KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says his administration has heeded a request from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Christian Council for an independent review of the controversial amendment to the Representation of the People Act.
The main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) has been staging a series of demonstrations against the proposed amendments to Section 51 of the Act, claiming that it would infringe up[on the rights of citizens.
But Gonzalves, who has already said that Section 16 of the Constitution states that any infringement of anyone’s rights or any allegation of any such infringement can be redressed by the aggrieved individual applying to the High Court, told party supporters on Sunday night that he was prepared to listen to the religious grouping.
“The Bill is already on hold because the Joint Select Committee, the next meeting is May 5. The Christian Council says they want time to get somebody to look at the Representation of the People’s Act.
“They have from now until May 5. If they say to me that they want another two weeks beyond that I am prepared to say yes. I am willing to meet with the Christian Council and we hold our hands together because we all love this country and these are serious people….and I listen to them and I pay attention to what they say,” Gonsalves told supporters.,
But the Prime Minister made it clear that “it is not everything they say I will agree with, but we pay attention to what they say”.
Gonsalves said he was confident that the bill would meet the approval of legislators after all the studies are completed.
“I know at the end of the study the independent study will show that there is nothing in the Bill to be afraid of in the way in which (Arnhim) Eustace (NDP leader) talking. So I don’t have any worry about that,” he said, adding “I know that the Bill will be passed.
“I know when right thinking people will look at it the Christian Council must come to the conclusion that what we are saying is the right and proper thing,” he added. (CMC)
