The Constitutional Reform Commission will host its first thematic town hall meeting on Thursday, November 24, at the Frederick Smith Secondary School, Trents, St. James, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
This disclosure has come from Commissioner, Khaleel Kothdiwala, who said the Commission would now move into its second phase of public meetings, which would be structured on a chapter-by-chapter thematic basis, in keeping with the earlier undertaking given by the Prime Minister and Attorney General.
“Therefore, in every month, from November until June 2023, the Commission’s public engagement will centre around a particular Chapter of the Constitution.
“For the month of November, in keeping with the spirit of nationhood and to commence this new phase, the Commission will focus on the Preamble to the Constitution; the appropriate place of the Charter of Barbados in our Constitution, and generally, the spirit of Barbados and its people, which ought to be reflected in the Constitution, as it is not only a legal document, but a social and political declaration,” Mr. Kothdiwala stated.
He listed the upcoming months and thematic discussions as follows:
- December – Citizenship;
- January – Fundamental Human Rights;
- February – The Office of the President;
- March – Parliament;
- April – The Executive (The Cabinet);
- May – The Judiciary and the Legal System; and
- June – The Public Service and Finance.
Mr. Kothdiwala noted that each town hall meeting would be held for two hours. He reminded members of the public that their submissions at the meetings must be kept to five minutes, in the first instance.