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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Nassau -- The YES Bahamas Campaign welcomes the strong support of former Chief Justice, Sir Michael Barnett, who spoke about the referendum to the Rotary Club today in Nassau. Sir Michael, who served as Chief Justice in The Bahamas from 2009 to 2015, stated that he endorses the changes to the Constitution “without reservation,” telling the Rotarians, "I will vote ‘Yes' in the upcoming referendum to all four Bills.”
The former Chief Justice observed that the journey to gender equality in The Bahamas has been a long one, and he underscored that many Bahamian families will be affected by the outcome of the referendum: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is not simply an academic exercise. Many persons throughout the length and breadth of The Bahamas right now are adversely affected by the present law. Persons will continue to be adversely affected unless the Constitution is changed."
Sir Michael also joined the growing chorus of legal experts working to combat misinformation about bill four, stating that nothing in the bills would change marriage in The Bahamas. Highlighting Section 21 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, which says that marriage must be between a male and a female in order to be legal, the former Chief Justice emphasized: “The laws of The Bahamas presently prohibit same-sex marriages…That is the law of The Bahamas today and will remain the law of The Bahamas if the Referendum approves the Bill. Nothing in the proposed Bill changes that fact.”
Sir Michael pointed instead to the benefits of Bill Four —preventing Parliament from enacting laws which would treat men and women differently.
“What the amendment does do is prohibit Parliament passing a law which fixes the minimum wage for men to be different than the minimum wage for women; or enacting a law which require or permits women to retire from employment, including the public service, at an age different from men or to receive national insurance or pension benefits at different ages,” said the former Chief Justice.
Sir Michael finished his remarks by pointing out the urgency of passing these bills, "I am afraid unless these amendments are made during this exercise, it is not likely that they will be made for a long time. These inequalities will remain as part of the laws of The Bahamas. This, I suggest, would be a travesty.”
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