The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Free National Movement Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner said she is “concerned” about the government’s commitment to the proposed constitutional referendum on gender equality, adding that the Christie administration has no fixed agenda because it lacks “true leadership”.

The Long Island MP said the Progressive Liberal Party has been “steadfast in getting certain bills into the House (of Assembly) and approved” but has shown “little to no dedication” to ensuring that the referendum becomes a reality.

“Nothing surprises me with this group anymore,” she told The Tribune. “They give the perception that getting these bills to the House is a difficult process, a process that takes a lot of time. But they only do that with certain bills and legislation.”

“The passion they showed during the gambling referendum is proof. If they had displayed that same passion while dealing with this referendum we would have had equality in our Constitution; instead we our still waiting, seeing delay after delay.”

The proposed referendum has been delayed four times. After the last delay, Prime Minister Perry Christie said he hoped to hold the vote by the end of June.

When contacted by The Tribune yesterday Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney confirmed that the June date was off the table, calling it “highly unlikely”.

Mr McWeeney said, however, the government remains committed to making the proposed referendum a reality.

Mrs Butler-Turner said that this proves that the government is operating in an “ad-hoc fashion,” with “no clear or precise directive”.

“When you have an agenda, a true leader, your ship has a captain it is very easy to plot a course,” she said.

“This group has mentioned this proposed referendum for some time now. Either they are still gun-shy over the failed gambling referendum or they have no interest in securing equality in our Constitution.

“The prime minister promised that this bill would be passed and the laws made official. He said we would have this done in time for the country’s 40th independence anniversary, that has come and gone.”

According to Mrs Butler-Turner, “the country has waited 13 years” to adjust the gender issues in the Constitution.

During the build-up to the 2002 general election, the then governing FNM presented a referendum which included, among other questions, the gender equality issue.

Initially, the PLP gave their support for the bill, but then back tracked and encouraged supporters to vote no.

In August 2014, then FNM Chairman Darron Cash called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to give a “full-throated apology” to the FNM and the country for the part he played in the vote “no” campaign ahead of the 2002 referendum.