The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage blamed the opposition for the failure of the four Constitutional Bills to move through the House of Assembly, causing another delay to passing the landmark changes in the lower chamber yesterday.

According to Dr Nottage, the Christie administration had intended to proceed to the third reading and passage of the Bills yesterday. The government was advised last week, he said, that several opposition MPs insisted they would not support the final Bill unless certain amendments were made.

Bill four seeks to make it unconstitutional to discriminate on the basis of sex by inserting the word “sex” into Article 26 of the constitution.

Dr Nottage, the minister responsible for elections and referenda, said the government is “concerned” about public perception that the opposition is “seriously” divided on the issue.

While he did not say how long the delay was expected, Dr Nottage expressed optimism that the issues would be resolved when Parliament resumes after its recess.

“Regretfully, these final stages must again be deferred for the moment,” Dr Nottage said. “In this regard the government was advised by the Constitutional Commission late last week that several additional members of the opposition had indicated that they were no longer prepared to support Bill Four unless the words ‘at birth’ were added to the definition of ‘sex’ as meaning ‘male or female’.

“One member of the opposition had previously indicated that this was his position but late last week at least two other opposition members indicated that they were now taking the same position.

“We in the government, are concerned that with three and we understand that it might possibly be four members of the opposition no longer prepared to support Bill Four in its present form, we find ourselves in a position where even if Bill Four were to pass in this honourable House with the requisite three-fourths majority, as it almost certainly still would give the public perception that the opposition was seriously divided on this issue if close to half its House members were to vote against it.

“By extension, the bi-partisanship that had been promised by the leader of the opposition when he made his communication to this honourable House on the introduction of the Bills would be very much in jeopardy.”

The Constitutional Commission is not prepared to recommend that the words “at birth” be inserted into Bill Four, Dr Nottage said. The group believes that the change would weaken the prohibition of same sex marriages under the Matrimonial Causes Act leaving the Constitution open to challenges.

However, he said, the Commission has agreed to meet with the opposition members who do not agree with the Bill and the two government back-benchers who have expressed concerns.

Free National Movement Deputy leader Loretta Butler Turner said she was saddened to learn of this new hiccup. Mrs Butler-Turner said she would continue to support the Bills and hopes the matter soon moves to a public vote.

Meanwhile, opposition MP for East Grand Bahamas Peter Turnquest lashed out at the government because he said placing blame on the opposition was a “cop out”.

“This is a democracy and every man and woman has the opportunity to express his or her will. And so the fact that there are two or three or four members  that may have a problem with a particular bill should not prevent the government from moving forward  with the referendum. They have the number,” he said.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the referendum would be held next month. However, that date was later delayed until an unspecified time next year.