Grenada : Referendum, 24 November 2016

At stake in this election:

• The referendum is on seven proposed bills.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State:  Queen ELIZABETH II
• Head of Government:  Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (20 February 2013)
• Assembly:  Grenada has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate (13 seats) and the House of Representatives (15 seats)

Electoral requirements:

• The referendum passes if two-thirds majority of voters votes for a particular bill.

About the referendum:

• There are seven bills up for referendum. Their proposals are as follows:
  • Caribbean Court of Justice Bill: replacing the Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal, renaming the Supreme Court the "Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court," and changing to oath of allegiance to swear allegiance to the State of Grenada instead of to Her Majesty.
  • Elections and Boundaries Commission Bill: to replace the Constituency Boundaries Commission and the Supervisor of Elections with an Elections and Boundaries Commission.
  • Ensuring the Appointment of the Leader of the Opposition Bill: amends the Constitution to authorize the Governor-General to appoint the leader of the party receiving the second-most votes the Leader of the opposition if one party wins all the seats in the general election. The Leader will be entitled to sit in the House of Representatives.
  • Fixed Date for Elections: amends the Constitution to authorize Parliament to establish a fixed date for elections, however early elections can be held in the event of a no-confidence vote.
  • Name of State: changing the name of the State from Grenada to "Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique" and to confirm that all territory which was a part of Grenada as of February 1974 remains territory of the State.
  • Rights and Freedoms: to expand fundamental rights and freedoms including: rights of persons under arrest, protection of intellectual property rights, protection and equality of children, guarantee of publicly funded education for children under 16 and disabled children under 18, guarantee of gender equality, establishment of directive principles regarding environmental protection and am enabling environment for those with disabilities, and directive principles for the management of the State.
  • Term of Office of Prime Minister: amend the Constitution bar an individual who has served as Prime Minister for three consecutive parliamentary terms from being appointed a fourth time.

Main provisions in the referendum:[1]

1.  Do you approve the bill for an Act to be cited as the Constitution of Grenada (Caribbean Court of Justice and Other Justice-Related Matters) (Amendment) Bill, 2016?
2. Do you approve the bill for an Act to be cited as the Constitution of Grenada (Elections and Boundaries Commission) (Amendment) Bill, 2016?
3. Do you approve the bill for an Act to be cited as the Constitution of Grenada (Ensuring the appointment of Leader of the Opposition) (Amendment) Bill, 2016?
4. Do you approve the bill for an Act to be cited as the Constitution of Grenada (Fixed Date for Elections) (Amendment) Bill, 2016?
5. Do you approve the bill for an Act to be cited as the Constitution of Grenada (Name of State) (Amendment) Bill, 2016?
6. Do you approve the bill for an Act to be cited as the Constitution of Grenada (Rights and Freedoms) (Amendment) Bill, 2016?
7. Do you approve the bill for an Act to be cited as the Constitution of Grenada (Term of Office of Prime Minister) (Amendment) Bill, 2016?

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population:  111,219 (2016)
• Registered Voters:  71241 (2016)

Gender Data:

• Female Population:  54,850 (2016)
• Is Grenada a signatory to CEDAW:  Yes (17 July 1980)
• Has Grenada ratified CEDAW:  Yes (30 August 1990)
• Gender Quota:  No
• Female candidates in this election:  N/A
• Number of Female Parliamentarians:  7
• Human Development Index Position:  79
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization:  N/A

Disability Data:

• Is Grenada a signatory to CRPD:  Yes (12 July 2010)
• Has Grenada ratified CRPD:  Yes (27 August 2014)
• Population with a disability:  16,604[2]