ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) — The Grenada government says it will not be presenting the national budget to Parliament on November 25, but would most likely to do so in December.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell confirmed that the change is due to the November 24 referendum where Grenadians will be asked to vote for a new constitution.

“With a change in the referendum, it has definitely affected the date for the budget because if we go ahead, it means that we will have to prorogue Parliament and then everything will be null and void, so we have no choice but to wait,” Mitchell said yesterday.

The referendum was originally schedule for October 27, but last week Attorney General Cajeton Hood and chairman of the Constitutional Reform Advisory Committee Dr Francis Alexis announced that there would be an extension of the public debate to allow for more discussion on the seven Bills that will form the basis of the referendum.

“We have sensed a genuine increase in national interest — and at the same time people are asking for more time to become more familiar with what is being proposed,” Hood said.

Supervisor of the Elections Alex Phillip said the postponement would not affect the printing of the ballot papers since they were not dated.

“For the October 27 referendum we had 70,714 persons registered, but we do expect an increase because registration in now reopened and it will end on November 1st. We want to assure every voter that there is a ballot printed for all who are registered and that will be for all who is on the voters list as of November 1st 2016,” he said.

The Supervisor of Elections has to return the writ for the referendum to Governor General Dame Cecile La Grenade on or before December 13.

After the writ is returned with the result of the referendum, Parliament will immediately be prorogued.