The Tribune

FORMER Senate President Lynn Holowesko has urged voters to make a decision in the upcoming constitutional referendum based on the “fair examination of facts,” not politics or “spite”.

Speaking at the launch of the government’s “Yes Bahamas” referendum campaign on Sunday, Mrs Holowesko stressed that the proposed changes to the Constitution are “right and just,” adding that she supports this referendum wholeheartedly.

“The questions that were debated in our Parliament, in the House of Assembly and the Senate, were prayerfully supported by the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church, the bishop of the Anglican Church and Christian leaders throughout the country,” she said.

“The world has also heard pleas from the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for equality, and equal rights for all people.

“Our young nation came into being based on Christian values. If we do, in fact, claim to be Christians, it should be of significance to us that the shepherds of our religious communities have encouraged support of these changes to our Constitution.

“I have been distressed to hear good people in our country say they will either not vote for the amendments, or they are going to vote ‘no’. Some admit that they have not read the questions – but they will still vote ‘no’.

“We are each entitled to our own opinions, but let us choose ‘yes’ or ‘no’ based on a fair examination of the issues. Each of us should make a reasoned decision based on facts. It is not right to take a stand on matters of such significance without thinking carefully about the issues and the questions we will be asked to answer.”

Mrs Holowesko added that for the Bahamas to grow as a nation, residents must each recognise that “everything we say and do should not be based on political affiliation.”

“There are times when ‘country’ must be above ‘party’. We cannot, in good conscience, decide issues such as these, based on politics, or spite. It would be immature of us as a people to turn this referendum into a political football.

“The questions we will be asked to answer are only about equal rights for Bahamian men and Bahamian women. I believe most of us know Bahamians whose lives have been adversely affected because the Constitution, as it presently stands, has not treated them fairly, and I fail to understand how any right thinking Bahamian would not be in favour of equality for all Bahamians. Let us do what is right for our country – for ourselves, for our sons and for our daughters.

“I urge you to read and examine the proposed amendments, think carefully about them, and when it is time to vote, let your conscience be your guide.

“I hope and pray that your vote will be guided by fairness and justice.”

Mrs Holowesko is co-chair of the Yes Bahamas campaign, along with Senate President Sharon Wilson.

The constitutional referendum, which seeks to remove gender bias from the Constitution, has been scheduled for June 7.

The Constitutional Amendment Bills were passed in Parliament earlier this year.

Bill one as written would give Bahamian women who are married to foreign men the right to pass on their Bahamian citizenship to any child of that union no matter where that child is born.

The Constitution currently says that only Bahamian male citizens by birth have that right.

Bill two would allow a Bahamian woman married to a foreign man the right to secure for her husband the same access to Bahamian citizenship as a Bahamian male has in relation to his foreign wife.

Bill three would grant any unmarried Bahamian man the right to pass on his Bahamian citizenship to any child he fathers with a foreign woman with proof of paternity. Bill four seeks to end discrimination in the Constitution based on sex.