Two FNMs have concerns about referendum bills

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ONLY two Free National Movement members of parliament have concerns about the proposed constitutional referendum bills now before the House of Assembly while the other opposition members are on board, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday.

Dr Minnis did not say which FNM MPs have outstanding issues with the proposed legislation. However, he did acknowledge that opposition parliamentarians with issues over the bills are “working through” those concerns.

He also stressed that his party is committed to gender equality and said the government cannot blame the FNM for delaying the passage of the bills through parliament.

“We were the movers of the initial equality for women referendum,” Dr Minnis said, “that is still our position.”

“The FNM’s position is that we are 100 per cent for women’s equality. We may have one or two individuals within the party that may have concerns with a particular bill, but they are working that through.

“The government cannot use us (the FNM) as a reason not to bring the bills,” he added.

“They have the numbers to pass it, their concern is they have members within their own party that are not for the bills, so it is very difficult for the government to bring forward a bill to the public when their own party have issues with it.”

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Commission has not met with the official opposition to clarify concerns over the four bills that seek to enshrine gender equality into the Constitution.

Dr Minnis yesterday said he could not confirm whether such a meeting will take place this year.

However, Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney later told The Tribune that he was confident his team would be able to meet with opposition members before the year’s end.

Last month, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage suggested that the bills had not progressed in the House of Assembly because of the Free National Movement’s convention, adding that conditions would be more conducive to hold consultations with opposition members after the party’s leadership issues had been settled.

“The communication has already taken place,” Mr McWeeney said, “I’ve made communication with the leader, Dr Minnis. I sent him an email on Saturday, which he acknowledged. So hopefully, I’m available. I’m confident that it will be held before the year’s end.”

The anticipated constitutional referendum was postponed from November 6 until 2015, because of confusion and push back to the bills from some members of the opposition and even the governing party.

Earlier this year, Dr Minnis announced in the House of Assembly that his party would not support the changes because of concerns about the legislation. The was a turnaround from his initial pledge that the FNM would fully support the four bills.

PLP MP for Fort Charlotte Dr Andre Rollins has said he does not support bill four, which some believe could inadvertently open the door for gay marriage.

Comments

duppyVAT says...

This is a non-issue.............. the PLP will NEVER bring this Referendum to the people before the next election ........... Perry is only bluffing right now to get to the PLP Convention & 2017.

Perry knows that the young lions in his party are nipping at his heels.

Posted 10 December 2014, 2:21 p.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

Ruby Nottage is running around the islands of our country trying to get us to vote "yes" to same sex marriage and also "yes" to the granting of citizenship to thousands and thousands of Haitian children born in the Bahamas to a Haitian mother or father prior to 10th July 1973! Bahamians are not the fools you apparently believe they are Ruby!! We know a good snow job when we see one and we ain't gonna fall for it!!! Most young Bahamians should refer to what the Royal Commission of Inquiry in the 1980's had to say about Ruby's husband Kendall Nottage.

Posted 10 December 2014, 10:35 p.m. Suggest removal

ADubbs says...

You are misinformed. The bills concerning children will not be retrospective. People born before 1973 will not be entitled to Bahamian citizenship. Additionally, Bill #4 seeks to allow protection for males and females from discrimination under the law. A vote for Bill #4 is not a vote for same sex marriage as the Marital Causes Act is protected by the provision of 26(4)(c).

Posted 11 December 2014, 9:51 a.m. Suggest removal

duppyVAT says...

We had our chance to change the Constitution (2002) ................ the next generation will be given another chance.......... just like the children of Israel 40 years in the wilderness.

Posted 11 December 2014, 10:11 a.m. Suggest removal

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