She is right about one thing, you cannot set your standards by what other people are doing. It's the worst rationale ever. Btw, I believe she's right about everything

We need more Dame Joans in our legal profession ........... very few of them are using their profession to add quality to our citizenry .......... most of them are just greedy, crooked hogs

I watched her whole speech on Facebook and it gave me goose pimples. I am so glad she added her voice to this debate and with her understanding of the law and the ramifications, I can see why she drew this conclusion. I am even more persuaded to vote NO. Go Dame!

So everyone is in support of a woman who has formed an opinion without even reading the bills? This country is insane.

She admitted that in the beginning she did not read them but when she did she was more distressed and knew they were a waste of time.

I watched her presentation.

She gave a reasonable background on the Darcy Ryan case but is unaware of the full story as to the advice first received and his decision to go with a lawyer who wanted to make political points.

Darcy Ryan would have got his citizenship much sooner if he had not been persuaded to play politics. His earlier counsel wanted to use a more subtle yet more effective approach.

She did not put the whole matter in the context of the true political atmosphere of the day.
I believe that she did not do so because she was naïve of it as she was never affected by it.

Her interpretation of article 15 need to be considered with comments made by Sean McWeeney and Fred Smith.

Why didnt Joan say that in 2001 since Bill#4 is the same Bill unanimously passed in 2001 for the 2002 referendum? Oh, let me guess...

She was an Ingrahamite???????????? .......... HAI Ref. question was more general in nature but almost identical in motive

You are back with this foolishness again? It is the **same** amendment.

It is the same article being amended to include reference to male and female is what I am referring to. The FNM's Bill did use gender instead of sex, which was the wrong term to use Constitutionally and legally and actually would **then** have given rise to sexual orientation being factored into our laws for the first time, since gender is what you **feel** you are in addition to or as opposed to what you may be biologically. "Gender" does not exist anywhere in our laws or our Constitution for this very reason, and because we follow English Common Law on the definition of sex. English Common Law defines sex as being what you are biologically. So ironically, the FNM's Bill was even more controversial by its insertion of "gender" instead of "sex". Sex is actually the correct term for our laws . Funny Joan did not point that very critical error of legislation out on the part of the FNM, but let me guess why...

well said, we the people need to hear both the pros and cons of these bills we dont need to just hear yes vote but give us a fear honest understanding and debate give each sides eqaul rights to spread the word and if most people favors yes or no the would vote. but to use our children and equal rights for a referendum to grant citizenship is kinda disappointing we the people just need the honest truth and for government to respect out intelligence and not always look as us as D averages. Vote not o influences but clear your minds ad vote on what you think is right and best for the Bahamas and our future.

**............... Dame Joan Sawyer Displays *Rare Fortitude* Among Dissenting Elites ..............**

While an overwhelmingly vast amount of aristocratic individuals share and totally agree with Joan Sawyer's analogy, they continue cowering in silence when the country and people need them most!

These learned cowards are more concerned with "fitting in" and maintaining "shoulder rubbing" status with the powers that be than utilizing their status of national respect to voice opinions unpopular with their political peers, regardless of having the knowledge that the whole country will suffer.

Their silence is deafening and is the main reason corruption flourishes in our country from the high office of PM down to the city dump.

I applaud and highly congratulate Dame Joan Sawyer for breaking the long too old mold of tongue in cheek silence among learned individuals, and exhibiting the moral strength and perseverance to **STAND UP** and publicly articulate that which must be pronounced for the benefit of people and country.

***"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"***

***- Edmund Burke***

what an idiotic woman. at times like these i am ashamed of my fellow countrymen. she has an opinion without reading the bills? and you all support her? are you all living under a rock? do you really believe that in a country so backwards thinking, so intolerant, so judgemental, so ignorant, so full of hate for others, that our politicians have a secret agenda to support the LGBTQ movement (which by the way is very small and insignficant compared to the number of paedophiles and child molesters living among you)? seriously? how ridiculous can you people be? this is about equal rights for all -men and women, regardless of who you want to sleep with. regardless of how much you have cheated on your wife, regardless of how many outside children you have and don't care for, regardless of who you choose to love or whether you want to wear dresses or pants. This country, where once upon a time the black man was not permitted into certain restaurants, stores, movie theatres, where black men were once slaves due to the same level of ignorance and pathetic justification - really people? You want to judge others with the same pathetic yardstick by which you were judged (and found unacceptable and inhumane) yet now it's okay. Wow, just wow, what a great bunch of "christians" you are...

why is it the anyone who disagrees with any of these bills being lambasted and castigated. do we hear any of the no vote discriminating anyone who supports any of the bills? simply all that they are doing is giving thier views and opinion of the bills. can we not living in a Democracy country where we can freely voice our opinions and say how we feel? why do name calling at any body who just want their voice to be heard, how much level of ignorance are we displaying by trying to take away the voice of any man, woman, child even foreigner? why call someone ignorant just for expressing how they feel? should the Yes supporters be allowed to continue to to try to stamp the free thinking people who disagree with their feelings? how ignorant is that.

I sincerely hope you have a job cause the foolishness you trying to make sense out of could only buy you comfort in hell. Its not the people who are backward its you who is being misled...only a fool breaks his own heart ...ponder well