The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie said on Tuesday morning he is “disappointed” that the Official Opposition, who “once stood shoulder to shoulder” with him on the constitutional referendum, has decided to “back away” publicly from supporting the vote.

Speaking with the press moments after voting at H O Nash on Tuesday, Mr Christie said he voted ‘yes’ to all of the four referendum questions and noted that the Bahamas was “being looked at internationally” and “will be judged” by the outcome of the historic vote.

On Monday, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis refused to reveal how he was voting in Tuesday’s equality referendum. When asked by The Tribune if he was for or against the amendments to the Constitution, Dr Minnis said his vote is “private and confidential.”

Dr Minnis voted in favour of all four bills in Parliament when they were passed in March, however since then he has been less than clear about his decision.

“Firstly let me say, we (my family) all voted yes to all four of the questions, the process is what it is,” the prime minister said. “This is an historic constitutional referendum. The one disappointment I had with this, is that the opposition who began with me shoulder to shoulder throughout all the consultations made a decision that they would back down, that is the political ones and not be upfront in this matter and to the point where they may have even gone against, some of them at least, but we won’t know because of they way they have gone about this matter.”

“But there are people like Mrs (Lynn) Holowesko who partnered with Lady Sharon Wilson and Heather Hunt who partnered with Cheryl Bazard, throughout the country. We made an effort with the help of these people to have counterparts in each island leading the charge. So there was significant participation from Free National Movement supporters who decided they would vote ‘yes’ and who were active in their campaign around the country. So for me, moving forward, we have been able to reach this point. We anticipate that what ever the results, it is a constitutional referendum and the results will be respected and enacted upon as required by law.”

Mr Christie said regardless of Tuesday’s result the Bahamas has to find a way to move forward.

“This is just another experience in our country's maturation process. The Bahamas is being looked at today by countries of the world. What we do will be judged and we have to be responsible and accountable for whatever the decisions is as a nation and move forward,” Mr Christie said.

“Because at the end of the day the challenges remain that we must get more people working, we must lessen the impact of crime and the fear of crime and we must move our country forward in a very progressive way.”

Mr Christie was accompanied by his wife and children.

The polls close at 6pm.