CTUSAB says republic move too rushed

The umbrella body for trade unions in Barbados is concerned about what it says is Government’s haste in moving the country to republican status, and has called on all sectors of society to speak out against the rushed move.

General Secretary of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), Dennis de Peiza insisted that any changes to the island’s constitution cannot be taken lightly or for granted, and should be the subject of intense consultation with all stakeholders and the people of Barbados.

“Without this desired level of discussion or consultation on proposed changes to the nation’s constitution, CTUSAB is worried that the desired level of unanimity and support for this move will not be achieved, and has the potential to be divisive about a measure that is intended to deepen a sense and commitment to greater and better nation building,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Late last month, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that Barbados will become a parliamentary republic on the 55th Anniversary of Independence on November 30 this year, with its first non-executive president sworn in that same day.

She said amendments would be made to the constitution to facilitate the transition, adding that, “we start, from December 1, the journey of the settlement of the new constitution of Barbados which will be the subject of extensive consultation and communication with the people of this nation”.

However, de Peiza said “it is labour’s view that the haste by the Government in the dispatch of this matter should be of concern to civil society organizations”.

He, therefore, called on the members of the NGO community, political scientists at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus, church leaders, political parties, lobbyist groups and individual trade unions of Barbados, to speak out on this matter.

“CTUSAB hastens to question what protections there are for labour under a revised constitution. There is also the concern of what are the implications for the commemoration of Independence Day, if the move to a republic takes effect.

“CTUSAB calls upon the Government of Barbados, to respect and adhere to the democratic principles, which it has committed to following, by engaging in the process of consultation, collaboration and dialogue,” the trade union leader added.