the House of Assembly. Thereafter, the report will become a public document which will be accessible to residents.
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And we would be stupid to stay under them if they have no respect for our wishes. I often wonder why we are doing a review of the constitution at the time when they have demoralized us with a COI report that they cannot prove and from how it is appearing has very little truth to it. Are we that blind that we can’t see what the UK is doing? If you follow history you would notice that whenever the talk of independence surfaces in a country they do things like this to keep you under them. This COI was a kangaroo court session to damage the pride of our country and make our leaders look horrible so that we could have no fate in them. The commissioner was freed from civil suit for what he wrote in the report which is very suspicious to me. If you write things like this you should be man enough to stand up to the consequences of it.
The Uk has no good intentions for the BVI. It is all about what they can hold on to for themselves. Their kingdom is shrinking and cannot afford to lose us. I see how we look upon our Caribbean brothers and sisters and how unwelcoming we could be at times to them. The country is now full of UK operatives, police and their friends who are here seeking out opportunities for themselves and you hear not a peep from us local people. We have been colonized to the point of stupidity. Did you the see the party they had on the police boat during lobster fest? Pay attention people!
If the BVI wants independence they just have to ask and it will be given in a heartbeat, the UK has no use for this territory. However, the BVI’s finance industry would be on the first plane out, so, perhaps you should be careful what you wish for.
@Wake up!, You sound like the stupid one the UKJ owns the BVI.
You are fast asleep.
The UK own the BVI? Have you lost your mind? Read the constitution before you talk nonsense. No wonder we are she hung like sheep. We believe that our colonizers own us. I get it now. We are doomed.
Well since the UK don’t own us then why are we asking for independence? Who are we trying to get away from? Isn’t it our bosses/owners? Answer me!
What kind of and how does manupilating the up/down feature to suit a few insignificants views or opinions serve the greater good of the country and its people?
@Yes to UK, You are a very misinformed person or stupid.
Truth and facts. Of course the knowledgeable knows who have a chronic aversion to them. Lord help them, for after centuries their human evolution has remain stagnant.