By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport

Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MOTHERS, fathers and children participated in a “Yes Bahamas” march in Freeport on Saturday morning in support of the four Constitutional Amendment Bills on gender equality which will be voted on in the June 7 referendum.

The group marched from the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce along the Mall Drive to the Harold Degregory Complex, where a mini rally was held. Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville, former Ambassador Maurice Moore of the Free National Movement (FNM), and Grand Bahama Human Rights vice president Joseph Darville led the march, holding “Yes” and “Equal Rights” banners.

The march was one of solidarity, extending beyond politics. It was held to raise awareness among Bahamians about the inequalities in the Constitution and to encourage Bahamians to bring about change by voting “yes” to the four bills, which will usher in full equality between men and women in terms of citizenship, and end discrimination based on sex, in the Bahamas.

Mr Moore, one of the founding members of the FNM, felt it was important to participate. “Our Constitution has no politics in it,” he said. “The only time politics gets in it is when we as citizens put it in.”

He said that some 55 years ago many individuals made great sacrifices to bring about change in the country for a young generation of Bahamians. It is now time for the young generation to bring about further change in the country, he said.

“I am on my way out now, but I made a promise ... that I will do all I can for as long as I can through laying the foundation for a better Bahamas, and the safest way to that is not necessary in politics, but to make sure the Constitution, the foundation of our country, provides equality to every citizen.”

Mr Moore said that, in 2002, the movement towards gender equality was started, but politics became involved, things went wrong and the people voted “no” in the first referendum, which was held under an FNM administration.

He urged young Bahamians to do their part to “fix it” now, adding that there are 15 days to go to the vote. “Young men and women, the charge has been placed to you; fix it, make it so that nobody, no political party can do it again, or change it unless it is through a referendum,” he said.

Mr Moore said that it is not right that a Bahamian woman who marries a foreigner and has a child cannot pass on her citizenship to the child.

“Here is a mother.

“We know where the child came from and we know who the mother is, but yet our Constitution does not provide so she can pass her citizenship onto her child,” he explained.

“On January 10, 2017, the country will observe 50 years of Majority Rule – that’s half a century - and the Constitution prevents our citizens from having equality after 50 years. Vote ‘yes’ on all four of (bills),” said Mr Moore.

Mr Moore told Bahamians that it is not time for politics and payback. “If you want to chastise them (the government), do it next year during the general election, not messing around with our Constitution,” he said.

Joseph Darville claims that religious ministers over the time have diminished the quality of women. “We need a balance and this is creating a balance in the country. I appeal to fundamental religions that are always advocating that women are not equal to men to get onboard, change that stupid mentality, and to stop putting filth in the minds of the men and making them believe their women and wives are not equal to them,” he said.

He said the constitutional bills will establish equality for all people in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. “Unless we do it we are going to look like banana republic country; we must move into the enlightened age, into the dimension where we can have compassionate politics,” he said.

Mr Darville did not agree with those who say that a mistake was made during the first referendum.

“It was not meant to pass at the time because people were not sufficiently informed,” he said. “It was not a mistake. We do not need to cast blame; the mistake only becomes permanent when we fail to change it and that is where we are today,” he said. One of the things that fascinated me was the PLP did see fit to include Maurice Moore in some of the discussions. That is the way we need to move in the direction of compassionate politics,” he said.

Also speaking was Rachel Russell, a young woman who has registered to vote for the first time. “I just registered last week, and I want to encourage everyone who has not registered, to go and register to vote,” she said. Miss Russell said she is spreading the message through social media and encouraging other people to vote “yes”.

Billie Bowe talked about the challenges she went through as the married mother of children with a foreign father. She talked about having to apply to the Immigration Department for a permit for her daughter to remain in the Bahamas.

Tamar, a lawyer, said she was 12 or 13 during the first referendum.

“It baffles me that today where we as a country believe we are so progressive and number one that we are so behind the eight ball as far as equal rights for men and women,” said the 27-year-old mother.

“I have my own daughter and it is still an issue. In 2016, families are now being displaced and separated because someone 50 years ago said ‘no’. It is time that our generation should be the change. We have to register, and make our voices heard,” she said.