TNAG-1001-FCO40-1237-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-including--Report-of-the-1981 — Page 79

Government, whose efforts to obtain international support for their position have complemented our own, and to all those other Governments whose sympathy and support has also played a significant part in achieving international solidarity on this question. I have in mind particularly the Governments of the Commonwealth Caribbean and those cther Governments represented in the Commonwealth Ministerial Committee.

May I say a word about the procedure which it is proposed to adopt at this Conference. It will follow the normal pattern of Constitutional Conferences, that is we shall go through the various sections of the proposed Constitution one by one. We shall have before us the Belize Government's White Paper and the Select Committee's recommendations in relation to the proposals contained therein. Our aim will be to agree upon the principles which should be embodied in the new Constitution. We must of course recognise that there will be differences of view on some of the matters we have to discuss and it is right and proper that these should be fully aired. We must also ensure that submissions in written memoranda by bodies not represented here are also taken into account. We must, I suggest, keep in sight the cbjective of reaching a consensus on the provisions of the Constitution Belize will take with it to independence. This will require goud will, respect for each other's views and readiness in some cases to accept compromises which may not satisfy everyone in every respect.

The Secretary General will have the duty to record cur deliberations and our conclusions faithfully and to produce towards the end of our discussions a draft report which we will examine and agree upon before it is put before us in final form to be signed at the closing session. There will at the closing session be an opportunity for final speeches.

I should perhaps stress that what we shall be discussing will be principles rather than final language. The report will provide a basis on which our Constitutional lawyers will prepare the Constitution itself.

1/4