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CRC chair urges VI to take ownership of constitutional review exercise

Chairperson of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) Mrs Lisa Penn-Lettsome said the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) are not fully participating in the constitutional review consultations, even after the commission has worked on building awareness and ensuring people know what the process is about. Photo: GIS
According to Mrs Penn-Lettsome, the people of the VI are not taking ownership of this exercise, adding that she does not buy the excuse of persons not hearing about the process. Photo: Internet Source
According to Mrs Penn-Lettsome, the people of the VI are not taking ownership of this exercise, adding that she does not buy the excuse of persons not hearing about the process. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Chairperson of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) Mrs Lisa Penn-Lettsome said the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) are not fully participating in the constitutional review consultations, even after the commission has worked on building awareness and ensuring people know what the process is about.

“We have done considerable outreach… Our Commissioners have gone to considerable lengths and trouble to put together information that the public will find very useful, very interesting, and if you don't go to the website you can't get it," she said. 

Penn-Lettsome added that the information available includes articles, cases, the previous Constitution, the current Constitution and its amendments, the 2005 report, and more.

She said other documents uploaded to the website include the role of the governor, separation of powers, the role of the governor in overseas territories, and the possibility of direct rule.

“But in spite of that, in spite of all the radio and television ads… to date we have had submitted eight comments, and we've had three persons book to come and visit us during the day,” Lettsome-Penn said at the launch of the CRC’s consultation meetings last Friday, November 11, 2022.

'Take ownership'- Penn-Lettsome

According to Mrs Penn-Lettsome, the people of the VI are not taking ownership of this exercise, adding that she does not buy the excuse of persons not hearing about the process. 

The CRC Chair added that persons saying they have not heard of the review process, "probably suggests that it is something you don't really want to hear about or you haven't put yourself out there because but it's there, ”

She called on people in the VI to take more interest in the process, "if this were another overseas territory... I think the responses would have been a bit more vibrant," Mrs Penn-Lettsome concluded.

See the schedule of community meetings below:

No photo description available.

8 Responses to “CRC chair urges VI to take ownership of constitutional review exercise”

  • I am lost (15/11/2022, 08:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is this the same person who said a few days ago she is pleased with the level of interaction Hon Frazer said he was disappointed at the level of turn out of about 30 persons. She was pleased as reported by this news site. What happened over the last few days.
  • time will tell (15/11/2022, 09:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why take part when dem could go on Tola Radio and bray like asses??!!
  • Schedule (15/11/2022, 09:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can someone post up the schedule for the meetings. They saying attend attend attend. Bloody heck post the schedule! Not everyone have time to go looking on no website for it. Post the news on the news...duh!
  • Mustang (15/11/2022, 11:07) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Gen z/iGen may be tech savvy but all Gens have the time and ability to access the website. Meet the people where they are, if you really want to get input. The constitutional process is too short and the comment period is too short. The CRC needs to hold a series of constitution lectures at the HLSCC, Band Stand, Great Harbour, Valley, North South, Settlement, EE/LL CC, Sea Cowboy CC, West End CC, site at Meyers, Cane Garden Bay CC, site at Bell Vue, site at Brewers Bay, Sir Olva Georges Plaza, site at Fahie Hill, etc. Then schedule meetings and solicit input. The final draft should be discussed with public before winging off to London. Strongly encourage BVI community to engage in the constitutional review process. If you don’t get engaged and participate, belly aching after it is sign, seal and delivered is too late. It is missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Let’s not forget that the constitution is the foundation document on which laws are passed governing your lives. The final decision on the constitution is not the BVI’s but the UK’s. It has the power to determine the final outcome. Nevertheless, strong interest in the process will carry more weight than a nonchalant attitude towards it. A nonchalant attitude emboldens the UK to do what it wants.
  • NPolitico (17/11/2022, 04:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mehson ah wah gwanon. Is the CRC double speaking? In one comment, she is please with the participation; another, she is dissatisfied. Was her first comment premature and should have waited to get a larger sampling of participation?
  • Mel Tot (17/11/2022, 06:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ms. Penn is correct.
  • Daniel Williams (20/11/2022, 23:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The information you shared is very accurate, it gives me the knowledge drift boss that I need to learn. Thank you for sharing this useful information.


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