Trinidad and Tobago - August 2024

On 2 August, the seven-member National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform presented its final report to Prime Minister Keith Rowley. The findings draw on consultations with a variety of societal actors across the country and with the country’s diaspora. The report highlighted that the current institutional setting of the country does not correspond with the needs of a contemporary democratic republic, emphasizing a need for change. Further, it included several key proposals, such as instituting a two-term limit for the Prime Minister and setting fixed general election dates. Other proposals included faster and more effective trials, increased accountability for those in office, and the adoption of a stronger approach to corruption. Critics have questioned the independence of the commission and argued that it did not engage a sufficiently broad segment of the population. A national public consultation to discuss the report is expected to take place at the end of the year.

Sources: Trinidad Express, Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform