Have we a Constitution?
Please, somebody tell me!
I am longing to hear
From someone in authority.
A few lawyers have said
That Barbados has none
And this has been reinforced
By a certain gentleman.
He is standing his ground
This certain gentleman
And adamantly refuses to adhere
Even to Court summons.
Tell me, Dear Attorney General,
What have you to say?
You’ve been rather silent,
Is this your way?
If anybody could tell me
That body should be you
But for some unspoken reason
We can’t hear from you.
The Chief Justice is another
But this would not be proper
Since the AG is in the position
To settle this matter.
Madam Prime Minister
Are these lawyers right
That we have no Constitution?
Can you shed some light?
Or would you rather be silent
And let the AG speak
Regarding this important matter
That has reached a peak?
It is business as usual
In the Parliament and Court
But some think it is not legal
And we are making sport.
That may be for some
But not for the ones “going up”
For once sentenced by a Judge,
They are out of luck.
Parliament is meeting
And still passing laws,
Meanwhile, having no Constitution
Constitute a fundamental flaw.
Recipe for anarchy!
That’s a country without law
And if it were so with Barbados
This would be the last straw.
So, there must be something
That sustains law and order,
Please, someone in authority,
Tell me I need not bother.
This terribly loud silence
Is frightening me
And I cannot hear from anybody
In authority.
I am checking the tabloids,
The radio and television news
And all day long only hearing
Other people's views.
I went with my fastness
And wrote on July 29,
That we still had a Constitution,
Is what I opined.
I said I was not a lawyer
By any stretch of the imagination
But like a late PM I was adamant
We had a Constitution.
So, Madam Prime Minister,
Or smiling Attorney General,
What is the status of law and order?
Please tell the people.
Stewart Russell © August 8, 2023
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