Exuma residents gather at the resource centre in mainland Exuma to participate in the Town Hall Meeting hosted by the YES Bahamas Campaign to inform the public about the upcoming referendum [Photo Credit: Ashley Whitney].
With standing room only, YES Bahamas Campaign Co-Chair, Lynn Holowesko joined Local Co-Chairs, Sophia Hart-Rolle and Kenneth Nixon, in Exuma on Tuesday to inform the local community about the upcoming June 7th referendum, and to spread the message of equality and justice that is being proposed under the amendments to the Constitution. Attending the event were residents of mainland Exuma and Farmer’s Cay, who stated openly that they came to show their support. The event was broadcast live by 98.3 Island FM to the Exuma mainland, the Exuma Cays and Long Island.
Touting the success of the event, Co-Executive Director of the YES Bahamas Campaign, Cheryl Bazard said, “I can say that many people who walked into the room very skeptical of the bills. But, we are finding that when they are properly informed and also hear stories from their neighbours detailing the negative impact of the current laws, they understand the importance of voting ‘yes.’ Many left convinced it was the right thing to do.”
One such story was that of Local Co-Chair, Kenneth Nixon, whose youngest son was born to a non-Bahamian woman to whom he was not married. Currently, the constitution does not allow Bahamian men to pass on citizenship to their children born to foreign women outside of a marriage.
“A member of our community told me, ‘I can’t get a job because they want a passport and police record.’ We are creating second class citizens,” Nixon told the crowded room.
Sophia Hart-Rolle, the second Exuma Local Co-Chair, joined Nixon in his call for much needed change. “In 2015, I chaired the Independence Committee. I was excited, then, to be a part of commemorating such an important event in our nation’s history. I believe that we are at another crossroads, a moment that will define us as Bahamians for generations to come,” she said.
The YES Bahamas Campaign will hold similar events in the coming weeks on Long Island, Bimini and Cat Island, along with town-hall meetings throughout Nassau. The campaign has also launched a hotline for voters to find out more about the referendum. The hotline can be reached at 322-3310/11/12 and is operational between 5pm and 9pm during the week and from 9am to 1pm on weekends.
About YES Bahamas: The YES Bahamas Campaign advocates for equal rights for our sons and daughters. Four simple changes to our Constitution will give Bahamian men and women equal rights under our laws. To find out more about our campaign visit www.yesbahamas.org or email us at info@yesbahamas.org.
Exuma residents pose for the camera holding up placards in support of the referendum and the YES Bahamas Campaign, at the town hall meeting held in Exuma on May 3rd 2016 [Photo Credit: Ashley Whitney].
