2009 Vincentian constitutional referendum

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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?
Results
Choice
 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%
Politics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Executive
Legislative
Elections
Administrative divisions (parishes)
Foreign relations

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, at the time 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]

Campaign

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

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

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]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For22,64643.71
Against29,16756.29
Total51,813100.00
Valid votes51,81399.14
Invalid/blank votes4490.86
Total votes52,262100.00
Registered voters/turnout97,72453.48
Source: SVG Government– Referendum Results

See also

References

  1. ^ 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]
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^
    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
  4. ^ a b c d "CARICOM observers for St Vincent Constitution referendum". Caribbean 360. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2009.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ Trotman, Jeff (26 November 2009), "NO... NO...NO!!!", The Vincentian, retrieved 29 November 2009[permanent dead link]
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