The Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) has been granted an extension to continue its work until April next year.
Director General – Governance, Gail Atkins, said the President of Barbados, by the Commissions of Inquiry (Constitutional Reform Commission Warrant of Appointment) (Variation) Order, 2023, which was gazetted on September 18, 2023, had extended the life of the CRC until April 19, 2024.
The Order states that the Commission should “present the written report within 22 months from the date of the appointment of the Commission”. The CRC was sworn in on June 20, 2022.
In explaining the Commission’s work and the rationale for the extension, Ms. Atkins stated: “The work of the CRC is fairly advanced. It has completed consultations locally as well as with the diaspora in the United Kingdom and North America. The CRC has received several submissions from members of the public, at home and abroad, as well as from key stakeholders on matters considered pertinent to the drafting of a new Constitution.
“The CRC is now at the deliberative stage where it is considering all the submissions made to determine the issues that will be contained in its report to be submitted to the President, as well as to provide drafting instructions for the preparation of a new Constitution for Barbados.”