The Vestiges of Colonial Constitutionalism
Post-colonial Caribbean constitutions have incorporated inherited political constructs. Using these legacies, Caribbean countries have struggled to adapt their constitutional components after independence. Notably, the pathways of post-colonial constitutions have distinct progressions in common law and civil law countries. In Commonwealth Caribbean countries, new nations adopted constitutions that incorporated the Westminster model. After decades of independence, these constitutions have remained relatively static even though there have been efforts to update and reform their outmoded features. In contrast, after independence, civil law countries have undergone numerous, significant modifications. Cuba provides a compelling example of how post-colonial constitutions have evolved due regime change and political ideology. In both legal systems, democratically reinforced political development remains an important vehicle for altering or eliminating the vestiges of colonial constitutionalism