PRIME Minister Perry Christie announced the introduction of four bills in the House of Assembly on Wednesday morning which, once passed, will effect a constitutional referendum.
BILL 1: Would allow a child born outside of the Bahamas to a Bahamian mother and a non-Bahamian father to have citizenship.
BILL 2: Would allow a foreign man married to a Bahamian woman to seek citizenship.
BILL 3: Would allow an unmarried Bahamian father to pass his citizenship to a child born to a foreign mother.
BILL 4: Would end discrimination based on sex.
Have you been affected by any of these issues? Are they relevant to your life? If so, you can leave your comments below.
Comments
LexxBrown 10 years, 3 months ago
The first three Bills is real cool because Bahamian parents have a difficult time when it comes to having children with foreigners. Bill number 2, couples still should be happily married for some years before being able to submit application to become a citizen. Bill number 4 is just to tricky it can go so many ways it could even hurt females.
Tommy77 10 years, 3 months ago
It is is very hard to trust this government.
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mangogirl01 10 years, 3 months ago
There is no trust at all!
B_I_D___ 10 years, 3 months ago
I'm actually more concerned about Bill #3, at least with a married couple, there is a legal bond their that in THEORY links the child to both parents...out of wedlock though, about the only thing for certain would be this child came out of the this woman, it is definitely 100% hers. Are they going to go down the path of requiring DNA tests to confirm the paternity claim? Hey, if it is going to be that technical, and DNA is used, I have no problem with #3...otherwise you could have Bahamian fellas laying claim to just about every stray child...could be a good profitable business plan! ;-)
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
Yep I think #3 is a travesty. It could go sooo wrong. In all cases I think the criteria should be the parents are married for a minimum number of years and living as a married couple. I simply don't trust this government and their propensity to serve outside interests with tricky questions with the "appearance" of good. Make that "any" government and their propensity to serve outside interests
Honeybun 10 years, 3 months ago
This government is going to ignore what we say anyway so why waste time with this referendum?
blackcat 10 years, 3 months ago
bill 5: end discrimination against LGBT community. Get with the times bahamas . weary on whether or not this referendum will even happen at said date. I'll wait til Nov 5th to see it is confirmed.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 3 months ago
Agreed...should not be limited to just male or female...even though as far as the law is concerned there is no 'third' category for the LGBT...maybe the wording should have in there...regardless of sexual preference? Or that there are no separate rules or regulations, implied or otherwise, on an individual based on their sexual preferences?
CANDACESCOTT 10 years, 3 months ago
THIS IS A COPY AND PASTE FROM THE "SWEETHEART" BILL, 2002. THE SAME ITEMS THE PLP COMPAIGN AGAINST WHICH LEAD TO A DEFEAT OF THE BILL AND A VICTORY AT THE POLLS...
mangogirl01 10 years, 3 months ago
Yes, the same exact Bill these hypocrites campaigned against!! Karma is a bitch and the people will not waste their time again voting for an 'opinion poll' - the PM words!!!
sheeprunner12 10 years, 3 months ago
Bill 1.......... the child has a citizenship now ........ the country of his birth
Bill 2 ....... the husband is the head of his family...... he belongs in his country
Bill 3....... what about Bahamian married men who have to accept children born inside a marriage but were fathered for other men (roach on da bread)?????
Bill 4 ....... the homosexuals will cry foul now ..... when Florida legalizes it... we will follow suit
Next Bill ............... What about the "dual citizenship" issue that we face now???????
blackcat 10 years, 3 months ago
discrimination against every and anyone is wrong. ive read those classifieds for true.....
a certain italian restaurant on east bay st seems to have mainly male servers... i dont care who's serving me once their hands are clean...but we digress from the main point here :-)
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 3 months ago
SO that's it!!!! Sicko/General/Rory whatever the hell your name is now. You wanna go live in the USA... Dude just go. What's a matter? You scared hey? Just go dread. Stay there long enough and they'll make you legal. Get off ya ma's couch and go man!!!
Vollegirl52 10 years, 3 months ago
sheeprunner, in regard to your, "Next Bill ............... What about the "dual citizenship" issue that we face now???????" I can understand your concern in some cases but there other times when dual citizenship would be fair. This is by no means to disagree with you. I was married to a Bahamian and lived in FPO until his death. During those years we had a daughter that naturally has a Bahamian birth certificate. She was only 21 months old and I wasn't working. We had no choice but to return to the states. She has a Bahamian passport and also a US, the US because it is her home (for now) and makes traveling out of the US easy. I knew those times we would visit FPO using her Bahamian passport would only cause confusion. She does renew both and maybe one day she will want to return to the Bahamas to live, having her birth certificate and Bahamian passport will make her move easy. I know there are countries that don't recognize dual citizenship so we are grateful the Bahamas does.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 3 months ago
FYI ............ we are one of the few countries that actually frown on citizens possessing "dual citizenship". However, thousands of real Bahamians do have and utilize the non-Bahamian passport(s) as well .............. typical beat-the-system Bahamians ............ your daughter is just one of many
henny 10 years, 3 months ago
When bills such as this are presented to the HOA and accepted why can't they just sign approval and make it official. I don't see why a referendum has to be called at all. It is a waste of time.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 3 months ago
Cause if you left it up to politicians ...... we will be living in a dictatorship very quickly .......... right now, the PLP can pass any constitutional amendment legally (75%) without the support of the FNM. If we use your logic, Perry could get rid of our Constitution tomorrow and put in a new one.
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