The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie has promised the electorate will be informed ahead of the next referendum to reform the country’s constitution.

While the Christie administration already has one failed referendum under its belt – the result of “ill advised” voters some political pundits have said – Mr Christie assured reporters that a public relations campaign is planned.

At the same time, Mr Christie has also insisted that his administration made no mistakes in their handling of the January 28 referendum which sought to regulate playing numbers in the Bahamas. He believes that what took place was a “deepening of democracy” among Bahamians.

He was speaking to reporters outside the Cabinet office in downtown Nassau.

“Whenever the decisions are made,” Mr Christie said, “as to what the questions will be and the areas of the questioning then the government of the Bahamas will have a horse in the race.

“(This means) that we will be able to initiate a public relations programme that is intended to ensure that every single Bahamian who would have an interest in knowing what is happening will have that information made available to them.

“You never make mistakes when you are deepening the democracy. I promised before the elections that I would have a referendum (and) I indicated that I had no horse in the race.

“It swirled with controversy. I acted upon the vote.”

A Constitutional Reform Commission report was last year slated to be handed over to the government by the end of March 2013. However it has since been said that officials might need more time to complete consultations and compile their recommendations, Mr Christie told reporters. If that is so another referendum could be moved from May to June which is when the Prime Minister had planned to hold the referendum.

An overhaul of the Constitution was to be done in commemoration of the country’s 40th year of independence.

“The Chairman of the Constitutional Commission, Mr Sean McWeeney, indicated that the work is going exceedingly well, but that they are finding more and more people want to make an input into the commission’s work.

“The referendum that is due to take place is a constitutional referendum in the hands of the persons who are appointed to the Commission. They have the direct responsibility of consulting the people (and) of making recommendations based on their consultations. Until those recommendations are made to the government, it is constantly meeting with the public.

“I think moving forward, one of the reasons why they are considering asking for time is because they are really excited over the extent to which people are willing and interested in becoming participants in the process of examining our constitution.”

Mr Christie is expected to appear before the Commission to advise officials of the changes that the government would like to see to the constitution in the near future.