The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes said yesterday the Bahamian public should “demand” the equality referendum happen “sooner rather than later” and was concerned that no date has been announced for when the vote will be held.

Addressing Rotarians of South East Nassau, Sir Arthur said it is a great pity that referendum has not yet happened.

In October, Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney admitted that the referendum would not take place this year.

Mr McWeeney could not say when the vote will be held, although he expressed hope that the four related equality bills will be passed in Parliament this year.

He ruled out the possibility that the referendum could happen early next year, noting how close that would be to the Christmas season, or that it would happen around Easter, citing Lent.

“I think it’s a great pity that we haven’t done it, and I hope that all those concerned – the government, the commission and the Bahamian public – should demand that we do this,” Sir Arthur said.

“This is essential, this is necessary if we’re really going to be a democratic country with the same equality for everybody. So its absolutely essential, and I hope the sooner the better. “

This is not the first time Sir Arthur has voiced his opinion on the referendum, in March he said there is no convincing reason why all four of the equality Bills should not be passed by Parliament and approved by the people in a referendum.

He said if Bahamians vote against gender equality in the forthcoming constitutional referendum “the Bahamas would be listed among those backward peoples of the world who still believe that accidents of birth like colour and sex should forever assign some people to inferiority status”.

The referendum has been delayed several times. It was first expected in June 2013, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of independence.

Subsequently, the vote was pushed back to November 2013 and then to June 2014.

The vote was later delayed to November 2014, and the relevant bills were tabled in the House of Assembly. After significant opposition – even from some Progressive Liberal Party MPs – over the wording of some of the bills, the government again delayed the vote.

There was concern in some quarters that Bill four in particular, which seeks to end discrimination based on sex, could pave the way for gay marriage. The government has repeatedly said this concern is unwarranted.

National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage, who has responsibility for elections and referendums, has not given a new timeline for the vote.