There are some provisions in the constitution that can protect unborn children, and he would “hate to go to his grave” thinking that the exercise may have created an adverse effect over the next 50 years, he said.
Making his comments at the Bahamas Faith Ministries headquarters on Carmichael Road, Dr. Munroe said, “I would hate to live in my cemetery’s plot and think that I have changed something that may have caused a flood of destruction to enter my country. I would like to suggest that if you are going to tamper with the constitution in its fundamental basic ideologies, it must be a referendum.”
According to Dr. Munroe, no politician or committee has the right to touch the
Constitution, as there are many who feel strongly about its contents and if touched or tampered with, an element that is sensitive to the foundation of society would also be touched.
“I respect all the committee members of the constitutional reform committee and the government’s desire to refine it, but I do think that we must be very careful when we deal with the foundational elements in that constitution,” he stated.
Dr. Munroe also pointed out that The Bahamas is in the process of celebrating 30 years of independence success and chastised the government for suggesting during the month of July that the constitution be revised.
“How dare we,” he queried, “during this very sacred time, bring up the issue of tampering with the very document that has helped us to become where we are today successfully?”
A constitutional commission was appointed by the Progressive Liberal Party government earlier this year, and is co-chaired by former Attorney General Paul L. Adderley.
The 22-member commission’s overall mandate is to undertake a comprehensive and systematic review of the Bahamian constitution and at the same time, give Bahamians the opportunity to directly review and propose changes to the Constitution, participate in the construction of governmental structures and define fundamental rights and the meaning of citizenship.
On July 14, the Constitutional Reform Commission began its public education campaign with the launching of a booklet, entitled “The Bahamas Constitution: Options for Change.”
The booklet outlines specific related ideologies, including the strengthening of the fundamental freedoms and civil and political rights of the individual, and the structure of executive authority.
An initial 20,000 copies of the publication have been produced and are being distributed locally and in the Family Islands. A series of town meetings and campaigns is also scheduled to span a two-year period.
At a press conference held at the Commission’s headquarters in Victoria Gardens on July 15, one of the framers of the present Constitution and Commission Chairman, Mr. Adderley, said there are certain questions that the Constitutional Commission wants to consider, which includes: Whether The Bahamas should remain a monarchy and pledge allegiance to the British Sovereign; what changes should be made to the citizenship provisions; should the Senate be abolished, and proportional representation, as to whether the membership of the House of Assembly should be determined by the percentage of votes polled in general elections.
Also up for review he said are: Questions as to whether the executive powers of the Prime Minister should be limited; should the Privy Council in London be retained as the final Court of Appeal; should the appointment of judges be subject to the approval of Parliament; and should the entrenched provisions of the Constitution be limited.
Mr. Adderley also pointed out at the press conference that some Bahamians have misconceptions regarding their constitutional rights as they pertain to the fundamentals of their freedom.
“It all depends on the freedom you’re looking for. There is no such thing as absolute freedom, absolute in a sense that you can do what you like whenever you like. That’s the difficulty but we’ll see how far this goes with regard to fundamental rights,” said Mr. Adderley.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
