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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Pictured during the press conference are from left, State Minister in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, Hon. Hope Strachan; Minister of Social Services and Community Development, Hon Melanie Griffin and Minister of Transport and Aviation, Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin.
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Nassau, Bahamas -
Acknowledging that there are elements who would wish the referendum to
fail, the bipartisan women’s parliamentary caucus remain “steadfast and
immovable” and “are focused on what the intention of these
(constitutional) amendments are and that is to provide equality for men
and women under the constitution.” This according to Social Services and
Community Development Minister Hon. Melanie Griffin as she and fellow
Parliamentarians addressed the media on their strategic plan going
forward regarding the constitutional referendum. She was joined by
Transport and Aviation Minister Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin and Transport
State Minister, the Hon. Hope Strachan.
Echoing this theme of
unity and bipartisanship was Transport and Aviation Minister
Hanna-Martin who reiterated that “politics is not separating us (meaning
women parliamentarians) on this issue” and women members of both
chambers of the House “are ready to go ensure that we achieve this
important …objective.” Hanna Martin also pointed out that the current
parliamentarians will be calling on former female Parliamentarians to
join their “yes” vote campaign and the group is “heating the coals and
getting ready to take an aggressing stance (on the constitutional
bills).” She strongly believes that an aggressive “yes” campaign in
addition to the public education campaign by the Constitutional
Commission will “give this referendum the best chance for success. For
us, this issue is one where failure is really not an option.”
Turning
their attention to a possible delay to the announced date of November 6
for the referendum vote and responding directly to newspaper reports
that PLP women Parliamentarians want a delay in the referendum, State
Minister the Hon. Hope Strachan had this to say: “The PLP women do not
want a delay. What the PLP women want is to give this referendum the
best chance of success.” She continued that the developing circumstance
relative to public education on the constitutional bills “dictates that
we proceed with caution” because ostensibly “we want to ensure that we
have a level of comfort in terms of the degree of knowledge that our
people have before they go to the referendum polls.
“So while we
do not want a (referendum) delay, we recognize that in the reality of
the situation that it may actually require one” said the State Minister.
“If
it is at the end of the day” said Minister Griffin, “we have to put off
the date, I see (nothing) wrong with that...if there is any indication
that the people in this country simply need more time to be educated on
this issue, that is a preferable path than to go down the path where we
know that our chances of success are hindered.”
The press conference was held in the Majority Room of the House of Assembly on Wednesday, September 9th.
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