The Illiberal Nature of Commonwealth Caribbean Constitutions: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract In the main, the basic structure of the Commonwealth Caribbean constitution mirrors the imposed British Westminster system of governance, premised on a narrow application of liberal democracy that alienates the vox populi from the governance process. As is known, liberal democracy is premised on representative government, in which political authority emanates from the consent of the governed. Further, free, fair, and integrity-based elections are held periodically, and peaceful transfers of power signal stability and respect for the rule of law. The system of government also is built on the rule of law and separation of powers, which ensures that the exercise of state authority is within constitutional limits and subject to the checks and balances within the system. However, this system alienates people from the constitutional matrix and relegates them to roles of “clients” and “window dressers” as opposed to being critically engaged within governance. This article will demonstrate that this illiberal democracy prioritizes people's participation only during elections as opposed to throughout the electoral cycle by, inter alia, permitting accountability of politicians, referenda, and constraining the powers of the prime minister. It will serve as a basis for future research on mechanisms to make liberal democracy more liberal.