The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The normal proceedings in the House of Assembly are usually quite predictable. The government presents a bill the opposition opposes for no reason other than they did not present it. This behaviour has been the modus operandi for governments and oppositions since time immemorial.

The government of the day in 2001 put forward a set of bills so that Bahamian women would be on equal footing, enjoying the same pleasures, rights and privileges as men with their foreign spouses being given almost automatic citizenship.

History will show that the PLP headed by the Rt Honourable Perry Gladstone “hoodwinked” the Bahamian people by agreeing to all of the bills in the House of Assembly, then in what seemed a cowardly act directed colleagues and party to vote against the bill outside, apparently because they did not think women should enjoy the same rights as men.

The result of this dastardly act was that the referendum was defeated and the PLP won the election.

Fast-forward. This exact same set of bills has resurfaced, but this time by a PLP government who without shame expect that the people to completely forget the “black eye” given to women, and support it.

One would expect that the FNM would use the opportunity to get even with the PLP especially since the thinking is if the referendum passes, then it would give the PLP momentum, when obviously they are crumbling right before our very eyes.

But in spite of all of this, and even though the party has been dithering here and there, one bright spark shines through, Long Island MP would not let anyone distract her with the side show, and went straight for the big show, by standing for the women again. She has insisted that this is a whole lot bigger than the usual insignificant party politics.

Loretta Butler-Turner will go down in Bahamian history as the woman who went against her party and sided with the women of the country. Having equal rights for women is far bigger than any politician’s ego, it certainly strikes at the heart of the usual “boy’s club”.

The Bahamian women can count on Mrs. Butler-Turner, who swam upstream against the grain and stuck to her guns, this one is for the women, not the politicians. Siding with the government was the wise thing to do, it was the matured thing to do, and it showed the kind of maturity, not usually seen, especially in such a politically petty society.

Lord knows we need more acts of maturity from both sides, but standing up and putting the women of this country above all political ambitions is what we were hollering for.

Women have a champion in Butler-Turner. They know where she stands. I am thrilled she did not wither against a “heavy male dominated objection”. I am relieved that someone has the sense, the courage to remove the blinders and look common sense in the eye and say, hell no, no more second-class citizens for women.

All women from across the political divide should congratulate her for her courage and her wisdom.

I personally see the progress when conscience guides you not fear of your political life.

IVOINE W INGRAHAM

Nassau,

August 19, 2014.