The Free National Movement (FNM) is deeply troubled by referendum confusion within the government and its back bench, FNM Chairman Darron Cash said yesterday.
"We hope that this will not jeopardize our mutual goal of referendum success," said Cash in his latest statement on the issue.
The chairman referred to a story that ran in The Nassau Guardian on Saturday under the headline, "Government may cancel referendum".
It quoted Dr. Bernard Nottage, minister with responsibility for referenda and leader of government business in the House of Assembly, who said the government will not move ahead with the November 6 referendum on gender equality if it does not have unanimity.
"The FNM trusts that such an action will not be the case," Cash said. "Our nation is much too mature and our people much too smart to put ourselves in the position of having to go through this exercise again. We need to get this right this time.
"Our leader, Dr. Hubert Minnis is right. This is Prime Minister Perry Christie's assignment to get right. Regrettably, if this referendum is canceled it will represent a monumental failure on the part of Prime Minister Perry Christie. The responsibility will rest at his feet and his feet alone."
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Nottage said, "If it becomes clear to us that there is not unanimity, then we will not proceed with the referendum.
"If there is unanimity and we are satisfied that it is genuine, then we will do so."
The government recently tabled four bills to amend the constitution.
The bills will institute full equality between men and women in matters of citizenship and will eliminate discrimination in The Bahamas based on sex.
Debate on the bills began last Wednesday and is expected to resume this Wednesday.
Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis has indicated that the Free National Movement will not oppose the bills.
However, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn indicated concerns about bill number three.
The bill seeks to reverse the law that prohibits an unwed Bahamian man from passing his citizenship to his child if he or she is born to a foreign woman.
Hubert Chipman, the MP for St. Anne's, told The Nassau Guardian yesterday he is worried about question four.
That bill seeks to make it unconstitutional for any law or any person acting in the performance of any public office to discriminate based on sex.
Both Lightbourn and Chipman are opposition MPs.
On the governing side, Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller, Marco City MP Gregory Moss, Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins and Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells have all raised issues with one or more of the bills.
Yesterday, Cash said it is an "amazing admission" for Nottage to say he believes the bills should be better written.
"This begs the question of just how much vetting was done at the Cabinet level and within the PLP caucus," the FNM chairman said.
"Minister Nottage's comments suggest that he and Prime Minister Christie did not even have their own house in order before bringing the bills to Parliament.
"The FNM submits that it will be that failure more than the lack of unanimity that could result in the need for the government to reverse course on this issue. Dr. Minnis is right; they cannot blame the FNM for these self-inflicted wounds.
"At this juncture, it is worth reminding the minister that unanimous support is not the standard set in the constitution.
"On top of that, his government has the votes it needs to meet the constitutionally mandated threshold. If the referendum initiative fails before it gets off the ground it will be because of the prime minister's failure to bring people together -- starting first with those in his own party -- and his unwillingness to make any necessary attitude adjustment to ensure success -- again in his own party and in the country at large.
"It is Mr. Christie's job to lead the nation and to break down barriers. Failure would be on him and him alone."
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
