S.Atlantic : All Set for the Constitutional Consultative Poll
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 04.04.2005 (Article Archived on 18.04.2005)

The South Atlantic Island of St. Helena will have a consultative poll on their proposed new constitution on 25 May 2005.

Photo (c) J. Brock (SARTMA-SH) - Tony Green at last Monday's public meeting in the Parish Hall

ALL SET FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONSULTATIVE POLL

By J. Brock (SARTMA – SH)

Tony Green at last Monday's Public Meeting at the Parish Hall

The South Atlantic Island of St. Helena will have a consultative poll on their proposed new constitution on 25 May 2005.  People are to vote on whether they want a new constitution or not.  Proposed the Island’s Legislative Council advocated changes, which wanted a more efficient and accountable government for the Island. 

Tony Green, who had lived and worked on Ascension Island for a considerable amount of time and retired back to St. Helena, has been appointed as a Constitutional Advisor and has visited Ascension and the Falkland Islands to explain the components of the proposed constitution and to encourage St. Helenians to vote in the consultative poll.  He has held a series of public meetings, many poorly attended, on each of the Islands that he has visited. 

“If you are uninformed, and don’t vote in the poll, then you get a government that others choose,” said Mr. Green at a meeting in the Parish Hall in Stanley on Monday, 28 March 2005.    The low turnout to the meetings was a concern but on Monday night at the Parish Hall there was a reasonable turnout.  Though numbers have been low, the meetings have been lively with lots of questions being asked about the changes from the present Constitution to a proposed Ministerial system.

Mr. Green was eager to point out that his trips to the Islands were paid for by DFID.  He is also paid out of DFID funds and not those of the St. Helena Government.  Those wishing to participate in the poll should be on the 2005 St. Helena Electoral Roll.  There is also a special Consultative Poll Register and Saints are invited to put their names on that by 27 April.

Questions on the proposed constitution and the Consultative Poll should be addressed to Tony Green on St. Helena at 2433 or 2455.  On Ascension, Mrs. Wendy Greentree will take questions on 7000 ext 113 and in the Falklands, Mr. John Clifford on 21736 will be happy to answer questions.