Tuesday, June 7, 2016
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday refused to reveal how he was voting in today’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.
In an interview with The Tribune in February, Dr Minnis also said the FNM fully backs the referendum adding: “I am for all four of the bills.”
However, since the vote passed in the House in Assembly, Dr Minnis has been less clear about his position.
“I told the people to vote their conscience so I do not want anyone trying to put anything on me that I didn’t say, or lie or incriminate me,” Dr Minnis said on Monday.
“I said on July 14, ‘I want you to listen to all the issues and ensure you are educated and understand because you are voting for your future and the future of your children. Be knowledgeable and vote your conscience.’ I said ‘yes’ in Parliament to allow the vote to go to the people. I have not voted yet, I will vote the same time as the people.”
In 2012, Dr Minnis told The Nassau Guardian that the FNM would support the referendum to end gender discrimination.
At that time Dr Minnis criticised the Progressive Liberal Party for opposing and campaigning against the constitutional changes ahead of the failed referendum in 2002, which was brought by the Ingraham administration.
“I don’t think it was right to walk on the backs of women just to achieve your own goal, a woman deserves better than that. I think they deserve the complete respect in our society for what they have done and what they continue to do today...I would encourage all Bahamians to vote for equality for women. I can assure you the FNM will not oppose equality for women,” Dr Minnis said in that earlier interview.
Meanwhile, Dr Minnis said Monday that FNM members would be at all of the polls throughout the country to ensure the voting process is “fair and transparent.”
Comments
DDK says...
FOR GOODNESS SAKE DR. MINNIS, DO THE RIGHT THING, VOTE FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN OUR COUNTRY AND BE PROUD TO PROCLAIM YOUR INTENTION!
Posted 7 June 2016, 11:19 a.m. Suggest removal
candid says...
Disgraceful! Grow some balls and do the right thing and openly support and campaign to advance the YES campaign - this is not the time for poli-tricks. How do you expect the young electorate to support you and your party when such ambiguity make us question your motives. As a highly educated and sensible Bahamian we expect better of you. Shameful.
Posted 7 June 2016, 11:33 a.m. Suggest removal
Publius says...
POS!!!
Posted 7 June 2016, 12:18 p.m. Suggest removal
Economist says...
He is not a Leader. This is just another example why I won't be voting FNM if he is still their leader.
Posted 7 June 2016, 4:49 p.m. Suggest removal
truetruebahamian says...
Minnis, give up and go home! I would rather vote for frogs in the pond than for you! Pass it on to someone who CAN lead - Loretta and Duane are my (Robert Sands) choices
Posted 7 June 2016, 7:11 p.m. Suggest removal
Greentea says...
Now that the No vote has won, he will come out and claim he voted no. Disgraceful populist. Certainly not a leader.
Posted 7 June 2016, 10:40 p.m. Suggest removal
Publius says...
Amen
Posted 8 June 2016, 12:15 a.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
There were issues with Dr Minnis before the no vote. If he had voted yes there would still be issues.
Posted 8 June 2016, 6:30 a.m. Suggest removal
danie97 says...
I hope Dr. Minnis don't think we voting for him just because he's running for the FNM. I hope he gets the boot they got planned for him . Be A Leader !! Backwards, secretive, complacent leaders out of style
Posted 8 June 2016, 7:31 a.m. Suggest removal
cmiller says...
Yeah.....bottom line is that he was scared to take a stand. Probably wanted to straddle the fence. Not good leadership quality.
Posted 8 June 2016, 8:37 a.m. Suggest removal
licks2 says...
He called it right again. . .he voted yes in the house and told the people to vote their own minds. . .AND BY THE DANG WAY. . .GOOD LEADERSHIP IS NOT "ANYBODY MIND CAN PUSH YOU HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE". . .SO FAR DOC HAS PROVED TO WE THE PEOPLE THAT YINNA CAN'T PUSH HIM ALL OVER THE PLACE. HE IS STANDING HIS GROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE. . .WHY DO YOU THINK YALL HERE ALWAYS WHINNING WITH EVERYTHING HE DOES. . . HE HAS HIS OWN MIND. . .THAT'S WHAT A GOOD LEADER IS ALL ABOUT. . .NOT ONE WHO ANYBODY CAN PUSH AROUND AND GOT THEM TALKING FOOL IN PUBLIC!!
THIS REFERANDUM HAS PLACED DOC HIGH UP WITH THE PEOPLE. . .EVEN THOUGH HE VOTED YES, HE ALLOWED HIS PEOPLE TO DO WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT! WE RESPECTED HIM FOR THAT. . .LBT WILL PAY AT THE POLLS FOR HER DISRESPECT FOR HER PEOPLE. . .TALKING DOWN TO US. . .SHE WILL PAY!!
NOW THEY ARE HIDING THE VOTE COUNT. . .WHICH THE PEOPLE ARE FUMING ABOUT. . .PLACING LBT INTO THAT CAMP THAT DISRESPECT THEM. . .THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS!!
Posted 8 June 2016, 11:45 a.m. Suggest removal
cmiller says...
Wow.......
Posted 8 June 2016, 2:14 p.m. Suggest removal
licks2 says...
LBT can't even see that her "partners in crime" are backing-off from her. . .DS, HC, AR. . .and we can't find MR. L nowhere in sight. . .HER BACK-STABBERS SHOWED UP IN HER "LONG ISLAND" BACK-YARD. . .WITH THE CHIEF IN THE MIDDLE! EVEN IF PAPA COMES BACK NOW. . . DOC MUST BE HIS DEPUTY. . .OR EVEN THE GREAT PAPA CAN'T PULL OFF A WIN WITH THE KIND OF PUBLIC SUPPORT DOC HAS GATHERED. . . HE MUST KEEP DOC AS HIS SECOND AND "TALK" WITH THE DNA. . .LBT IS DAMAGED GOODS. . .EVEN THE WHITE MONIED PEOPLE ARE "LOOKING" FOR PAPA AND NOT SHE. . .IF SHE WAS NOT DAMAGED GOODS THEY WOULD HAVE "BACK" SHE FOR THE BIG CHAIR. . .THEY KNOW THAT SHE CAN'T BEAT DOC. . .MUCH LESS CHRISTIE!! THIS ONE GER BE LONG!!
Posted 9 June 2016, 12:15 p.m. Suggest removal
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