Grenada: Constitutional reform referendum postponed from Oct. 27 to Nov. 24

Voters in Grenada will no longer be voting to make changes to the country’s constitution on October 27, but will do so on November 24.

The decision to change the referendum date was announced by the country’s Attorney General Cajeton Hood.

According to Hood, the postponement of the poll was “in the broader national interest” and to provide voters more time to get an “in-depth understanding of the Rights and Freedom Bill.”

In a statement shortly after the Attorney General’s announcement, the country’s the Supervisor of Elections, Alex Phillip said he was advised Wednesday by the Governor-General, Cecile La Grenade, that the 7 writs issued on September 23 this year, have been revoked.

“Her Excellency has commanded me to inform the general public of Grenada that today, 19th October, 2016, 7 writs of constitutional referendums have been issued. The date appointed by the Governor-General as Constitutional Referendum is Thursday, 24th November, 2016,” Phillip said in the statement.

The statement explained that on this date, all registered electors would be entitled to vote “Yes” or “No” to the approval of each of the 7 Constitutional Amendment Bills as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. As a result and in accordance with the Constitutional Referendum Act, the Governor-General has declared November 1 as the final day for registration of electors for participation in Constitutional Referendum Day.

The other bills to be voted upon in the referendum include one that changes the name of the State from ‘Grenada’ to ‘Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique and another would institute term limits for the Prime Minister; ensure that there is always an Opposition Leader; enable Parliament to provide fixed dates for general elections; institute an Elections and Boundaries Commission; introduce the modern styling ‘Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’; and require that allegiance be sworn, no longer to the Queen, but to Grenada.

There is also a bill that will allow Grenadians to decide whether or not to replace the London-based Privy Council with the Trinidad & Tobago-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as the island-nation’s final appellate court.

All 7 bills need to be passed by a two-thirds majority of those voting in the referendum to become law. -(CMC)