Minnis 'may have spoken too soon' on FNM support for bills

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CENTRAL and South Abaco MP Edison Key suggested yesterday that FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis may have spoken too soon in saying the FNM fully supports the proposed constitutional referendum, noting that the issue was never discussed with him.

“When (the bills were) introduced (in Parliament, Dr Minnis) spoke on it and said we have no problem and fully support the amendments,” Mr Key said.

“I don’t know whether he spoke too early or what, but I haven’t discussed the issue with him yet,” he added.

Mr Key’s statement came a day after Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn told The Nassau Guardian he has concerns with at least one of the bills.

Mr Key also insisted he would not support a bill that could possibly open the door to same sex marriage. He was referring to bill four, which seeks to end discrimination based on sex. This involves the insertion of the word “sex” in Article 26 of the Constitution to make it unconstitutional to discriminate based on whether someone is male or female.

Some have questioned if this amendment could one day lead to gay marriage, however Prime Minister Perry Christie has adamantly refuted this possibility.

Mr Key said: “I don’t have any problems with the referendum when it comes to equal rights for male and female. I think that was a mistake in the Constitution when it was initially written. I think women should be equal to men in all aspects, whether it be salary or being able to pass on a nationality to their children.”

Without being specific, he added: “Some of (what’s in the bills) I don’t think is necessary. The prime minister got into the question of same sex marriage. That’s out with me if they come out with that. There’s some other little flaws in there that I guess we have to be careful when dealing with.”

MP for East Grand Bahama Peter Turnquest told The Tribune yesterday he had some issues over the bills, however he said he will address his concerns in Parliament tomorrow.

“I fully support the equality of men and women under the Constitution of the Bahamas,” he said. “But as far as details of the bills are concerned, there’s lots of things that needs to be discussed. The fact is when talking about citizenship, that is a precious thing to most of us. It is a privilege to be a Bahamian. It would be flawed to support an arbitrary issuance of citizenship without sober thought. I encourage dialogue. I want to ensure that we make a decision that we could live with not only in the short term, but the long term as well.”

Mr Turnquest declined to detail his concerns with the bills. However, he said while the issue is not a black or white one as painted by some, concern that the fourth bill would open the door to same sex marriage is “valid”.

Mr Chipman, the St Annes MP, said he is not breaking ranks with his party on the issue, adding that he fully supports Dr Minnis’ position.

“If the leader says we will support the bills, then we will support the bills,” he said.

Nonetheless, Mr Chipman said he is concerned about the wording of the proposed questions for the referendum, adding that they need to be made simpler for everyone to understand.

Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant declined to tell The Tribune whether he fully supports the bills or not, noting that he will speak about them in Parliament tomorrow.

Comments

TalRussell says...

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2014…

Posted 12 August 2014, 12:04 p.m. Suggest removal

shortpants says...

Mr Key low grade whitey why the hell you don't resign from the FNM and and carry your ass over to the most hated party in this country ,Where you want to be .Not racist but you make me sick with your old tired ass.

Posted 12 August 2014, 1:55 p.m. Suggest removal

UserOne says...

If you are not racist why use the term "low grade whitey"? That sounds racist to me.

Posted 12 August 2014, 2:13 p.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

I agree. Unnecessary use of a racist word.

Posted 12 August 2014, 3:35 p.m. Suggest removal

Government-in-waiting my ass. Comrade Edison seems not to be the only red House MP appearing overly confident they can go public against Minnis, without any fear of being disciplined by their leader. Sounds more like Minnis’s House MP’s pitchforks are coming out in full force to highlight how badly Minnis has failed at emerging from Papa Hubert's shadow. I mean how many times can a leader issue press releases about how united his House MP's are, only to have every damn one them, 'flippin they support' within hours by running to the media to capture their own opposing viewpoints headlines? Talk about swift kicking your leader in he ass? I now have a much better appreciation, why it was they Papa he had be so controlling over his House MP's? If left alone, Hubert knew how quickly his House MP's could become anti-leader - if he was to allow them to run free off they leashes.

Posted 12 August 2014, 2:33 p.m. Suggest removal

I'm a fan of Minnis but it really sounds like he spoke too early without actually speaking to his people.

Posted 12 August 2014, 3:37 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Yes Minnis did................ but Turncoat Key is in no position to give Minnis advice. He cannot help the FNM or HAM right now................ Key is on borrowed time

Posted 12 August 2014, 3:41 p.m. Suggest removal

BSObserver says...

"low grade whitey" wow. Let a Caucasian get on here and comment about a "low grade black" and see what happens. No no racism here.

Posted 12 August 2014, 6:44 p.m. Suggest removal

John says...

You already did and guess what? Nothing happened

Posted 13 August 2014, 9:12 a.m. Suggest removal

And when was that sir?

Posted 13 August 2014, 3:08 p.m. Suggest removal

killemwitdakno says...

nothing ever happens, it's when a educated bahamian says it about bahamians everyone is offended.

Posted 25 August 2014, 3:49 a.m. Suggest removal

Tommy77 says...

What a big mess.<img src="http://s04.flagcounter.com/mini/kfoW/bg…" style="display:none">

Posted 13 August 2014, 7:30 a.m. Suggest removal

Genus86 says...

so what you're saying is that, it's ok to discriminate me as a Bahamian woman because some gay person "may" try to seek a marriage permit (even though there is a Marriage Act) ya'know a law, and when they are refused they then "may" try to find a judge who is liberal (they would have to provide proof) and then it "may" pass. So now me as a Bahamian woman can't get paid equally for equal work because all of this MAY happen (because ya'know it isn't against the law NOW!!). small-minded patriarchal one perspective male privilege at its best.

Posted 13 August 2014, 8:51 a.m. Suggest removal

Well said ..................... but old habits die hard in this joint......... Sorry, it aint gonna happen

Posted 13 August 2014, 9:03 a.m. Suggest removal

As long as (they) continue to politicize the referundum and fill peoples heads with confusion and uncertainty as to what effect the changes to the constitution will have, the proposed amendments will be defeated. Bahamian woman fear giving more rights to foreigners than they worry about being discriminated against, so many of them will vote NO. Then there are those who feel that the proposed changes will open doors for gay or same sex marriage. This group will also vote NO. Then there are those who feel that the government can achieve its objectives without amending the constitution. This group will not support a change. The government must do a lot of footwork and public campaigning if it wants to garnish enough support to get the bills passed

Posted 13 August 2014, 9:27 a.m. Suggest removal

We wonder why the country is the way it is..but just read some of the posts above...no one is addressing the issues anymore just attacking each other and being abusive...

Posted 13 August 2014, 12:51 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

There are mountains of problems with immigration in the Bahamas, many dishonest persons. and they speak of back log, immigration in the Bahamas is in need of reform. before they seek to add to the problems that now exist . Will there be DNA test to prove who the Fathers are or will it just be some one's words. Some women who are married to foreign men will vote No , I have heard them complain their husbands left them. The men will bring their new mates from their Countries. But I do know of many Bahamian women who are married to foreign men who are very good to their Bahamian mates. All I am saying is fix the immigration of the Bahamas before you add on to the existing problems.

Posted 15 August 2014, 7:13 p.m. Suggest removal