Constitutional Reform. On this subject, discussions took place from a drafted document prepared by XXXX, which is pending for submission to the Minister´s Cabinet and for its approval. In essence, the constitutional reform raises inter alia: renaming Chapters IX and XI of Title V of the Constitution of the Republic which would then be named Functional Decentralization and Policy Division and Territorial Decentralization, respectively, in order to avoid confusion and differentiate the rules applicable to each type of decentralization, recognizing the municipalities legal status and its legal capacity to take any type of actions and contracts; recognize the competence of municipalities to manage themselves; restructure municipal government with independent agencies and roles ; raise to constitutional status with regard to the Municipal Administration Career; establish two mechanisms to transfer resources from central to local governments.
Constitutional Reform. The parties agree that the new Unity Government will, as a matter of urgency, establish a Constitution Commission to engage in the widest possible public consultation as a pre-requisite to Constitutional Reform. Notwithstanding the plethora of rhetoric on constitutional reform in the past, the fundamental institutional structures remain unchanged. One of the recurring themes in the constitutional reform discourse is the need to strengthen and/or meliorate democracy in St. Kitts and Nevis. Issues of participation, legitimacy, accountability, good governance, the fusion of the executive and legislative branches, the lack of proper parliamentary oversight of the Government and the people’s constituent power have driven the discussion for more than two decades. In the premises, the new Unity Government will table amendments to provide for and/or strengthen civil, political, social and economic rights, as may be required, to include, but not limited to: • Safeguards against the abuse of power (Government) • Freedom of the Press • Freedom of Information • Integrity in Public Life • Eradication of corruption in Government • Right of recall for non-performing Parliamentary Representatives • Fixed election dates for national and local Elections • Mechanisms for a referendum process • Term limits for the Prime Minister • Conduct of all political parties during an election period • Review the Composition and Function of an independent Electoral Boundaries Commission and Electoral Commission • Establishment of appropriate procedures that are clearly outlined for a Vote of No Confidence • Legislate the proper functioning of the Public Accounts Committee.
