Motions

WHEREAS more than twenty-six years elapsed since the coming into operation of our Republican Constitution (1976);

AND WHEREAS during the said twenty-six years many circumstances have arisen highlighting deficiencies in the Constitution and calling into question the adequacy and/or relevance of many of the provisions thereof;

AND WHEREAS there is urgent need to redress the inequity and divisiveness inherent in our first-past-the-post electoral system in a plural society such as ours and which have manifestly militated against the development of a truly cohesive and inclusive society;

AND WHEREAS to date there have been several previous Constitution Commissions which have already reported on constitutional reform;

AND WHEREAS there have been widespread public calls for constitutional reform to include inter alia, electoral reform, political reform and parliamentary reform;

BE IT RESOLVED that a Joint Select Committee of Parliament be established to make recommendations for urgent reform of the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago and be mandated to receive and consider comments from the public on constitutional reform;

AND BE IT RESOLVED that a non-partisan technical team be established by Government in consultation with the Opposition to assist the Joint Select Committee;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the said Joint Select Committee report to Parliament within one year of its first sitting.

(By the Member for Siparia)