A NO vote campaigner celebrates as the first results indicated a victory for those opposed to the referendum bills.
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE four bills touted to bring gender equality to the country’s Constitution were “overwhelming” rejected by voters at the polls yesterday, although only a handful of results were released last night by the Parliamentary Registration Department due to numerous technical setbacks.
It is the first time in recent elections that full polling results have been withheld. Instead Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall gave an estimation based on voting trends from results that he saw.
His department only released unofficial results from six of 38 constituencies last night and only three of those were in New Providence. Results were released for North Andros and Berry Islands; Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador; Mangrove Cay and South Andros; Bamboo Town and Carmichael. Only partial results were released for Elizabeth.
In the results that were released, the no vote more than doubled the yes votes across all four questions in most cases.
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts released a press statement at 10pm conceding the vote with only five complete results declared.
Mr Hall pointed to electricity outages and telecommunication issues when pressed for an explanation over the stalled process.
“From the position of my office and from the results coming in to the office from all of the 38 constituencies, it appears as if the four constitutional bills have been rejected by the Bahamian electorate and I can only say that much based on the results coming,” he told reporters last night.
“We are still waiting for some constituencies to provide results; they are still coming in but the vast majority appears to be, the vast majority in terms of the no vote, all of the questions have been rejected, overwhelming.”
Of the delays, Mr Hall said: “Well I have received reports that the current, BEC, the team in Montagu they are in darkness so they have difficulty counting their ballots in darkness so I can speak to that. Others, it’s a typical election, you have four questions to count on the ballot paper and I’m sure if had you participated in this you would understand the gravity of what they were going through but I must commend my staff for a good job.”
He noted the results were still coming in after 11pm, but said what he saw appeared to be a “rejection”.
“I’ll leave it at that,” he said.
“Our fax is down because y’all (the media) had to do some sort of gymnastics, the cabling, so whatever mechanism that y’all did they have difficulty communicating by fax to us so most of the results have been telephoned,” he added.
Last night, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham told The Tribune he was “disappointed by the government’s incompetence” in staging the referendum.
Around the time Mr Roberts released a press statement conceding the vote, results from only three constituencies had been released by the Parliamentary Registration Department.
In his statement, he called the exercise a “giant step” in the ongoing fight for freedom, social justice and equality. He commended the efforts of the staff of the Constitutional Commission, the YES Bahamas campaign, and Prime Minister Perry Christie.
Mr Roberts said: “The vigorous and sometimes emotive public debate for and against the constitutional changes enlightened our people, deepened our democracy and our country is more mature and better for this exercise.
“The PLP remains committed to the principle of equality for all Bahamians under the law. We do so because it is consistent with our core values and the foundational principles upon which the PLP was built and thrived.”
When asked why Mr Roberts sent what appeared to be a concession speech before his department had released the majority of the results, Mr Hall said he could not speak for the PLP chairman.
The full results will be published by June 9, according to Mr Hall, who said the department had two days to release the results and that official figures would be sent to the governor general first.
Polls opened across the country from 8am to 6pm yesterday. Anecdotal reports indicated that voter turnout in the capital was slow throughout the day.
Mr Hall thanked his staff, Family Island administrators and poll workers for their service administering the historic vote, which he said went smoothly.
Prime Minister Perry Christie did not release a statement on the results up to press time.
Comments
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
Comrades over at the Tribune, do find out for us anxious to knows loyal readers, how did "Vote YES'" Loretta's Long Island constitutes, vote on the 4-referendum questions?
Will you be reporting back if there was a referendum question 5 on whether Loretta received the 'will of her own constituents' to once again get her red party's nomination nod to contest for Long Island come the 2017 General? If anyone has a constitutional problem it has to be the one the 6 red House MP's, tried to involved Her Excellency into joining?
Emac 7 years, 11 months ago
What?????????
Honestman 7 years, 11 months ago
“The PLP remains committed to the principle of equality for all Bahamians under the law." said Mr. Roberts.
THAT statement my friends is a joke. The PLP is committed only to the enrichment of its party members, family and friends. In order to maintain that commitment, the party has betrayed the Bahamian people to the Chinese, the Gaming racketeers and a dubious Canadian fashion mogul. There is not much left to give away. Bahamas is no longer a "country for sale". It is a country that has "been sold". Time to put up the sign.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 11 months ago
Your words here Honestman are painfully true.
thephoenix562 7 years, 11 months ago
Well said.I concur.
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
The country has already been sold. Why do we need a sign after the fact?
Clamshell 7 years, 11 months ago
What can we say about a nation that cannot keep its electricity on long enough to count its votes?
GrassRoot 7 years, 11 months ago
and who can count in this country?
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
Two words immediately come to mind.......Failed State
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
Comrades if you have an about to make a forced 2017 lasting for at least 5-years - no longer soon be an Honourable member House of Assembly seat political career change red shirt family member, friend, co-worker or colleague who openly declared their Vote “YES,” do gives them your guidance and protection to the best of your ability, but even more important, give them your cussing, for why they didn’t thinks to stay the damn hell clear away from a PLP party’s sponsored sexual overtones things referendum.
cmiller 7 years, 11 months ago
Bradley could send a concession speech because he probably was given all the data, but not us!!! How else could he know??? Typical PLP underhand drama.
banker 7 years, 11 months ago
"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." Nothing more to say. Nothing more to do.
Ostendo primo conditionem hominum extra societatem civilem, quam conditionem appellare liceat statum naturæ, aliam non esse quam bellum omnium contra omnes; atque in eo bello jus esse omnibus in omnia.
by banker
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 11 months ago
Five million plus dollars ($5,000,000+) of our hard earned taxpayer dollars flushed down the toilet by the corrupt Christie-led PLP government on their misguided and rightfully failed attempt to buy votes in exchange for Bahamian citizenship and/or pandering to the agenda of the global LGBT movement! The horridly dilapidated public school I voted at sure could have used that money for desperately needed renovations and repair work. My wife actually had tears come to her eyes when she realized that all of the school's water fountains and water coolers were non-functioning and that the restrooms were in a dreadful state, not fit for human use by any standard. Yet the corrupt Christie-led PLP government would have us believe that they care about the rights of men and women (and those somewhere between men and women) being equal. Well, what about the rights of our young children who have to attend these deplorable public schools that are not fit for most animals, let alone humans?! Small wonder our children are receiving a D minus education....it is almost impossible for even the brightest amongst our young to learn anything under such horrid conditions. And no doubt the teachers at these unkept schools are from the bottom of the barrel....who else would subject themselves to working under such squalid conditions. But elitist Christie and his privileged political friends and business cronies (like Sharon Wilson and her husband, Sir Snake) certainly don't give two hoots about the welfare of our young children and the quality of their education .....they only care about themselves....and bills 1 thru 4 were only ever about themselves in terms of their hidden agenda. Thank heavens the vast majority of Bahamians were not fooled and overwhelmingly voted "No" to all four of the bills. Christie and his merry band of bandits are corrupt, power hungry, financially greedy and completely lacking in heart or soul. I truly feel for the very young in our country today, especially the 500+ recent COB graduates.
OMG 7 years, 11 months ago
Whilst agreeing wholeheartedly bout the conditions is some schools I think it is grossly unfair to label all teachers "from the bottom of the barrel". I taught for 26 years in a workshop that rarely received supplies, no working fans, exposed electrical outlets and a leaking 30 year old roof. No money to repair the roof but now school has a great security booth with AC and toilets. All about show .How about Chemistry taught without ANY chemicals for over 20 years. How about the influx of Cuban teachers, who in many cases have trouble with the English language and are more intent on going back to Cuba with cell phones, tools and all manner of western goodies. How about technical departments that never receive modern equipment and infrastructure such as internet, interactive boards, white boards, lights. Rather than blame the teachers parents need to speak out about an education system that requires restructuring from the bottom up. Why are they teaching Spanish in primary schools when they arrive in High school barely able to write? Yes there are bad teachers like any profession but most teachers struggle in a system that is all show and where the majority of family island schools are ignored.
Reality_Check 7 years, 11 months ago
You seem to have been one of the few teachers willing to do essentially missionary work under the most trying of circumstances and for that our society owes you and other teachers like you a great debt of gratitude. But I suspect, as "Well_mudda_take_sic" obviously does, that you are not the norm at these seriously handicapped public schools.
jackbnimble 7 years, 11 months ago
Best headline I've seen all year! Bahamians you make me proud! #KILLTHEBILL
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
......................... The sheep were clearly separated from the goat yesterday! .....................
Zakary 7 years, 11 months ago
In watching this process for the last two years, here’s my opinion on why this referendum did not go well.
Insulted the Bahamian People.
Homophobic, Xenophobic, Misogynist, Bigot, Alarmist, Sexist, Chauvinist, Racist, “Anti-intellectualism”, “No right thinking Bahamian”, are but a few terms profusely used in this debate. They add nothing to the discussion, break down debate, and only serve to polarize arguments, this is basic psychology. There was a comment here that said Bahamians are not Americans and this is very true.
Didn’t create the proper playing field for debate.
The “No” campaign’s arguments were not powerful arguments, but became effective because the Government did not lay a fair playing field for addressing their positions in a debate. In an attempt to alienate the voice of those who were against some of the bills, the Government’s position is made questionable. The perfect underdog is created. This is the public sphere after all.
Underestimated the power of social media.
Times are different and mutual trust can obtained through a few facebook accounts. The approaching reality is that many rate social media above the official news media. The persons who command these groups will therefore have great persuasive ability. Unofficial polling results were leaked on social media before the official media could get them. There is a growing mistrust of not only the Government but sadly, the official news media as well.
Politicians too busy orbiting their own spheres and fiefdoms.
Some of us have been convinced that our leaders have no connection to the people. They live in a bubble along with the rest of their kind, and seem not to know the Bahamian people at all. The “Yes” campaign's ads were very insulting to some but also had an appeal to a different sense of what Bahamians experience.
Offended the wrong person.
Dame Joan Sawyer. This is not the best person to offend because she will defend herself, hard. Public figures are attacked all the the time, but some of us watched interestingly as her words were twisted in so many interesting ways. She definitively played a key role in shifting the view of the Bahamian people because of the way in which she was attacked.
Arguments too narrow, Defense too weak.
The “Yes” campaign seemed to be operating off of a script, and could not adapt their arguments fast enough leading to very weak defense, and low persuasive ability. The “No” campaign had multiple arguments that kept the “Yes” campaign in their frame of debate constantly, demonstrating that they had more skill in persuasion and more trust from the public.
Zakary 7 years, 11 months ago
If all of the Church is not with you, the Church isn’t with you.
This is a big problem. Christianity is a key tenet of the Bahamas, and although it might not be practiced, Bahamians consider it important. The Government slipped up big time in the constitutional reform process by not satisfying all of the church.
No confidence or trust in Government.
This goes without saying that there is a lack of trust in the Government. Nothing much needs to be said here, because everyone knows.
Economist 7 years, 11 months ago
Luke23:34
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
And Comrade Economist, PM Christie said, "PLP Cabinet Colleagues, forgive them two red shirts, for they do not knows what they are doing in Voting "YES"." And then the PLP Cabinet divided up their yellow t-shirts whilst giving Loretta and Dr. Duane they owns to wear."
Economist 7 years, 11 months ago
You bad!
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
Comrade if you can implant a simple picture in the minds of the voters and you repeat it often, its pretty damn effective.
GrassRoot 7 years, 11 months ago
I wish the Church would do something against the latent analphabetism and high levels of diabetes and extra martial sex and affairs and husbands abandoning their wives and children and alcohol and corruption. If these pastors are so powerful to turn around a referendum, I wonder what keeps these High Priests' and Judas'es from uprooting corruption and removing this rotten government?
Reality_Check 7 years, 11 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 11 months ago
It made sense to tax the gambling houses. there is always gambling in the Bahamas. go over to Paradise Island. The No Vote had nothing to do with the Pastors who said No. If it was not for my Beautiful home land I may have voted Yes just to show them. I voted three No and one Yes. Immigration has enough problems that they need to correct.. Just go down Town and you will not see or hear to many Bahamians. I would have voted no if the. PLP, DNA or FNM were in Power.
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
......... Dame Joan Sawyer has positioned herself as individual the people can trust .........
Outstanding courage, fortitude and unusual display of a "learned" individual vehemently opposing the status quo of "elites" has earned Dame Joan Sawyer great respect and a place in Bahamian history!
Her loud voice in the wilderness among peers will forever be known as the "one that stood apart" from ALL THE REST!
I invite Dame Joan Sawyer to join the growing crescendo of nationalist from across the country who's goal is to reset our country to a path beneficial to all Bahamians. We look forward to your input in joining the quest to correcting all that's wrong with our country.
Thank you Dame Joan Sawyer!
SP 7 years, 11 months ago
............................................. BREAKING NEWS ..............................................
Ignorant, Stupid, Homophobic, Dumb, Xenophobic commoners annihilate Cheating Pirates!
Honestman 7 years, 11 months ago
Sounds about right!
licks2 7 years, 11 months ago
The referendum to make change was not defeated. . .the elites class were SOUNDLY REJECTED. . .THE MASSES 'REJECTED" THE HIGH HANDEDNESS OF THE DUMB CAMPAING PUT ON BY THE YES VOTE WORKERS!!
MAKES ME WONDER WHO IS THE "SMART" PERSONS IN THIS NATION. . .ROFFIE THEM IN THE GROVE OR SHARON WILSON THEM FROM "HIGH TOWER STREET" . . .they seem not to understand the Bahamian people at all!!
We will deal with those question soon. . .BUT FIRST WE MUST GET RID OF ALL "CLASSIST" MIND SET IN HIGH PLACES IN THE BAHAMAS!!
LOOK AT THE POLL DEMOGRAPHICS. . .ST ANNS, KILLANEY, MONTIQUE AND SOUTH ABACO. . .ALL ELITIST PREDOMINATLY WHITE AND MONIED AREAS PASSED THE BILLS. . .HOWEVER, BY A SMALL MARGIN. . .THOSE BILLS WERE FOR THEM IT SEEMS. . .NOT THE REST OF THE NATION. . .MAYBE THAT'S WHY THE LITTLE MAN'S VOICE MADE NO IMPACT OF THEIR DELIBERATIONS!!
NOW I HOPE THEY SEE WHERE THE "POWER" LAYS. . .MINNIS HAS THAT DEMOGRAPHIC ON HIS SIDE. . .HE CAN WIN THE ELECTION WITHOUT "CLASS" MONEY. . .THE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DECIDED WHO WILL STAY AND WHO WILL GO. . .WE DON'T NEED A GOOD TALKER. . .WE NEED AN ORGANIZER. . .AND AN ELECTION. . .AND WATCH US "KICK" ALL OF THEM "ANTI-MASSES" PERSONS TO THE CURB!!
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