The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said yesterday that the government had not discussed the possibility of delaying the proposed constitutional referendum that is slated for June this year.

Last month, Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney, QC, told The Tribune it is doubtful the gender equality referendum would meet this deadline. He said that despite efforts of the commission, it was unlikely the bills tabled in the House of Assembly will gain the unanimous support of parliamentarians.

When asked about this, Dr Nottage said Prime Minister Perry Christie’s position to have unanimous support is still the aim.

However, he would not comment on what the government will do if it could not get full support from MPs.

Dr Nottage, who has elections and referenda in his portfolio, also responded to the Free National Movement, which has said the government was stalling on the referendum.

“The opposition is in no position to talk about the government is stalling,” Dr Nottage said. “All that is happening is the Constitutional Commission is carrying out their educational process. When that is completed the government will let you know.

“The government has not had any discussions (that the constitutional referendum won’t meet the June deadline) beyond what we indicated earlier.”

When Mr McWeeney spoke to The Tribune in February, he said despite the push back from some members of parliament on the wording of at least two of the bills, he did not think there would be further amendments.

Regarding the controversial fourth bill, he said the Christie administration consulted with Michael Beloff, QC – a former president of Oxford University in the United Kingdom and one of the world’s leading constitutional law attorneys.

Mr Beloff dismissed as illegitimate the concerns that the bill could open the door to same-sex marriage in the country, Mr McWeeney said.

Following four delays of the proposed referendum, Prime Minister Perry Christie has said he hopes to avoid further postponements and hold the referendum in June.

Mr McWeeney has said that he “suspects” the House of Assembly will debate and pass the bills in parliament some time this spring.