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.
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.
