More than five hours after voters went to the polls to decide on four bills for the 2016 gender equality referendum, many of the results from polling divisions, particularly New Providence polling stations, were still outstanding, causing a furor across the country.

Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall said it appears there was a no vote for all four questions, however, he was unable for some reason to provide the overall results.

Television hosts during live shows that would normally bring the results to their viewers had to scramble to fill the extended airtime as they waited for final results that never came.

At 10:52pm, Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party Bradley Roberts appeared to concede the defeat of all four questions. In a press statement he said the voice of the Bahamian people was heard loud and clear.

The no vote emerged ahead from the first Family Island results came in at polling stations in Crooked Island and Long Cay. As the night progressed the no vote remained ahead, though final official results were not issued by the Parliamentary Registration Department in a climate of confusion.

Bill number four by far was the most controversial bill with many critics claiming it would result in same-sex marriages in The Bahamas. However, supporters of the bill, including the attorney general, the government, and Prime Minister Perry Christie have said that is not the intention of the bill and that that interpretation is incorrect.

Question one through three dealt directly with issues of citizenship.

Bill one sought to enable a child born outside The Bahamas to become a citizen at birth if either his or her mother or father is a citizen of The Bahamas by birth.

Bill two would allow a Bahamian woman who marries a foreign man to pass on citizenship to him in the same way that a Bahamian man who marries a foreign woman is able to do so.

Bill three would allow an unmarried Bahamian man to pass on his citizenship to his child born to a foreign mother subject to legal proof that he is the father.

The Nassau Guardian will have full coverage of today's gender equality referendum in tomorrow's newspaper.

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