Submission 55
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2022
To: ConstitutionalReform
Subject: re: suggestions for reform pt. 1
The composition of Parliament:
1. The abolition of the Senate altogether, and going forward with a unicameral legislature composed of 24 elected members, two members from each Parish, along with7 "at large" members elected by proportional representation with the entire country being the constituency. The odd number of representations is to eliminate the possibility of a tie.
2. Or: An elected Senate elected under a system of proportional representation composed of the existing number of members (21), with 11 elected at the Parish level (1 representative each), the remaining being elected nationally.
Where proportional representation is used to elect the members perhaps a 5% of total votes cast can be used as the threshold for a party to gain a seat in the chamber.
Also the Seante should be then given greater powers including the ability to reject all bills emanating from the lower House.
Rights:
1. the rights of various minorities, including protections from discrimination of marginalized groups (sexual/gender minorities) should be enshrined and explicitly spelled out in the Constitution.
2. Environment:
The Constitution should contain provisions for the inviolability of certain areas in Barbados that require special protection from the ravages of "development". This includes remaining swamplands such as Graeme Hall, Chancery Lane, as well as the Barbados National Park (Scotland District) and park spaces such as the Botanical Gardens, Queen's Park, and beach Lands around the island. These can be termed "Specially Protected Areas" which would be seen as sacrosanct, and only under very strict standards can development take place in and around these areas.
Elections:
1. The Constitution should have a provision for the designation of a fixed election date (suggestion first Wednesday in October, not much of note happening around that time, allows for certain level of productivity during that week with relatively little disruption).
Limit Prime Ministerial tenure strictly to two terms, whether consecutive or not.
Reduce terms to 4 years instead of five.
The provision for a system of recall of representatives should b included, but requires a
signature of 15% of votes total cast the previous election in a constituency to be deemed as support for the removal of a representative from office.
More to come.
