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But even when he does sign, that will not automatically bring it into law. Remember, we said the amendments are sweeping? Well, that might be an understatement. Here’s what they include: enacting a three term limit for Prime Ministers, allowing for a recall mechanism for bad acting representatives, shifting the balance of power in the Senate so that government no longer controls it, and giving the Senate more oversight powers.

That’s reform with a capital “R” – and when it was passed in the first 6 months of the Barrow term – all was milk and honey. But in the intervening 20 months – government has been beset by difficulties and what seemed simple enough then, may be fraught with complications now. And that’s why when we spoke to the PM today about enacting the sixth amendment package, he was cautious, circumspect, and frankly, seemed to be having second thoughts.

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“I will tell you from now that the intention would be to in fact provide a commencement date for such sections of the amendments as we think require immediate effect. The law even after assent will take effect on a date to be appointed by the Minister and it actually says different sections of the legislation can be brought into effect on different days. I will survey the landscape of the amendments and decide which sections I feel and the Cabinet feels require to be brought into force immediately. Other sections will have to wait until the appropriate time.

There has been such a long period that has elapsed since we passed this thing and had to delay because of all these challenges that we may well want to rethink certain positions. I am not saying that is necessarily the case but it is a possibility so I don’t want to say exactly what will be brought into effect immediately until I’ve had a chance to consult with Cabinet.”

Jules Vasquez,
“Speaking specifically for example about the amendment, the reform to the Senate which would substantially change the composition of that.”

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“I figure I couldn’t get anything by you know and I will not, now that you’ve put your finger on it, as I expected you would I won’t dodge the issue. I have no intention until I’ve consulted with the Cabinet to bring that into force immediately and maybe the less said as to my reason the better but you’ve put it out there and like I’ve said, I won’t try to skate around the issue. I don’t see that coming into force, I don’t see that as one of the first provisions that the appointment of a day for portions of the law to take effect would cover.”

Jules Vasquez,
“Would you hazard a rough timeline?”

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“No I wouldn’t. Like I said I haven’t even had a chance to, and allow me to confirm what we all know that we all have our, we are all subject to being human, blood runs through our veins. The PUP fought these amendments tooth and nail, we had to go to the Privy Council, they would be a beneficiary of the provisions in the amendment that would cede control of the Senate to the PUP and the social partners. We had to wait so long to be able to bring into force any of the provisions in the law. I am saying, I don’t think anyone can begrudge me the feeling that let them wait as long as the Cabinet thinks appropriate.”

The NGO Community has selected Greg Cho’q as its candidate for the reformed senate. So, he is on deck, but our sense of things is that he might be that way, for a while. Choq has been vocal in his opposition to government’s stance on Mayan land rights.