The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ONLY two Free National Movement members of parliament have concerns about the proposed constitutional referendum bills now before the House of Assembly while the other opposition members are on board, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday.

Dr Minnis did not say which FNM MPs have outstanding issues with the proposed legislation. However, he did acknowledge that opposition parliamentarians with issues over the bills are “working through” those concerns.

He also stressed that his party is committed to gender equality and said the government cannot blame the FNM for delaying the passage of the bills through parliament.

“We were the movers of the initial equality for women referendum,” Dr Minnis said, “that is still our position.”

“The FNM’s position is that we are 100 per cent for women’s equality. We may have one or two individuals within the party that may have concerns with a particular bill, but they are working that through.

“The government cannot use us (the FNM) as a reason not to bring the bills,” he added.

“They have the numbers to pass it, their concern is they have members within their own party that are not for the bills, so it is very difficult for the government to bring forward a bill to the public when their own party have issues with it.”

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Commission has not met with the official opposition to clarify concerns over the four bills that seek to enshrine gender equality into the Constitution.

Dr Minnis yesterday said he could not confirm whether such a meeting will take place this year.

However, Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney later told The Tribune that he was confident his team would be able to meet with opposition members before the year’s end.

Last month, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage suggested that the bills had not progressed in the House of Assembly because of the Free National Movement’s convention, adding that conditions would be more conducive to hold consultations with opposition members after the party’s leadership issues had been settled.

“The communication has already taken place,” Mr McWeeney said, “I’ve made communication with the leader, Dr Minnis. I sent him an email on Saturday, which he acknowledged. So hopefully, I’m available. I’m confident that it will be held before the year’s end.”

The anticipated constitutional referendum was postponed from November 6 until 2015, because of confusion and push back to the bills from some members of the opposition and even the governing party.

Earlier this year, Dr Minnis announced in the House of Assembly that his party would not support the changes because of concerns about the legislation. The was a turnaround from his initial pledge that the FNM would fully support the four bills.

PLP MP for Fort Charlotte Dr Andre Rollins has said he does not support bill four, which some believe could inadvertently open the door for gay marriage.