Greenland Picks Up Draft Constitution Pace

Greenland now sees plans to have a constitution draft ready by the end of 2018 – and a full-time leader of the Constitutional Committee.

Naalakkersuisut, Greenland’s Self-Rule Authority, clearly wants to pick up pace in the process of establishing a constitution for Greenland.

By the end of 2018

Karl Kristian Kruse, who until recently was acting minister a.o. for Independence, says to the Sermitsiaq.ag newspaper that a draft may be ready by the end of 2018. 

High North News could also recently bring the story about how the Constitutional Commission upsets Greenland and causes widespread debate, among others through indications that the Commission’s members may receive remuneration for their work.

Working leader of the Commission

Word has it that the Commissions’s leader, Vivian Motzfeldt, may become working leader of the Constitutional Commission.

In the Commission’s mandate, which was presented last April, it is said that the aim is to have a draft ready in two to three years’ time. However, with Kruses message in Sermitsiaq, the time frame appears to be only half of that.

Extra half million

The additional allocation of DKK 500,000 for next year’s budget may be interpreted as a signal of increased speed in the process. These funds may amongst others be used to pay for a Nuuk residence for the Commission’s leader Motzfeldt.

Nivi Olsen, member of the Democrats opposition party, says to the KNR broadcaster that there may be economic reasons for paying for a residence for the Commission leader.

- Will not receive remuneration

However, she states in no uncertain terms that the Commisson’s members will not receive any remuneration for their work on the Constitution.

- The Commission’s members are already members of the Inatsisartut (parliament) and receive remuneration for that. Furthermore, the Commission’s mandate does not allow salaries or other forms of remuneration for its members, Olsen says in a press statement.