The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

ORGANISERS of a global campaign to “eliminate” gender discrimination in nationality laws yesterday applauded the government’s commitment to ending gender inequality, but added that a strong public education campaign is critical to any referendum on the issue.

Catherine Harrington, campaign manager of The Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, stated that her group is paying close attention to the government’s proposed gender referendum.

She indicated that this case is important because the Bahamas would be the first country to reform their nationality laws since launch of the organisation’s campaign.

Mrs Harrington’s comments came after Minister of Social Services and Community Development Melanie Griffin assured the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women that the government of the Bahamas is “committed to achieving full equality in our Constitution for men and women.”

“The Global Campaign is very pleased that the government of the Bahamas is committed to the public education and outreach needed to ensure support for these key reforms for gender equality,” Mrs Harrington said.

“We know that through a strong public education campaign by the government, the people of the Bahamas will support this important step to achieve full equality for all citizens of the Commonwealth.”

According to Mrs Harrington reform in the Bahamas would be a significant step towards ending gender discriminatory laws in the Western Hemisphere and worldwide.

She added that Minister Griffin’s comments are fully endorsed by the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights.

“This issue is viewed by the international community as a clear question of equality for women, in line with international human rights laws and commitments made by the government of the Bahamas in a number of international treaties.

“The Global Campaign looks forward to the robust, comprehensive and timely implementation of the government’s public education campaign.”

She added that due to the postponement of the referendum, her organisation will view the “immediate implementation of a strong education campaign” by the government as the only sign that it is serious about holding a referendum in 2015.

Last month, Loretta Butler-Turner, former opposition deputy leader, suggested that the government’s “incompetence” was to blame for any further delays to the proposed referendum on gender equality.

She indicated that critical national issues were being overlooked and pushed aside despite promises by the government to discuss them.

The proposed referendum has been delayed four times. It was first expected in June 2013, to coincide with the country’s 40th anniversary of independence. It was then expected in November 2013, but it was later said the vote would happen by the end of June 2014.

Last summer, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced it would take place on November 6, 2014, but that date was delayed until some time this year due to pushback from some members of parliament about some of the Constitutional Amendment Bills.

Earlier this year, Mr Christie said he did not want to delay the vote any further and said he hoped to hold the referendum in June.

Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney later told The Tribune he is doubtful a June date is possible.