A constitutional referendum was held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 25 November 2009.[1] Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution which would have replaced the constitution in force since independence in 1979.[2][3] The proposal was supported by only 43.13% of voters in the referendum, well short of the required two-thirds threshold. If approved, the proposed constitution would have abolished the monarchy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, headed by Queen Elizabeth II,[3] and would have given more power to the opposition.[2] The referendum was the first of its kind to be held by a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.[1]
2009 Vincentian constitutional referendum
25 November 2009
Do you approve the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution 2009 passed in the House of Assembly on the 3rd of September 2009 to provide the new Constitution for St.Vincent and the Grenadines?
Prime MinisterRalph Gonsalves and his Unity Labour Party (ULP) campaigned heavily for the "Yes" vote,[4] Gonsalves advocating that, though he had nothing personally against Queen Elizabeth II, he believed it was time for Saint Vincent to stop having a monarch as its head of state; he offered the opinion: "I find it a bit of a Nancy story that the Queen of England [sic] can really be the Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines."[2] Though he had earlier shown affinity towards communist dictators Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro,[5] Gonsalves asserted that the proposed constitution for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines would not have created such a presidential post; the Prime Minister argued that an executive presidency would give the office holder too much power in the small country. In an interview with the Trinidad and Tobago Express, he stated that type of presidency "may well make perfect sense" for the neighbouring country of Trinidad and Tobago, but such a government would not work in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, saying further: "it is our assessment that to conjoin the power of a prime minister with the power of a head of state, head of government, or head of state in our circumstances, that is a matter which will end up making that office holder more powerful than the current situation."[2]
Opposition to the constitutional changes was led by the New Democratic Party (NDP), which held the position that the proposed constitution would neither reduce the power of the prime minister nor strengthen the country's democracy.[4] The NDP's leader, Arnhim Eustace, opined that the Gonsalves government and opposition parties had not come to an agreement on a number of fundamental issues, including the Integrity Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman, and the Electoral and Boundaries Commission.[4]
The CARICOMSecretariat announced that it would, at the request of the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, officially observe the referendum, with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID), an agency of the government of Spain.[1][4]
ConductEdit
Voting took place in heavy rain, with 52,262 of the 97,724 eligible Vincentiens casting ballots at 225 polling stations. The Supervisor of Elections opined that this was a good turn-out given the inclement weather.[6]
^ abc"CARICOM Secretariat team to observe St Vincent and the Grenadines referendum". Caribbean Net News. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2009.[dead link]
^ abcdBrowne, Juhel (11 November 2009). . Trinidad and Tobago Express. Archived from the original on November 13, 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
^ abElizabeth II (26 July 1979), Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 50.1, Kingstown: Queen's Printer, from the original on 16 November 2020, retrieved 26 November 2009
^ abcd"CARICOM observers for St Vincent Constitution referendum". Caribbean 360. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2009.[permanent dead link]
^Johnson, Andy (26 November 2009), , Trinidad and Tobago Express, archived from the original on November 27, 2009, retrieved 26 November 2009
^Trotman, Jeff (26 November 2009), "NO... NO...NO!!!", The Vincentian, retrieved 29 November 2009[permanent dead link]
August 29, 2023
2009, vincentian, constitutional, referendum, constitutional, referendum, held, saint, vincent, grenadines, november, 2009, voters, were, asked, whether, they, approved, constitution, which, would, have, replaced, constitution, force, since, independence, 1979. A constitutional referendum was held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 25 November 2009 1 Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution which would have replaced the constitution in force since independence in 1979 2 3 The proposal was supported by only 43 13 of voters in the referendum well short of the required two thirds threshold If approved the proposed constitution would have abolished the monarchy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines headed by Queen Elizabeth II 3 and would have given more power to the opposition 2 The referendum was the first of its kind to be held by a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States 1 2009 Vincentian constitutional referendum25 November 2009Do you approve the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution 2009 passed in the House of Assembly on the 3rd of September 2009 to provide the new Constitution for St Vincent and the Grenadines ResultsChoice Votes Yes 22 646 43 71 No 29 167 56 29 Valid votes 51 813 99 14 Invalid or blank votes 449 0 86 Total votes 52 262 100 00 Registered voters turnout 97 724 53 48 Contents 1 Campaign 2 Conduct 3 Results 4 See also 5 ReferencesCampaign EditPrime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and his Unity Labour Party ULP campaigned heavily for the Yes vote 4 Gonsalves advocating that though he had nothing personally against Queen Elizabeth II he believed it was time for Saint Vincent to stop having a monarch as its head of state he offered the opinion I find it a bit of a Nancy story that the Queen of England sic can really be the Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2 Though he had earlier shown affinity towards communist dictators Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro 5 Gonsalves asserted that the proposed constitution for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines would not have created such a presidential post the Prime Minister argued that an executive presidency would give the office holder too much power in the small country In an interview with the Trinidad and Tobago Express he stated that type of presidency may well make perfect sense for the neighbouring country of Trinidad and Tobago but such a government would not work in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines saying further it is our assessment that to conjoin the power of a prime minister with the power of a head of state head of government or head of state in our circumstances that is a matter which will end up making that office holder more powerful than the current situation 2 Opposition to the constitutional changes was led by the New Democratic Party NDP which held the position that the proposed constitution would neither reduce the power of the prime minister nor strengthen the country s democracy 4 The NDP s leader Arnhim Eustace opined that the Gonsalves government and opposition parties had not come to an agreement on a number of fundamental issues including the Integrity Commission the Human Rights Commission the Ombudsman and the Electoral and Boundaries Commission 4 The CARICOM Secretariat announced that it would at the request of the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines officially observe the referendum with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development AECID an agency of the government of Spain 1 4 Conduct EditVoting took place in heavy rain with 52 262 of the 97 724 eligible Vincentiens casting ballots at 225 polling stations The Supervisor of Elections opined that this was a good turn out given the inclement weather 6 Results EditChoiceVotes For22 64643 71Against29 16756 29Total51 813100 00Valid votes51 81399 14Invalid blank votes4490 86Total votes52 262100 00Registered voters turnout97 72453 48Source SVG Government Referendum ResultsSee also Edit1999 Australian republic referendum 2008 Tuvaluan constitutional referendumReferences Edit a b c CARICOM Secretariat team to observe St Vincent and the Grenadines referendum Caribbean Net News 12 November 2009 Retrieved 14 November 2009 dead link a b c d Browne Juhel 11 November 2009 Gonsalves No executive president for St Vincent Trinidad and Tobago Express Archived from the original on November 13 2009 Retrieved 14 November 2009 a b Elizabeth II 26 July 1979 Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 50 1 Kingstown Queen s Printer archived from the original on 16 November 2020 retrieved 26 November 2009 a b c d CARICOM observers for St Vincent Constitution referendum Caribbean 360 13 November 2009 Retrieved 14 November 2009 permanent dead link Johnson Andy 26 November 2009 St Vincent leader s constitutional reform in danger Trinidad and Tobago Express archived from the original on November 27 2009 retrieved 26 November 2009 Trotman Jeff 26 November 2009 NO NO NO The Vincentian retrieved 29 November 2009 permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2009 Vincentian constitutional referendum amp oldid 1161120656, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
