The Tribune

By REV LAISH BOYD

Bishop of the Diocese of the Bahamas and the

Turks and Caicos Islands

THE Anglican Diocese of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands does not support the legalisation of the “numbers business”.

This remains our position since stated publicly in 2010 and before that.

At this junction it is not important to focus on who will vote “yes” and who will note “no”, since persons are entitled to their considered position on the subject, and since people will form and hold their own opinions.

However, the issue now is citizen participation. I call on EVERY registered voter to go out and to vote today.

A number of recent events and circumstances have caused some persons to become disheartened and disillusioned. Some people have concluded that they will stay out of the “process”.

This is wrong because your vote is important. We are blessed in this country with many freedoms, eg, freedom of religion, association and expression, the freedom to hold and to express different opinions – and the privilege of free and fair elections.

Voting in an election or referendum is a cherished privilege, a glorious freedom. This is our country and most of us have no other country to go to. An issue of national importance has been raised for our comment. Make sure you fulfil your national responsibility by casting your ballot in the referendum.

Let your view be registered in the process and do your part to guide the government which has asked the nation for its opinion.

I call on every registered voter to vote on Referendum Day.

May God bless you all and may God bless the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.