P.C.C. Chairman Comments on 11th Amendment

The Briceño Administration’s decision to resurrect the Eleventh Amendment earlier in August was criticized as undermining the work of the People’s Constitution Commission. Today, we got a chance to ask Anthony Chanona, the Chairman of the People’s Constitution Commission, if the commission believes the government overstepped by reintroducing the bill to the House.  Here is how he responded.

Anthony Chanona

Anthony Chanona, Chairman, People’s Constitution Commission

“A very good observation, two things, one, the commission did not formally meet to address that specific issue, whether or not it would be undermining the work of the commission. On the topic of that move, there were certain commissioners that felt very strongly that yes, it would. There were other commissioners that said, our focus was to review the constitution and the remit was to review, submit a report and not to get involved in the government’s governance of the constitution, but because we didn’t meet as a commission to take a policy position on it, I would say that it is still in abeyance on exactly what the commission felt other than to see the overriding sentiment was we are to stay within the statute remit of our law. That is the north star of our work, do a comprehensive review of the constitution, consult with the people, and submit a report. That is our remit, and that is where we’ve remained.”