Rollins: Gender vote will fail

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins yesterday said that the proposed gender equality referendum will become “a victim of the extreme unpopularity” of the Christie administration, adding that he fully expects it to fail.

Stating that he has always held the view that women’s rights are human rights and that women ought to be treated as equal to men under the law, Dr Rollins said the push for gender equality was being used as a political tool by the PLP because of the looming general election.

He suggested that the government delay the vote until after the 2017 election, with a promise from all political parties that the referendum would be held within 90 days of the next election.

“It is evident that our country is now entering election mode and this gender equality referendum will be a victim of the extreme unpopularity of this PLP government,” Dr Rollins, shadow minister of national security, said in a statement.

“This exercise will be viewed by the electorate not as a referendum on gender equality, but as a referendum on the abysmal performance of this Christie-led administration. I fully expect that Bahamians, almost en masse, will vote no to these bills, not because they are opposed to Bahamian women, but because they are vehemently opposed to this Christie-led administration.

“This referendum in my view is being used by this administration as a pretext for promoting gender equality, while in actuality they are really intending to use it as a nationwide political trial balloon to determine the mood of the electorate, and to use the referendum results to determine how to best alter the constituency boundaries to try to secure their re-election on or before 2017.

“The gaming referendum is evidence that this administration has no difficulty using a referendum as a means of providing political cover to mask their ulterior motives.”

Dr Rollins also said the matter was already being politicised, claiming the PLP has asked party supporters to assemble in Rawson Square on Wednesday, ahead of the House of Assembly’s vote on the Constitutional Amendment Bills.

“Sadly, those who view this exercise through altruistic lenses will not want to believe that such political trickery could be afoot, nor do I expect that it will bring them much comfort postponing this referendum any longer,” Dr Rollins added.

“However, the question that we must all ask is this: If it took 14 years to bring a failed ‘election eve referendum’ back to the Bahamian people for their consideration, then if it fails once again on the eve of the next general election, how much longer will it take before a future government musters the will and courage to try once again?”

The gender equality referendum has been postponed four times since 2013.

The four Constitutional Amendment Bills were tabled in the House of Assembly in 2014 and have been languishing in the committee stage since then.

The first bill would enable a child born outside the Bahamas to a Bahamian woman and a non-Bahamian father to have automatic Bahamian citizenship at birth. However, the government does not plan to have the clause operate retroactively.

The second bill would allow a Bahamian woman who marries a foreign man to secure for him the same access to Bahamian citizenship that a Bahamian man has always enjoyed under the Constitution in relation to his foreign wife.

The third bill seeks to remedy the one area of the Bahamas’ Constitution that discriminates against men based on gender.

The bill would give an unwed Bahamian father the same right to pass citizenship to his child that a Bahamian woman has always had under the Constitution in relation to a child born to her out of wedlock, provided proof of paternity.

The fourth bill aims to remove discrimination from the Constitution based on sex, being male or female.

Last week, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said he has confidence the bills will pass in the House of Assembly despite previously expressed reservations by some sitting members of his party.

Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn has previously said he supported the first bill, but said the proposed constitutional amendments two and three needed further consideration.

St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman and Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant have said they are not prepared to support the fourth amendment bill unless the government adds the words “at birth” to the question.

Dr Rollins has also said he does not support bill four, which some believe could inadvertently open the door for gay marriage. The government has repeatedly said this concern is unwarranted.

Dr Rollins stressed yesterday that “none of the concerns that I previously expressed in relation to the proposed bills was predicated on the premise of denying Bahamian women equal protections and freedoms under our Constitution.

“That would simply be undemocratic and unjust, and something I would never support. However, it is also my firm belief that any attempt to proceed with the gender equality referendum at this time under this administration will significantly set back, rather than advance, efforts to promote constitutional change in this regard.

“Presumably, the loyalty of Bahamian women’s rights advocates – and all others around the world – is foremost to ensuring the advancement of their cause, beyond that of any political party. If it is their desire for the gender equality referendum to succeed, they ought to raise their voices to state emphatically that they do not wish for this lame duck government to doom it to failure. This should be combined with securing a commitment from all political parties that they shall, without fail, hold a gender equality referendum exercise within 90 days of their election to government.

“This approach significantly minimises the possibility that a referendum exercise will be doomed by the excessive political baggage and failings of the sitting administration, as will certainly be the case if one were held now. After all, postponing this exercise another 14 months is far more desirable than potentially having it postponed for another 14 years,” Dr Rollins said.

Comments

lazybor says...

no wonder...<img src="http://s02.flagcounter.com/mini/rzN/bg_…" width="1"/>

Posted 29 February 2016, 12:39 p.m. Suggest removal

DillyTree says...

This is not, and should not be a political issue. It is a human issue -- no matter what your party. For all those women, or men who have wives, daughters, mothers and sisters, this should be a matter of high importance.

Remember, it wasn't too long ago that in America persons of colour were only considered 3/5th of a person. Surely we can't still be that backward in 2016?

It's time to grant women the same rights as men. It shouldn't matter if you're P:LP, FNM, DNA or something else!

Posted 29 February 2016, 12:52 p.m. Suggest removal

GrassRoot says...

trying to stay relevant Mr. Rollins?

Posted 29 February 2016, 12:53 p.m. Suggest removal

Publius says...

If the overall knowledge base of the citizenry was stronger and higher, and if referendums in this country were not primarily politicized - hence further dumbing down the populace and setting back the nation's development - Bahamians by and large wouldn't respond the way Rollins is correctly saying they will. Both major parties have the legacy of holding referendums for personal and political objectives instead of what they ought to be held for in functioning democracies. Hence in this specific area, both major parties have a significant role to play in why this country is not likely to see any meaningful and necessary Constitutional amendments anytime soon.

And as an aside, why didn't Rollins remain an independent if he wanted to put forward his own positions not constrained by a Party's positions?

Posted 29 February 2016, 2:10 p.m. Suggest removal

Greentea says...

Dear FNM,
Here you are playing once again into the PLPs hand and making this even more political than they have made it. Can't you see the people are TIRED and you are choosing to do exactly what the PLP anticipate that you will do? Reject gender equality. If they don't get it passed then you won't be able to either. And I for one am SICK and TIRED of you ALL playing political football with people's lives. And I am telling you- the people are TIRED of this foolishness and if you want people to lift a half ear to you in 2017- Do the RIGHT thing and support the bills in the name of what is right and humane in 2016. Call the PLP bluff and STOP Playing political kick the can with the rights of Bahamian women. If a child born to a Bahamian woman isnt a Bahamian, I don't know who is.
#Nobahamaswithoutthemamas

Posted 29 February 2016, 3:56 p.m. Suggest removal

jackbnimble says...

Yeah. Vote yes right in time so that they can amend the constitution to add more citizens who can vote in the next election. This is nothing to do with gender equality (which in my opinion is just a guise) but more to do with making citizens of all persons born or married to Bahamian citizens. #wakeupBahamas #votehelltotheno

Posted 29 February 2016, 4:13 p.m. Suggest removal

Greentea says...

Stop playing silly conspiracy games with people's lives. If they can vote then its their right to do so. What amazing statistics do you have to back up your theory?

Posted 1 March 2016, 2:32 p.m. Suggest removal

Chucky says...

I suggest whoever votes against women's rights , well , we should make sure they never get elected again!

Posted 29 February 2016, 4:35 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

The PLP has shit all over women in this country since the days of Doris Johnson ......... they are so disingenuous ........... just looking for illegitimate children votes for the election ....... the FNM should be the government to enact constitutional change as they had good intentions since 2002

Posted 29 February 2016, 6:07 p.m. Suggest removal

EasternGate says...

Rollins is rightt

Posted 29 February 2016, 8:13 p.m. Suggest removal

quietone says...

You mean to tell me being a male I have more rights than my mom who brought me into this world, and more rights than all my other close female relatives as well!? Women should have had equal rights about 40 years ago!!! How dumb can our governments get!!!???

Posted 29 February 2016, 9:34 p.m. Suggest removal

asiseeit says...

I believe in the PLP, **NEVER, THEY LIE !**

Posted 1 March 2016, 7:39 a.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

But again ............... why would Rollins be going contrary to Minnis who says that the FNM will support the bills???????? ............. is he subversive or plain stupid??????????

Posted 1 March 2016, 8:53 a.m. Suggest removal

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