Chairman of P.C.C Says They Need More Time

Anthony Chanona

Chanona told News Five that they faced a few challenges since the Commission held its first meeting a year ago. He explained that getting the representatives of all twenty-three sectors in sync with the work before them was the first challenge. He also gave us a synopsis of how the work has progressed over that time, as well as an outlook of how it will proceed into 2024. Chanona indicated that he decided to have the commission do closed-door work from January to March, so that they are not sharing space with electioneering events.  

Anthony Chanona, Chairman, People’s Constitution Commission

“Putting together 23 organizations was the first challenge. How do you manage 23 organizations – remember the first commission was 14 – of diverse cultures, ethnicities, personalities? So we had to kind of find a way to know each other, meet and greet. Secondly, not because we are appointed to a commission means we are constitutional experts, you know. I would be the first to admit I didn’t have any in depth knowledge of the Constitution, and I’m still learning. So phase one of our work, which was basically January to June was orientation on constitutional matters, getting experts to come in, local – we want to keep it home-grown – but also to look at other jurisdictions. Phase 2 is January – June to December, ending 15th December…public outreach, awareness, events like these. Phase 3 will begin next year, when January to March, we will look at the voices of the people, which was harvested in June to December. How do those voices, concerns, fit into thematic areas of the Constitution? So, we will not be in a public space.  We will be in virtual meetings, in closed door sessions, as a commission, listening, putting on the board, on the table, all the concerns of the people and drafting up recommendations. How did the issue of my right on education fit into the Constitution? How does that area of the concern of my environment, you know, the elderly, the discrimination issues, marginalized groups. Then in April, going beyond, we will then come back with public consultations.  So the commission will be meeting and we’ll be deciding, can we do this work and finish it by May, or do we need more time? And all indications are pointing from what I’m gathering, we need more time.”