The Tribune

THE resounding rejection of the gambling referendum questions has brought into question the Christie administration’s ability to run the country, FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis said.

“It was clear,” he said, “to every Bahamian that the Christie administration staked all its political capital upon a successful result in the referendum – as shown, at the very least, by the duplicitous wording of the first referendum question; seeking approval to ‘regularise and tax’ when they well knew, and the Bahamian people well knew, that they really sought a popular mandate to legalize illegal gambling operations.

“There is a very serious question as to whether this Christie-PLP administration has any moral authority left to continue in government. 

“The government is now required to stringently and immediately enforce the existing law.

“Any inertia and delay in complying with existing law will continue to send the wrong message to those who might be tempted to break, not  only the gambling, but other serious laws in our country.”

Dr Minnis further said that in the aftermath of Monday’s failed referendum, Mr Christie had forgotten what unfolded in 2002 when Bahamians said no to amending the constitution that would give women more rights among other things.

“In the aftermath of the 2002 referendum Mr Christie, then leader of the opposition made a very telling comment about the “NO” vote. 

“At that time, (he) proclaimed that: ‘The people, by voting No, were saying that if you try to rush the process, you not only deny sufficient time for public education and discussion, but you also end up with a great many errors and flaws which only serve to complicate matters even further. This is an important lesson for this Government and all future Governments of the Bahamas. 

“Unfortunately, that lesson was apparently not learned by Mr Christie himself.”

He thanked FNM supporters and the Christian Council for winning support and vowed to keep watch of the government’s actions in the days to come.