Dr. Hubert Minnis, leader of the Opposition Free National Movement, appeared before the Constitutional Commission on November 23 to share the views of his party on possible amendments to The Bahamas Independence Order 1973 (Constitution.) Dr. Minnis is pictured fourth from left in the front row in the lobby of the British Colonial Hilton Hotel. (BIS Photo/Elcott Coleby)
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Nassau, The Bahamas - The
exclusion of Bahamians from casino gambling will be considered by the
Constitution Reform Com
mission, its chairman Sean McWeeney, QC, confirmed.
And, Leader of the Opposition, Dr Hubert Minnis is
insisting that Bahamian voters “must be armed with sufficient empirical
expert analysis and information to make an informed choice” on
the legalisation of gambling.
The Commission continued its sessions Friday with
Dr Minnis, leader of the Free National Movement, making a contribution.
Members of the Commission are Rubie Nottage, Mark
Wilson, Carl Bethel, Lester Mortimer, Tara Cooper-Burnside, Michael
Stevenson, Professor Dr. Lydia Saunders, Michael Albury, Chandra Sands,
Brandis Duncanson, Carla Brown-Roker, Lauren Klein.
Former permanent secretary Thelma Beneby is the secretary
to the Commission. She will be assisted by Annie Lloyd, Darron Henfield,
Sonobia Smith, and Veronica Frazer.
The issue as to whether the constitutional provisions
dealing with the exclusion of Bahamians from casino gambling should
be repealed “is a matter which will be considered by the Commission,”
said Mr. McWeeney.
The Prime Minister recently indicated that casino
gambling was not going to be included in the gambling referendum because
it was a matter that he would prefer to be dealt with by the Commission
as one of the exceptions to the provisions against discrimination, he
said.
Various members of the commission have indicated
that they would also want the Commission to deal with this matter, said
the chairman.
Addressing the Commission, Dr Minnis noted that the
elimination of the ‘discrimination’ clause which derogates
from Article 26 of the Constitution in matters relating to gambling,
is a matter of much public controversy.
It has been occasioned by the Government’s intention
to hold a non-constitutional referendum on local ‘web shops’
and a national lottery, “but not to seek to amend the derogation clause
or to seek the public’s views on land-based casino gambling,” he
said.
“The position of the Free National Movement on
this issue as well as the specific Government initiative is that Bahamian
voters must be armed with sufficient empirical expert analysis and information
to make an informed choice,” he said.
“The Bahamian people must have the benefit of the
most clear, accurate, reliable and impartial information not only of
the present factual circumstances of the formal and informal gaming
industries in our country, but the exact nature and best estimated impact
of any proposed changes, as well as clear and precise information as
to exactly what changes the government proposes to make in the event
of an approving vote.”
Mr. McWeeney confirmed that the Commission remains
on track to report by the end of March 2013.
That will allow sufficient time for Cabinet and Parliament
to deal with legislation for constitutional reform and a referendum
to take place in June, prior to the 40th anniversary of Independence.