Slaying the ‘Westmonster’ in the Caribbean? Constitutional Reform in St Vincent and the Grenadines

Abstract

The model of governance bequeathed by Britain to the Caribbean has long been praised for ensuring that vibrant democratic practice has generally prevailed since the era of decolonisation. Yet it has also become increasingly clear that the Westminster system of politics, as it is applied to the region's tiny polities, has come to exhibit serious deficiencies and is in need of reform. The current government of St Vincent and the Grenadines has recently made a serious attempt to address the issue, engaging in an expansive process of public consultation and constitutional reform which was ultimately rejected by the populace in a referendum held in November 2009. This article seeks to analyse both the form and content of the constitutional reform process, situating it within broader debates about the Westminster Model itself.