Prime Minister Perry Christie
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie remained adamant yesterday that the fourth constitutional bill would not legalise same sex marriages in the Bahamas. He said the government is not going to change the wording of the amendment that has sparked heated public debate.
Mr Christie admitted that people were anxious about the issue of same sex marriages, but said that lawyers have told the government it is doing “the right thing” as the language in the bill conforms with that of laws and constitutions of other countries.
The fourth bill seeks to end discrimination based on sex. This involves the insertion of the word “sex” in Article 26 of the Constitution to make it unconstitutional to discriminate based on whether someone is male or female.
However, there has been considerable opposition to the bill as political pundits insist that the wording opens the door to same sex marriage legalisation in the Bahamas.
“The fact that people are very anxious about same sex marriages is a good thing in the Bahamas to be concerned about,” Mr Christie told The Tribune. “But we are very clear, absolutely very clear. In my communication I said it does not involve, does not contemplate and most certainly with me it won’t. So the constitutional changes there refers to the Matrimonial Causes Act and refers to the laws that exist in the Bahamas today. We do not propose to change the fact that a man marries a woman.
“Our legal advice up to this point has been that we are doing the right thing and that the language that we are using conforms with languages in other laws in constitutions in United Nations treaties.
“The fact of the matter is we are now in the debate and rather than me I think commenting in vacuum, meaning before people have taken their positions, I should listen to what they have to say. Mr McWeeney, the chair (of the Constitutional Commission) must listen to what they have to say and we will address what they have to say if in fact meaningful propositions are put to us.
“We will listen carefully and see if in fact they have any weight because at the end of the day we want to be able to go to the Bahamian people with questions that are fully agreed to by members of Parliament.”
During her contribution to the debate, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said she was disappointed that the discourse surrounding the bill had taken such a turn.
“For those,” she said, “who are concerned with this position now over the law for same sex marriages and not to stop discrimination against women to move from that argument to a same sex marriage argument it is important to note that what it does is intentionally protect women against discrimination.
“It has moved beyond that now to this other issue. It is important to note that the amendment continues as is the current position that we are putting before this Parliament to allow for the constitutionality of laws currently enforced and to be enacted which discriminate. In this case the racism of sex as it creates a marriage for example. This so called discrimination is provided for in the Matrimonial Causes Act.”
On Tuesday, Democratic National Alliance leader Branville McCartney expressed fears that the fourth amendment could “pave the way” for lesbian and gay marriages. He said it was an issue that his party would not support.
Mr McCartney further stressed that the DNA supported the upcoming referendum because equal rights for Bahamian women was a long time coming. However, he urged the government to reword the bill in simpler terms.
Free National Movement Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner had echoed similar sentiments on Monday.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
You would think after the bait on switch pulled with the wording on the gaming referendum, they would do everything to make these questions , not the loose talk about the questions, as clear as possible, but, they can't learn....not voting. Do what you want.
Emac 10 years, 4 months ago
I'm with ya on that one. I have always considered myself to be a proud Bahamian who never missed a chance to participate in all of the voting exercises presented by the government. But after the last referendum was not honoured by this government I wouldn't waste my time voting or participating in anything the PLP brings to the people, not even for all the money in the Canadian banks!
licks2 10 years, 4 months ago
This fool just dont have a clue. . .I am not voting in their mess again!! I think this guy has an agenda to give up something through the "backdoor" again! Any fool can see that how the bill is worded nobody can deny same sex marriage!! I AM NOT VOTING. . .AND IF I DO. . .I VOTING NO ON EVERYTHING!! I will wait for another govvernment. . .one we can trust to approach this problem after we get rid of this jackhip crew who don't seem to get nuttin right!
Honestman 10 years, 4 months ago
So PGC can make an official statement about Gay Marriage (which in the scheme of things right now is an irrelevance) and yet he cannot find the opportunity to address the public on a matter that is of much more interest: who authorized the LOI and who is in charge of this PLP administration?
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
I agree with you on this............... PGC needs to pull an Obama once and a while and answer some of the pressing issues by the media.......... he is so good at ducking and jiving that he doesnt have time for swinging and switching anymore ..................... BOL
henny 10 years, 4 months ago
The bill not allowing discrimination based on sex is just that. You cannot favor one or the other when it relates to a job, promotion, etc. You cannot deny one or the other based on gender. It has nothing to do with same sex marriage. That is a total new subject whether you want to accept it or not.
srm 10 years, 4 months ago
There is a real need to put more emphasis on more pressing issues in the country, especially making govermental officials more accountable as it relates to the welfare of ALL BAHAMIANS. Tired of seeing 'that man' on every single news broardcast,saying alot of nothing !!
jboi242 10 years, 4 months ago
Leviticus 20:13 ESV / 152 helpful votes
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
jt 10 years, 4 months ago
Idiots quoting the Bible never disappoint. The Bible also bans eating shellfish, wearing mixed fabrics, associating with a women while on her period OH and also premarital sex. This bill is about GENDER EQUALITY not gay marriage anyway.
CuriousAbaconian 10 years, 4 months ago
Thank you jt. It also says you should murder your wife if she isn't a virgin, or kill your child if he/she talks back to you. People like to cherry pick.
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
PM some your own Comrade MP's, appointees and officials (of both sexes) does lie down with peoples that believe me, would even makes the devil himself blush even red'da. They and some we's knows exactly who they is.
I wouldn't go as far as to call the Comrades idiots for relying on the most commonly used Lev. 18:22 as their reference point to prove you're being gay ain't sitting too well with you're Jesus ... but why do they skip over all the other biblical verses listing a whole array of "abominations'" to start quoting: "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination." "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination."
Amen!
WETHEPEOPLE 10 years, 4 months ago
Thank you!! hate to see religous fanatics so quick to quote the Bible at their convenience. Thats part of the problem with the world now, fanatics trying to confine the entire world into their little self righteous religous books.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
Thats the irony of The Bahamas.............. we quote the Bible but live our lives as wicked as Cain
Sickened 10 years, 4 months ago
AMEN to that! I really do wish GOD was real and that he would cleans the world of these 'Christian' devils.
WETHEPEOPLE 10 years, 4 months ago
and its funny how short of a memory black people seem to have. No more than a couple years ago we were slaves, being whipped by the white man on a daily basis. Once free from that we still were at the bottom of the totem pole, fighting for seats on white only buses. Now here today, we seem to have forgotten what it feels like to be oppressed. We seem to forget that we as black people once fought for our right to be equal! The trials of the past should be used as a beacon in giving rights to all people. Everyone should have a right to live the way they see fit to live, whether governments of churches agree with it or not. We love to proclaim the Bahamas as a Christian nation yet politicians steal at every turn, pastors sleep with minors, both boys and girls, and a whole lot of other stuff goes on that is not very Christian. So please make way for a new generation who dosent rely soley on religous books to guide their ways, but they rely on a sense of humanity, understanding that eberyone deserves the right to be who they are.
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
Comrade WeThePeople ever tried whipping a Bahamalander? Good luck!
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
Religious conservative fanaticism is just as dangerous as liberals seeking to push their tolerance agendas .............................. Nigeria vs the Dutch
WETHEPEOPLE 10 years, 4 months ago
im sorry but tolerance should not be an agenda, it should be a way of co existing. If nobodyelse on this planet has the fingerprints I have, why would i expect everyone to be just like me, think like me, behave like me, have the same views as me? its just silly to think. Therefore tolerance should be adopted by all humans with the understanding that no two are alike. The denial of tolerance is countless wars, and oppressing others just because they are deem different.
WETHEPEOPLE 10 years, 4 months ago
I personally have never whipped one, but if you give me the whip i'll carry out the task for you. Im sorry to say but if the Bahamas as a county intends to move forward, we need to rid ourselves of these politicians who probably have no idea how to even use a computer or smart phone. The world is moving forward in a new direction, and here we as Bahamians sit here scratching our balls with a look of confussion on our face. No offense to Prime Minister Christie, but its hard for me to understand how we expect a 73yr old man to usher us into the future. The thought itself boggles my mind!
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
WTP .................What does tech savviness or age has to do with right-thinking?????? You just exposed your personal intolerances ................ I have seen your type many times over. Your moniker suggests a certain bias towards the left. What we need is balanced and decisive leadership not those who pander to lobbyists on both extremes............. i.e. MODERATES
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
Comrades whatever is remaining of the religious foundations of our Bahamaland we sure as hell shouldn't be blaming our own sins on homosexuals. In the same way the government will use the law to tax them VAT, shouldn't they be treated in same way when it comes to whom they marry? If you can VAT Gays, you Marry them too"
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
Ditto............... am tired of the ignorance of my people. Just VAT them all
licks2 10 years, 4 months ago
TO YOU ROUND HERE WHO THINK THAT "SEX" MEAN PLEASE TELL ME WHY THEY WAS BULLY ABOUT KEEPING IT OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE.?
Bahamianpride 10 years, 4 months ago
Once again here we go with this gay marriage thing again like he's denying them chocolate cake. He's doing them a favor.. Let them suffer like the rest of us I say. Let them deal with annoying spouses and teenage A holes that once they reach this wonderful age only see u as $50.00 and a ride to their friends house or the mall. Try divorce, imagine giving away more than half of everything you worked for plus a generous allowance called alimony every month to sponsor your ex's new life with someone new. Try looking at your spouse who added an extra 90 lbs and refuse to lose it. Gay people I welcome you on board the torture ship called marriage. You are welcomed to the wise grip that use to be attached to my balls.
Sickened 10 years, 4 months ago
Excellent!
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
Daddy I'm Gay!
............//http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2014/aug/07/24299/
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
Comrades the Constitutional referendum will come and go but the one that should go is the Minister of Tourism. Any minister who thinks his time is more valuable being spent to "normalize" the numbers rackets for the benefit of a small selective club of men, is unfit to serve the Crown. Constitutional scholars will for the next hundreds of years have all the time they need to debate whats right and whats wrong with the constitution. Likewise, skilled constitutional lawyers will make their legal challenges and defenses before seasoned trail and appellate justices. Unfortunately, Bahamaland will not have so many years left in promoting our nation as; "It's Better In The Bahamas," when we know damn well it is no longer a credible statement.
SP 10 years, 4 months ago
Christie double talks, dances like a penguin, walks back in front and tried fooling us before with tricky wording in the last referendum.
Face it. Nobody with sense is going to trust Christie ever again.
What worries me more at the moment is what are the governments plans to contain the Ebola virus which is sure to reach our shores with all the Africans especially illegal Nigerians among us?
sansoucireader 10 years, 4 months ago
Of all the things going on in this country, this is what brings PM Christie out to make a statement to the public? SMT!
hurricane 10 years, 4 months ago
I'm delighted he said no to gay marriage. What the hell is going on in the Bahamas???
CommonSense 10 years, 4 months ago
How does gay marriage affect you directly?
happyfly 10 years, 4 months ago
it is very important and long overdue for women to have equal rights in this country and disgusting (take note Bran) that anyone would consider messing this up because they got some stupid political points to make. The FNM made their point about the last time now lets get on with a good reason to change the constitution for once
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 4 months ago
They say Freddy Boy is okay with Christie's annoucement because Freddy Boy likes to play the field and knows he ain't the marrying type.
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