The United Progressive Party (UPP) is insisting that the amendments to the Constitution passed in the Lower House on Tuesday are in breach of three fundamental principles.
“The first is that amendments to legislation, especially the Constitution should have as its overriding objective the benefit of the people of the country as a whole, and not individual interests,” said UPP leader Lynette Eastmond.
In a statement to the media, she also charged that a rush to draft and pass legislation so critical to Barbados’ legislative and electoral process without ruminating on its effect will increase the chances of creating uncertainty within the law where there was none previously.
In addition, she noted that bills which are to be passed in the House of Assembly and especially those which seek to amend the Constitution, should receive wide circulation within the public domain in order to permit thorough debate.
During its first sitting, the Mia Mottley-led administration passed amendments to the Barbados Constitution granting eligibility to Barbadians with dual citizenship to become Senators, as well as allowing such persons to contest a seat in elections. The amendments also removed the requirement that those appointed to the Senate had to be ordinarily resident in Barbados 12 months immediately prior to being sworn in as Senators and required the Governor General to consult with political parties not supporting the Government when appointing Opposition Senators.
“The mere fact that the amendments were not circulated for debate speaks to just how individual the interests were. This should cause deep concern to all Barbadians,” she insisted.
She further said that this “trivialising of the legislative process”, left “a discernible blot upon the legislative landscape of a nation”.