Former St Luca Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony says it is time countries in the Caribbean relook their constitutional models and Westminster system of governance.
“If we’re going to confront Westminster and if we’re going to rethink our systems of governance and constitutions that provide for the systems of governance, we have to approach this business in a very realistic way, have a sharper and acute understanding of what the real possibilities are, and we cannot proceed by way of models that are generic that one cap fits all,” he said.
Anthony was part of a virtual town hall discussion on Sunday evening hosted by the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) on Constitutional Reform And The Republic: Confronting Westminster. It was moderated by political scientist at Cave Hill, Dr Kristina Hinds.
Other panellists included Professor Hamid Ghany, former director of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, UWI, St Augustine; former Speaker in Dominica’s House of Assembly Alix Boyd-Knights; former Speaker in the House of Assembly in St Vincent and the Grenadines Jomo Thomas; Jamaica’s Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Audley Duncan; former president of the Barbados’ National Organisation of Women Dr Marsha Hinds, and Guyanese attorney Chevy Devonish. (RA)
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Funny how people can see the light only after their Light has been turned off.Dr. Kenny Anthony is probably now of this position after being defeated by the first past the post system as used in the UK and by Extension all former Countries which were under the British Colonial System.
I was soundly berated when i first brought this up about 15 years ago, as everyone seemed then to be of the Opinion that there was no other choice, when there was always another Choice, get rid of Political Parties, and have each Candidate tell the People what they intend to do if elected.all members of the House of Assembly would be Elected, and if one were interested in becoming the PM that would be a Separate Vote on the Same Ballot, meaning that person would have to be (1) Elected as a member of Parliament, and (2) would have to be on the same Ballot a second time to be elected as PM.The first 3 candidates in each Parish would be Elected making 33 seats in Parliament.each parish will have 3 Consti