The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

SOCIAL Services Minister Melanie Griffin is “hopeful” the referendum on gender equality will be held in June, adding that efforts are underway to ensure the public is educated before the proposed vote.

Speaking with the media on Monday, Mrs Griffin said the work of the Constitutional Commission is still “very much in progress” in New Providence and the Family Islands and that the government remains optimistic that the referendum will finally happen as scheduled.

When questioned on the likelihood of the referendum taking place in June, Mrs Griffin said: “The work of the Constitutional Commission is still very much in progress, both in the Family Islands and right here in New Providence. And during National Women’s Week, we ourselves along with the commission and the Women’s Bureau went to about four major Family Islands as well.

“So we’re all working very, very hard towards ensuring there is widespread consultation, and we’re really hopeful that it will happen.”

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 delayed to 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.

This year, Mr Christie said he did not want to delay the vote any further. He said he hoped it would happen in June.

Last month, however, Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney said it is doubtful the process would take place that month.

He speculated that the House of Assembly would debate and pass the bills sometime this spring.

“The reason I say (it’s doubtful) is because this is already February,” Mr McWeeney told The Tribune. “There has to be a period of ramped up, sustained public education once the bills are in their final form. We are engaging in education now, but it’s laid-back until the bills are passed. The other problem is May and June historically are given over to the budget (debate). That’s something that has to happen because it’s so consequential.”

“They could easily finish the debate before Easter,” he added. “After that, it really depends on how much time the government and opposition wants to set aside for public dialogue. The whole objective is they would be out there trying to persuade their supporters to support the bills. That’s not the job of the Constitutional Commission, but the job of political parties in order to help ensure the success of the referendum.”

Former Free National Movement Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner has suggested that the government’s “incompetence” is to blame for any further delays to the proposed referendum on gender equality.

The Long Island MP indicated last month that critical national issues are being overlooked and pushed aside despite promises by the government to address them.

She said that with every passing day it becomes more uncertain if the referendum will ever take place.