By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
CIVIC groups yesterday called for an overhaul of antiquated constitutional provisions to connect policy with the economic, social and cultural realities of the country.
During presentations on reform to the Bahamas Constitutional Commission, groups ‘We The People’ (WTP) and ‘Civil Society Bahamas’ (CSB) underscored a critical disconnect between current processes and national development.
The national experience takes place in an environment of “distress, debt, and discontent,” according to CSB president Anthony Hamilton, who highlighted the decline of non-governmental organisations.
The umbrella organisation for civic groups in the Bahamas called for: the inclusion of a curriculum on the constitution in the national educational system, limited tenure of the prime minister to two consecutive terms, an independent constituency commission, the execution of capital punishment and the exploration of alternative methods; and mandatory national service for high school students.
Mr Hamilton also suggested that appointments to government agencies should be made through an independent board and based on merit rather than political affiliation.
Highlighting a lack of accountability and opportunities for engagement, WTP explained that the perceived apathy of citizens towards national development is nurtured by a culturally irrelevant system of governance.
WTP representative Julian Francis said: “An important example of the above is the accumulation of public debt, which now approaches worrying levels. Serious consideration must be given to limiting the ability of a government to spend to revenues it can raise during the term of its mandate.”
Among other considerations put forward was the call for an abandonment of the current party system, a move WTP chairman Ed Fields said would be a rational departure from a system that does not allow for true representation of, and allegiance to, citizens.
The suggestion was challenged by commissioner Carl Bethel, who pointed out that the party system was born out of a need to protect against the vested interests of the wealthy dominating over those of lower economic standing.
Mr Fields said: “We do not seek to outline a perfect depiction of an alternate order, but to cause and provoke thought about the possibility of an alternate order.”
Mr Fields also suggested that constitutional forum discussions be regularised and held on a consistent basis at two or five year intervals to allow for ongoing engagement with citizens and fuller public education on reform initiatives.
He added that WTP also planned to host forums on constitutional reform to extend the discussion and widen the scope of participants.
Mr Fields said: “We should not have to wait every 40 years, or for that matter by happenstance, to rejuvenate out national well-being.
We should promote healthy self-examination through citizen-led engagement that ultimately lends to the purest form of self-determination and self-government possible. In that vein it is a never-ending pursuit.”
The commission is scheduled to meet with religious leaders Rev Antoine St Louis, Bishop Franklin M Ferguson, and Rev Patrick Paul, at 10.30am today.
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