Session on draft constitution
triggers lively interaction
HOPE ESTATE--National Alliance (NA) held the first day of its two-day information session on the draft constitution for Country St. Maarten in the Hope Estate Senior Citizens Recreational Centre on Thursday.
Surinamese Attorney Sam Polanen gave a presentation on what a constitution is, the purpose and function of a constitution, importance of a constitution and general observations on the draft constitution.
His presentation was followed by St. Maarten attorney Reynold Groeneveldt, who was to have dealt with Chapters I, II, and III of the island’s draft constitution. However, NA leader William Marlin said because of the intense interaction, Groeneveldt had not managed to finish dealing with all three chapters.
The session with Groeneveldt will continue on Friday. “The question was whether certain parts should not be changed, or people wanted to know how to deal with them.”
Marlin believed the session had been a learning experience even for Groeneveldt, who is one of the first local technocrats involved in drafting the constitution. He had a chance to see how common citizens deal with the workings of the constitution.
Marlin said NA would try to have similar sessions for other important legislation such as the electoral law for country St. Maarten.
Friday’s information session, set at the same venue and time, will be facilitated by attorney Ralph Richardson. He will deal with Chapters IV, V, and VI of the draft constitution. Following this, the three experts will be available for questions from workshop attendees.
Rounding off the information sessions is a public lecture in the Pasanggrahan Hotel Conference Room on Front Street, Saturday at 7:00pm. The two attorneys will discuss the draft constitution. Polanen will offer some background on Suriname’s experiences with the country’s two constitutions and some general remarks on the St. Maarten’s constitution.
NA encourages the general public to attend the information sessions and to learn more about the constitutional process.
