The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie said yesterday he will not apologise for campaigning against the failed 2002 constitutional referendum, adding that he “pays no attention” to FNM Chairman Darron Cash who called for the apology.

On Wednesday, Mr Cash demanded that Mr Christie give a full apology to the FNM and the country for the part he played in leading a vote “no” campaign in the lead up to the 2002 referendum. At the time the Bahamian electorate was presented with five questions, one of which focused on equality for Bahamian women in the Constitution.

Although the PLP, which was in opposition at the time, supported the referendum bills in Parliament, the party later sided with those who opposed the process. The referendum ultimately failed and the PLP won the general election a few months later.

When asked about the matter yesterday, Mr Christie told reporters that he was unsure whether Mr Cash’s calls were his party’s position. He said he “pays no attention to him because it is just political”.

He said: “I don’t know that that is the (FNM’s position). The leader of the opposition (Dr Hubert Minnis) has had an opportunity to speak in Parliament and he spoke at Parliament. The leader of the Opposition, unlike Darron Cash, is an elected official who I would pay attention to.

“Darron Cash is a fellow traveller. A fellow Bahamian who has an office. I pay no attention to him at all with respect for that because it’s political. He is just political. His terms of reference is political. My terms of reference is governance and I am devoutly committed to governing over the next two and a half years that I have left in this term.

“For me moving forward there is no apology from me. There will be an explanation from me, but no apology.”

Mr Christie explained that while both the election and referendum of 2002 are long gone, it was the church that largely opposed the constitutional changes because they had not been sufficiently consulted.

“(Former Prime Minister) Hubert Ingraham characterised those elections by saying whoever wins the referendum will win the election. The people won the referendum, but remember now it was the church that opposed the referendum because all of the leaders ... said they were insufficiently consulted. 

“The other point I would make is, there is no prospect of there being a referendum in the Bahamas this year if there is disunity. The only way it can work effectively is if sufficient numbers of us in Parliament (support it), that means three quarters, probably 29 votes.

“But it could only work if we have the majority to pass and we will know that when people vote, even though we have some people now and will say during the debate that they will or will not support it. But we will only know that assuming we have the requisite numbers to go throughout the Parliament and I am assuming that.

“But the next challenge is a comprehensive education (campaign) ... on the referendum and its significance particularly the women in this country.”

Mr Christie has vowed to make efforts to understand differing points of view and factor them into any decisions the government makes if they are meaningful propositions.

On Wednesday Mr Cash released a statement calling for Mr Christie to give a “full throated apology” for the 2002 referendum. He said while the government has the support of the FNM’s leader and its Parliamentary team over the upcoming referendum, there is a lot more work to be done to win over FNM supporters who are still stinging from the “scars” of 2002.