People For Referendum ParadePrior to Presenting Petition
Over 400persons participated in the parade to celebrate their petitionfor a referendum.
An estimated group of 350 concerned citizenswho formed a public action committee known as 'People For Referendum'(PFR) participated in a celebration 'parade' last Tuesday afternoon,prior to the presentation to the Leader of Government Business,a petition containing 6,500 signatures calling for a Referendumon certain sections of the proposed Draft Constitution.
In press release issued on Thursday, insupport of the PFR, the National Council of the Peoples ProgressiveMovement (PPM) met in regular session last evening and revieweddevelopments in relation to the presentation of the petition.
The following is the text of the PPM's Press statement:
"This petition called for a postponementof debate in the Legislative Assembly on the Report of the ConstitutionalCommissioners and for the holding of a referendum on criticalissues arising from the report.
The Council expressed its admiration forand solidarity with members of the People For Referendum. It urgedthat, notwithstanding presentation of the petition, the struggleto secure a voice for the people be continued.
The National Council of the Peoples ProgressiveMovement is the highest decision making forum of the Movement.It comprises just over 100 individuals, drawn from all walks oflife, including the five elected Members of the Legislative Assemblyopposed to the UDP Government.
Members reviewed the principled stand relativeto the debate outlined by the Parliamentary Group of the Movement,and passed by acclamation a motion calling on the five electedParliamentarians to attend today's sitting of the House and havetheir spokesman set out clearly the Opposition's position andits objection to the commencement of this debate.
The Peoples Progressive Movement remainsfundamentally opposed to the manner in which debate on the Commissionersreport is being rammed through the Legislature. It strongly opposesthe proposed amendment to the motion, which now ask the Houseto merely "take note" of the Constitutional CommissionersReport.
The National Council of the Peoples ProgressiveMovement has mandated the five Opposition Parliamentarians toattend today's sitting of the House to permit the position ofthe Opposition to be recorded into the official report of theproceedings.
It concurs with the stated intention ofthe Parliamentary Group to subsequently prepare and have publisheda detailed evaluation of the Commissioners Report and to arrangefor its wide distribution to the public and for transmission toHer Majesty's Government.
The Peoples Progressive Movement is appreciativeof the widespread expression of support for and solidarity withthe members of the Parliamentary Group on the principled positionit has set and maintained throughout this period."