EDITOR, The Tribune.
All of the Caribbean has a similar constitution that has a British design. It creates a society where a few elites control a majority of the resources.
The Bahamas must write a new constitution that allows the bottom strata of society to live in dignity. If the top needs to be called upon to help so be it: with great privilege comes great responsibilities.
There is evidence that when people are improvised there is an increase in crime, mental illness and other social ills. Ensuring that no Bahamian lives in oppression - better known as poverty - is delivering justice. Eradicating poverty must be the priority or it will just be a constitution for the powerful.
There should also be mechanisms where ordinary citizens can call a referendum and the result is legally binding. It must not be a symbolic law where the Governor General and Prime Minister can decide that the signatures of the voter that request the referendum are not valid and deny the referendum.
There should be recall mechanisms for ministers or elected representatives not performing to the people’s expectation. There must be safeguards to human liberties and protection from abuse by agents of the state such as police or the military. There must be a mechanism where if enough citizens think there is corruption in a ministry an investigation is launched. There must be a law enforcement agency that can hold politicians and the rich to account: so far most of the convicted criminals are poor and powerless.
So-called white collar crime is rarely punished. Human life must be protected by the state as a priority. Currently the state cannot protect its citizenry adequately. If you look at the high murder rate and low conviction rate that verifies my assertion. These problems need to be eradicated.
Since it is the Christmas season I just gave you my wish list for Bahamas’s new constitution. Let The Bahamas be a trend setter in the Caribbean and the world with the most advanced constitution in human history.
BRIAN E PLUMMER
December 11, 2015.
Comments
themessenger 8 years, 4 months ago
Mr. Plummer, You should be aware that oppression and poverty are not synonymous and the way to eradicate the former is through the ballot box and the latter through education. The problem in this country isn't the constitution, it is the ignorance and apathy of an electorate that allows, and in many cases aids and abets, our elected officials in ignoring both the constitution and and the rule of law. Most if not all of the things you wish for are already enshrined in our our constitution and changing it will not remedy our ignorance, apathy and dependency one whit; it is only when we as a people decide to lift ourselves from the dung heap we have mired ourselves in that things will change for the better.
berryj 8 years ago
The Bahamas must write a new constitution that allows the bottom strata of society to live in dignity. If the top needs to be called upon to help so be it: with great privilege comes great responsibilities. Probably should travel to http://www.simonsholidays.in/internat...">Hong Kong Tour Package where you can also enjoy Disney Land with your loved ones.
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