Whither the Constitution?

 

 

Where the Constitution gone

That was promised in 2022?

I recall it was before the General Election

And almost four years due.

 

From a colony to a Nation,

From a Nation to a Republic

But regarding the Republic Constitution,

We have let that slip.

 

“The cart before the horse”

Is what we said back then

But little attention was paid to this

And hence, this problem.

 

All and sundry had agreed

A Constitution was necessary:

The Democratic Labour Party, the PM

And the governing BLP.

 

But it would wait until after

The election that was to come

When Barbados would become a Republic

Aka the BLP kingdom.

 

For what else would it be

Having won all thirty seats?

This, for the second time in succession;

Wasn’t that neat?

 

An election promise:

The PM had given her word

And all like now after almost four years

It is still deferred.

 

Hence, the question I ask,

Where the Constitution gone?

Is there really a need for a new Constitution

Or can we keep the old one?

 

Regarding the General Elections

There was extraordinary haste,

It appeared that the manifesto promises

Were all executed with pace.

 

Was only three and a half years

And another election was called

With just a couple weeks for canvassing

And that was all.

 

Was one and a half years

Not enough time, I ask,

To commence working on the Constitution

And complete the task?

 

Apparently not, it seems,

Given the time they have been at it

So much so, while talking to myself,

I wonder if they quit.

 

For weeks on end

One hears absolutely nothing

And then suddenly out of the clear blue

A bell would ring.

 

Another deadline given,

Another deadline would pass

And yet again, the anticipated Constitution

Would be stuck fast.

 

Reminds me of documents

Stuck in somebody’s desk

And then finally ending up in file 13;

Oh, what a mess!

 

But such would never happen

To the Republic Constitution

Given the calibre of individuals sitting

On this Commission.

 

In the light of all this,

Where the Constitution gone?

Will we wait till after General Elections

To shelve the old one.

 

Is the task too difficult

For these persons of renown?

Do they think we should continue to operate

Under the Crown...

 

Thinking an old Constitution

Is better than no Constitution

Bearing in mind there are still remnants

Of the English Constitution?

 

Is integrity legislation

Included in the new Constitution

And could this be one of the obstacles

To finding a solution?

 

What an uproar, I hear!

What kind of fool would I be

To even imagine such silly tomfoolery

Re the ruling party?

 

So, where the Constitution gone?

It’s been a long time coming,

It is almost like having a fretless guitar

And vigorously strumming.

 

 

 

A new mandate, I heard,

Was why Election 2022 was called

But after the Republic pomp and pageantry

The Constitution is stalled.

 

One individual even stated

Barbados has no Constitution

And that they did not have to pay attention

To any legal adjudication.

 

So, you see why I must ask

Where the Constitution gone

And make a desperate call to the PM

To quickly enact a new one?

 

Enact the new Constitution

Before the Republic gets old

For as far as I and many are perceiving,

The Republic brand is cold.

 

So far, it is purely cosmetic:

Rebranding with just a name

And it is full time we move the State’s Ship

Into the republic’s lane.

 

If only we could reverse

We’d put the Constitution first

For right now Barbados is an orchestra

Playing unrehearsed.

 

Wither the Constitution?

Not a man would answer me,

Maybe I am thinking of the Attorney General

Instead of PM Mia Mottley.

 

Stewart Russell © November 11, 2025