Kingstown, St. Vincent-A proposed constitutional amendment redefining the term \u201cforeign power\u201d has sparked sharp debate, with Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves dismissing Senator Jamalie John\u2019s assurances that the change will not affect election cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senator John has argued that the amendment is a technical clarification, designed to ensure that Commonwealth countries are not considered \u201cforeign powers\u201d under the Constitution. He insisted that the measure would not undermine the Representation of the People\u2019s Act or invalidate ongoing election petitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Dr. Gonsalves forcefully rejected that explanation, warning that the amendment\u2019s wording particularly its reference to \u201cas from the commencement of this constitution\u201d could retroactively impact election challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can read the English language, you know, and I know what the constitution says,\u201d Gonsalves said<\/p>\n\n\n\n
. \u201cWhy you putting that then, as from the commencement of the constitution? If you want to say foreign power in the future shall have that meaning, why do you say in the savings clause that nothing in this section shall be construed as rendering invalid at any time after the commencement of this constitution?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Opposition Leader accused the government of attempting to obscure the amendment\u2019s true implications. \u201cJohn, youthink you\u2019re talking to a fool? Nobody\u2019s going to put any wool over my eye with this,\u201d he said, adding that senior legal counsels across the Caribbean have described the move as \u201cmadness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gonsalves stressed that while the amendment\u2019s ability to withstand judicial scrutiny remains uncertain, its intent is \u201cclear, unmistakable.\u201d He warned that the government\u2019s approach could erode constitutional safeguards and electoral integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The amendment is scheduled for debate in Parliament on April 21, 2026. It comes amid ongoing legal proceedings against MPs accused of violating election laws by holding Canadian citizenship. The controversy centers on whether redefining \u201cforeign power\u201d to exclude Commonwealth countries would shield those MPs from disqualification, raising broader questions about constitutional interpretation and the future of election petitions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kingstown, St. Vincent-A proposed constitutional amendment redefining the term \u201cforeign power\u201d has sparked sharp debate, with Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves dismissing Senator Jamalie John\u2019s assurances that the change will not affect election cases. Senator John has argued that the amendment is a technical clarification, designed to ensure that Commonwealth countries are not considered \u201cforeign powers\u201d under<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":44984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[52,381,380,379,324,382],"class_list":["post-44985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-local-news","tag-caricom","tag-citizenship","tag-commonwealth","tag-constitution","tag-government","tag-minister-of-government"],"yoast_head":"\n