Donna Nicolls speaking at the press conference, flanked by Terneill Burrows and Noelle Nicolls. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
THE deputy director of the Bahamas Crisis Centre yesterday called for peace and tolerance after she said the constitutional referendum debate has turned into “an intolerable hate fest.”
At a press conference, Donna Nicolls said the hatred and intolerance for differing opinions “is spreading throughout the airways and on social media” like wild fire. She said adults are setting a terrible example for children who are in turn mimicking this negative behaviour.
“Over the past few months, the gender equality debate has turned into an intolerable hate fest, with some persons preaching and praying for the outright violation of the human rights of members of the community,” Ms Nicolls said.
“We seem to be forgetting that beyond the referendum we have a community at war that is suffering under the weight of inequities, forgetting that violence and inequity go hand in hand.
“Just look at the number of murders and sexual assaults reported in the past two-week period.
“The hatred being evoked by the referendum debate is not unrelated to the wider violence in our communities.
“We call on all Bahamians to respect the rights of their fellow citizens, and to desist from treating one another in unkind and demeaning ways and desist from using or advocating for the use of all forms of violence, including verbal violence, against fellow citizens just because they share different belief systems.”
“We invite people in The Bahamas to adopt a more tolerant manner of engaging others,” Ms Nicolls said.
“My plea today is for us to move together with a vision of a Bahamas free of violence. The plea today is that we might work together to build a more caring, peaceful, tolerant society.”
When it comes to the referendum, Ms Nicolls said she plans to vote “yes” to all of the questions.
The referendum is slated for June 7.
• Sean McWeeney on referendum, see page eight.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 4 months ago
Really? Maybe they should start by taking down the Yes vote add that says "I can't stand these ...people..."
bahamian242 8 years, 4 months ago
I concur with that!
licks2 8 years, 4 months ago
I found this press release as juvenile and myopic . . . child please! The yes vote persons set the tone for the debate by name calling, emotional baiting, hogging all the public funds to get their opinion out. . .while denying the other group their democratic rights to public funding (with this group seeing nothing wrong to discriminate against the group), belittling persons because of their religious opinions, listening to no other view but their own, vilifying those who hold an opposite view etc.
This group have no moral right to now "plead" for tolerance when they are not willing to give tolerance to others citizens who do not hold their opinions!! Really, I am surprise of Aron Green going along with that "fluff" conference. . .which seem nothing more than another yes campaign effort to "swing" emotion toward their view. . .she is better thought out than that rot!
SP 8 years, 4 months ago
...................................................STFU Donna Nicolls ....................................................
sheeprunner12 8 years, 4 months ago
Why are pro-LGBT people always looking to "cry wolf" and "poor us" when they are openly flaunting their immoral lifestyle and trying to desecrate the Biblical principles that are enshrined in our Preamble????? ......... they want to bully the 99% to accept their dutty lifestyle ......... Well HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!
viewersmatters 8 years, 4 months ago
firstly we need to stop letting everything be so political thats where the most hated are being developed from, every free right thinking and person who stand against these bills publicly by just freedom of speech and practicing their law giving constitutional rights has been lambasted and treated as outcast by the opposing yes voters, they started the whole hated and made it so political that only those who are for the bills are being put in front ling for jobs ect, where is the democracy in the Bahamas who must our rights be taking away just for agreeing to disagree!
Sign in to comment
OpenID