Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts said the decision by Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis to change course on the constitutional referendum issue proves once again "that he is unstable in his ways, does not support equal rights for women, nor does he support equality for all under the law".But FNM Chairman Darron Cash called Minnis courageous and said the leader and the entire FNM team are fully committed to ensuring gender equality.In a statement to the press, Roberts noted that on July 23, Minnis was fully onboard with the four constitutional referendum bills on gender equality when he expressed pleasure that "once again this Parliament will be enabled to take a stand in favor of the equality of every Bahamian citizen upon our nation's constitution and the laws of our land". "This was after an exhaustive consultative process with both the Constitutional Commission and the government so he was fully aware of and in full agreement with the bills," the PLP chairman said.He said Minnis went further and waxed eloquent about how "every man, every woman and the child of every Bahamian is endued by our creator with the inalienable right to expect and to receive equal treatment before the law and under the constitution" and that this tenet was a "guiding principle" of the FNM from its inception.But three weeks later, Minnis said two of the bills can be dealt with through simple legislation and the fourth bill -- which seeks to make it unconstitutional to discriminate against someone based on sex -- should be sent to a committee of the House for clarification.Minnis said in the House on Wednesday, "Where there is fear and doubt, there is disaster. I am not prepared to sit here and change the constitution in a fashion to encourage or to bring forth total disaster for future generations."Roberts said, "He failed to explain the nature of the disaster he referred to, but made it patently clear to all and sundry and Bahamians everywhere that his word cannot be trusted and that he does not stand on any principle."Additionally, with his new position and theme of fear, doubt and disaster, Dr. Minnis is demonstrating uncertainty about, and has effectively turned back the clock, on women's rights and equality for all under the law."Roberts added, "This irrational outburst in Parliament on Wednesday, August 13, should not come as a surprise to anybody as this is the latest in a very familiar, albeit disturbing pattern of behavior that calls his leadership and general decision making process into serious question. "His leadership behavior on other important national issues such as value-added tax (VAT), legalizing the web shop gaming industry and the introduction of stem cell research and therapy demonstrated an eerily similar pattern. "The record clearly shows that Dr. Minnis has flip-flopped on virtually every national issue facing The Bahamas."Roberts said the PLP supports women's rights, gender equality and equality for all under the law. "We encourage all Bahamians to become educated about and place their support behind the constitutional bills currently before Parliament that seek to deepen our democracy by expanding personal rights and freedoms to all Bahamians," he said.On Wednesday, Minnis also insisted he supports gender equality.Minnis also introduced to the debate the fact that in 2002 Christie and the Progressive Liberal Party supported constitutional amendment bills in the House, but later campaigned against them.Minnis suggested that it is therefore not unusual to pull back support.He told parliamentarians that amending the constitution should not be taken lightly and there is no room for mistakes.On Thursday, FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner said she still supports the bills 100 percent and intends to vote yes in the November 6 referendum.

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