Grenadians have voted overwhelmingly to reject seven pieces of legislation that would have reformed the Constitution the island received when it attained political independence from Britain 42 years ago.
“The people have spoken in a referendum…and I have accepted it…and we have to learn from the process…because it has never been tried before and I think this is what we have to understand,” Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell said late Thursday.
The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a statement said it would hold “an extra ordinary press conference” on Friday.
By a vast majority, the voters turned their backs on plans to replace the London-based Privy Council with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice as the island’s final court, as well as rejecting term limits for the prime minister and the appointment of a leader of the opposition in Parliament.
They also rejected moves to change the name of the tri-island state and plans to establish an independent electoral commission.
Mitchell, said he was disappointed at the low voter turnout on Thursday and that people who were rejoicing at the results were doing so “because they chose to play games with the future of this country”.
Mitchell said that the bill before the voters had nothing to do with him personally and also defended the decision of his administration not to campaign openly for a “Yes” vote.
