COP: Constitutional Reform Commission on the right track Dyer-Griffith: Commission committed to people-centered approach CHARLIEVILLE – Vice Chairman of the Congress of the People (COP), Nicole Dyer-Griffith, today commended the Constitutional Reform Commission for their work on constitutional reform and their commitment to the COP ideal of participatory democracy. “From 2007, the COP has consistently agitated for a change in the systems of government and governance and that ‘the collective aspirations, will and judgment of the people of T&T’ should be reflected in the Constitution as promised in our manifesto. The people of Trinidad and Tobago, have, to date, had 19 opportunities afforded to them to air their opinions and suggestions for reform and will have 4 more in February. This is 23 more opportunities than was offered by the PNM during their own reform process in 2009,” said Dyer-Griffith. Dyer-Griffith stated that participation in the systems of governance is central to a healthy democracy. She noted however that such participation extended beyond the electoral process. “Participation in the framework of governance includes involvement by citizens at all government levels and within society as well. Participation then, includes voting, offering oneself as a candidate, and community-based participation through NGOs and grassroots movement. This report does offer recommendations for an increase in participatory democracy through the proposed hybrid model of Parliament as well as instituting changes in government checks and balances that would prevent the excesses of government,” she argued. “Whether the proposed changes of the Parliament and other recommendations are right or perfect is debatable. What I can unequivocally state is that some kind of change is needed. The COP has put forward its own proposals on reform titled “Towards a governance system that is fair and performance-oriented” and I encourage the national community to read and comment on this and the report of the commission, as well as to make it your business that your voices be heard in the final round of consultations,” stated Dyer-Griffith. She concluded by saying, “The right kind of change is not going to come from armchair critics but from those who are willing to offer the solutions needed.”
Posted on: Sat, 08 Feb 2014 01:40:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015