PM receives constitutional reform report

THE National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform has submitted its report on its public consultations to the Prime Minister.

A statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said the committee submitted its report to Dr Rowley on August 2.

Rowley announced the seven-member committee in January.

Its purpose was to initiate and guide a national debate, generating proposals for legislative and constitutional reforms. The OPM said the committee engaged citizens and stakeholders in TT and the diaspora through these consultations.

The report, which contained a summary of the key issues raised during the committee's consultations, will be submitted to Cabinet.

The OPM said Cabinet will subsequently determine a national public consultation on proposals in the report later this year.

Rowley, the OPM added, will also seek Cabinet's approval to extend the committee's term "to allow for broader discussions on constitutional reform, ensuring a wide population representation."

The committee was chaired by former speaker of the House of Representatives Barendra Sinanan, SC.

He attended the August 2 meeting with Rowley at Whitehall along with fellow committee members Nizam Mohammed, Dr Terrence Farrell, Raye Sandy and Winston Rudder.

Attorney General Reginald Armour, Energy Minister Stuart Young and Housing and Urban Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis also attended.

The OPM said the government thanked former committee member Jacqui Sampson-Meiguel for her service, noting she resigned from the committee when she was recently appointed Ombudsman.