Prime Minister Perry Christie and Minister of National Security Bernard Nottage address members of the media following the morning session of the House of Assembly yesterday about the constitutional referendum that took place on Tuesday. (Photo: Torrell Glinton)
The people’s voice sounded in the land, it needs to be respected and honored, and it will be, said the nation’s leader, Prime Minister Perry Christie Wednesday (June 8) morning.
Christie was speaking to members of the House of Assembly yesterday, regarding the country’s rejection of the four Constitutional Amendment Bills that were put to referendum.
Bahamian voters were asked to decide on: giving a Bahamian woman the same rights as a Bahamian man to pass on citizenship to her child born outside of The Bahamas.
Bill two would give a Bahamian woman the same right as a Bahamian man to pass on citizenship to her foreign husband.
Bill three would give a Bahamian father the same right as a Bahamian mother to pass on citizenship to his child born out of wedlock, provided proof of paternity.
The final bill would make it unconstitutional to discriminate on the grounds of sex, meaning being male or female.
The populace responded with a resounding ‘no’ to all four Bills.
Despite the outcome, yesterday, Christie commended the people of The Bahamas for their participation in the historic vote on gender equality.
“Tuesday’s Referendum was fair, transparent and open, and in- so-far as we are aware the results were certainly very fair. The voice of the people has sounded in the land, it needs to be respected and honored and it will be,” assured Christie.
“Mr. Speaker it will be useful, particularly for the Members of Parliament and the general public at large for me to briefly recall how we arrived at the Referendum, because each important step of the way was founded on a bi-partisan consensus.”
He noted that when the government decided to appoint the Constitutional Commission, “we advised the Leader of the Opposition (Dr. Hubert Minnis) that we wanted to appoint a non-partisan commission to be chaired by Mr. Sean McWeeney, QC and invited him to appoint a representative from the Opposition.
“He recommended the Hon. Carl Bethel, a former Attorney General, who agreed to serve. When the Hon. Carl Bethel was appointed to the Senate, he was replaced by the Hon. Theresa Moxey-Ingraham.
“The Commission commenced consultation throughout the country, including with all political parties, civil society, church leaders, including the president of the Christian Council,” the prime minister recalled.
He disclosed that many consultations with church leaders took place at the Office of the Prime Minister with the Leader of the Opposition present.
Christie said that in those meetings the Commission discussed the Bills to be presented in Parliament. “The church leaders present were told by me in the presence of the Leader of the Opposition that they should see the presence of Dr. Minnis with me at the table in the Office of the Prime Minister as indicative of a bi-partisan and united approach to these matters of national importance.
“This bi-partisanship and unity were of critical importance. Ultimately, they were also aware that the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister issued statements in Parliament in full support of the process and that when the Bills came to Parliament we would support them.”
The Bills were passed in both Houses of Parliament by the constitutionally required special majority, said Christie.
He disclosed that in setting up the government agreed to support a Yes Campaign on the basis that it would be a politically united effort.
“Special effort was made to indicate bi-partisanship at all times. Lady Sharon Wilson and Mrs. Lynn Holowesko agreed to be Co-Chairs. They were supported by Attorney Cheryl Bazard and Mrs. Heather Hunt. Attorney Constance McDonald and Mrs. Geneva Rutherford were appointed in Grand Bahama. Similar joint PLP/FNM appointments were made in the islands of Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma.
“Mr. Speaker, I present this brief history for the purpose of acknowledging the magnificent contribution of all of these personalities so mentioned and the depth of our democracy.”
The prime minister thanked the Constitutional Commission, and noted in particular the exemplary leadership of its Chairman, Sean McWeeney, Q.C. “The members of the Commission met for over a year, consulting widely with civil society, before submitting a report that provides a roadmap for constitutional reform for many years to come.
“The Public Education Committee of the Commission, Retired Justice Ruby Nottage, the Hon. Theresa-Moxey Ingraham, who was the FNM’s nominee, and Ms. Brandace Duncanson traveled The Bahamas from one end to the next for over two years. They left no island unvisited and no question unanswered in their efforts to educate and elucidate. They really do deserve our collective thanks and praise for a job superbly done.
“I also want to extend thanks to all those who fought the good fight – in particular: Co-Chairs and Co-Directors of the Yes Campaign: Lady Sharon Wilson, Lynn Holowesko, Heather Hunt, Cheryl Bazard.
In Grand Bahama: Geneva Rutherford and Constance McDonald; Abaco: Kendi Anderson McPhee and Winsome Ferguson; Eleuthera: Audrea Scavella and Laurie Rolle; Exuma: Sophie Hart Rolle and Kenneth Nixon; Cat Island: Melanie Rahming and Mrs. Nixon and in San Salvador: Velda Knowles and Beverly Larrimore.”
Christie said, these leaders, representing a cross-section of the political spectrum, believed that they were working for a righteous cause. “I'm particularly appreciative of the courageous role that Lynn Holowesko, Heather Hunt and Geneva Rutherford played in this noble effort.
“Although deeply committed FNM's, they were able to set this partisan allegiance aside so that they could join with their PLP sisters in an effort to build a better and fairer Bahamas for all our sons and daughters.
“In this same vein, I would also like to publicly commend the Member for Long Island, Loretta Butler-Turner, for the consistency of her commitment to the cause for gender equality. She stood her ground and fought the good fight.”
The prime minister also commended PLP female leaders, including female members of Cabinet who fought valiantly as well.
“I also want to thank our former Governors-General and founding fathers, Sir Arthur Foulkes and Sir Orville Turnquest, for sharing their voices in support of the cause for male-female equality that lay at the heart of the referendum.
“I hope you will all join me, too, in extending my appreciation to all who played an honest and sincere part in the public discourse of the constitutional bills, including the media and the leaders of the religious community. They deserve our thanks for their contribution to the vibrancy of our democracy,” said the prime minister.
“Mr. Speaker, I will never stop believing that our sons and daughters deserve equal rights in our Constitution and equal treatment under our laws. We believe that when the dust clears, there will be room and time for proper reflection.
“Although Tuesday's rejection of the ‘Gender Equality’ Bills is clearly a setback for the program of constitutional reform, it is by no means an end to it.
“Instead the program of constitutional reform must continue. How, when and in what form it will continue will be the subject of further consultations with my Cabinet, the Constitutional Commission, the Opposition and civil society.
“In the meantime, in the wake of the vigorous and fractious debate that we have just come through, we must now find ways to bridge our differences as we continue our struggle for a better and brighter future for all our people,” said Christie.
Prior to the House meeting Wednesday morning, the Official Opposition held a press conference speaking to Tuesday’s Referendum results.
“The people voted and spoke resoundingly. This was the second attempt by the Government of The Bahamas to make changes to entrenched provisions of The Bahamas Constitution during its 43 years of existence resulting in the people instructing the Parliament not to make any changes to the constitution,” said Minnis.
“The Bahamian people spoke loudly and peacefully and they sent a clear message to the government, whom they do not trust, and the world, that they wanted no changes to their constitution. The results were clearly a rejection of the PLP Government who unfairly favored one side above another. We in the FNM unreservedly accept their decision, and offer our congratulations to the people of The Bahamas for the orderly and peaceful way in which they expressed their desire in the ballot booths. We also thank those religious leaders who participated in the exercise to educate our people.”
Minnis noted that throughout the referendum process, the FNM respected the intelligence of the people and looked to empower them by encouraging them to study the Bills and educate themselves by attending informational meetings.
“Unfortunately, those opposite have used their control over the government’s purse to push for an outcome of their choosing instead, by funding the Yes campaign while at the same time denying funding to the ‘No’ campaign,” Minnis claimed.
“Free and fair elections are the foundation of any democracy, ours being no exception. It is demonstrably unfair for a government to use the peoples' taxes to fund one side of the issue while denying funding to the opposite view. An FNM government will enact legislation to remove this discriminatory practice in future referenda.
“Unfortunately, the process used in yesterday's referendum revealed a number of flaws which resulted in many persons being denied their fundamental right to cast their ballot and could possibly cast a long dark shadow on our country's ability to hold free and fair elections. Incidents of these flaws include: A lack of clear instructions from the parliamentary officials regarding the presence and dress code of Observers; Contrary to agreements made with the Parliamentary Commissioner to allow members of the major political parties to act as observers, many observers from the FNM were denied entry into the polling places because they wore red shirts,” he maintained.
He alleged that in many cases polls were opened and balloting proceeded before the FNM observers were finally allowed in the room, and hard copies of the register of voters were not available on time and in most cases not available at all, at some polling places.
Additionally, Minnis maintained that voters were instructed to write no or yes in answer to the questions rather than to mark an X.
“These irregularities are of great concern to us especially in light of the upcoming general elections and we wish to put the government on notice that these irregularities must be fixed. In light of this, the Free National Movement will demand that international organizations be invited to observe The Bahamas general elections in 2017.”
By: Barbara Walkin, FN Night Editor
Source: The Freeport News
