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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 Citizens For Justice (CFJ) have noted with concern the launch of the “YES Bahamas” campaign and the announcement that the referendum on gender equality is scheduled to be held on June 7, 2016. Prime Minister Perry Christie has appointed two prominent ladies, Senate President Sharon Wilson and former Senate President Lynn Holowesko as co-chair of “YES Bahamas.” CFJ is of the opinion that persons with opposing views on any of the bills presented to the Bahamian people should be given the same resources and opportunities by the government to present their case.
Gender equality also known as sexual equality is the view that both men and women should receive equal treatment and not be discriminated against based on their gender. While we fully support equality among the sexes, the first three bills have little to do with gender equality but are matters dealing specifically with citizenship. The first three bills do not need a referendum in order to be addressed.Legislation in the Parliament can correct any gender equality concerns. Citizens For Justice is of the opinion that the purpose of the upcoming referendum is to attempt to enshrine in our constitution, the word 'sex' in Article 26(3) as a ground for non- discrimination. We believe, as many of our prominent attorneys do, that should Bill 4 be approved, doors will be opened for civil unions and same sex marriages in the Bahamas, which we vehemently oppose.
The majority of our political leaders and some religious leaders are either intentionally deceiving the Bahamian people or they are being disingenuous in their public utterances. Even the opposition Free National Movement appear to have deserted their role in opposing the bills and warning the Bahamian people of all the negative aspects of the bills, perhaps to appease female voters or special interest groups.While we respect the views of every Bahamian on this very important issue, we too are entitled to our viewpoint and will share them with the Bahamian people during the educational phase of the referendum.
We would also like to know why the government of the Bahamas did not accept the recommendation of the Constitutional Commission to make it clear that same-sex marriages not be permitted under any laws of the Bahamas and to make the necessary amendment in Article 26(4) to ensure that they remain prohibited and unlawful in our constitution. Bill four (4) seeks to do more than erase discrimination but is an attempt by the government to give special privileges and rights to the LGBT community. This itself would be discrimination against other groupings and we call for Bahamians to reject this plot by voting “No”to this bill.
A noted Queen's Counsel recently stated that the laws in the Bahamas favour our women who have an advantage over the men in most instances. There is not a single woman who can truthfully say that she cannot rise to any high office in the Bahamas if she so wishes or qualifies for such position. We have had women serve in the office of Governor General, Acting Prime Minister, Ministers in Government, Attorney General, Chief
Justice, President of the Court of Appeal, Governor of the Central Bank, Permanent Secretaries and many other top positions in the public service. Additionally, in the private sector, our women have headed major local and offshore banks, large insurance companies and many mega businesses throughout the country. Women have taken advantage of more educational opportunities than men. They are aggressive and work harder than their male counterparts. Bahamian women drive the finest cars, live in the most lavish homes and live as well or better than most men.
We have noted with concern the arguments presented by the government of the Bahamas, the official opposition, special interest groups and a few church leaders. Some of their agendas appear to be political and as we are aware only one side of these bills have been presented to the Bahamian people by the Constitutional Commission. The government should be neutral and give voters both the pros and cons of these bills which will have far reaching affects over Bahamians should they be approved in a referendum.
The fact that these bills were passed by the Parliament of the Bahamas means little. The power yet lies with the people who will have the final word in approving or rejecting these controversial bills. Bill 4 will challenge the marriage act should the word 'sex' be inserted in the bill as proposed. This constitutional amendment if approved, will without a shadow of a doubt be challenged at the highest court in the land which is the London-based Privy Council by advocates for same sex marriages in the Bahamas. Should this occur, The Privy Council will obviously rule in favor of same sex marriages since this practice has been legalized in the United Kingdom and most of Europe. This behaviour may be acceptable to foreign culture but cannot and will not be accepted or condoned by the majority of the Bahamian people. This particular amendment must be rejected. Our constitution makes it clear that this nation was founded on spiritual values under God.
We as a God-fearing people, cannot allow the liberal mindset of our leaders to bring judgment upon our land. CFJ only supports marriage as defined in the Holy Bible, which is a union between a man and a woman. The vast majority of Bahamians embrace this biblical law despite the liberal views of a minority of special interest groups influenced by the United States of America, the United Nations and the European Union.
We also have major concerns with Bill 2 which seeks to grant automatic citizenship to foreign men married to Bahamian women. This right is presently extended to Bahamian men. Over the years, we have heard of numerous complaints of foreign men marrying Bahamian women in order to have status in the country. These men usually abuse their wives and children and eventually leave them to go to America or they find another lover. If Bill 2 is successful, we will see an influx of foreign men coming to the Bahamas for work and using Bahamian women as their ticket. This would make it even more difficult for Bahamian men to find jobs in a market where unemployment is extremely high and poverty, crime and other social ills are at epidemic levels.
We must protect our women from economic refugees seeking legal status. It would also be a grave injustice to grant automatic citizenship to a foreign man married to a Bahamian woman, when we have thousands of persons born in the Bahamas who have been denied citizenship or have been waiting for years while their documents are being processed.
We are also appalled that the proposed constitutional amendments have not addressed the plight of thousands of Bahamians born in the Bahamas after July 10, 1973 and continue to be stateless. A large segment of our population has been disenfranchised and marginalized. We appeal to our political leaders to correct this injustice against these persons. Every person born in the Bahamas and who reside here should be given automatic citizenship. They are Bahamians and should be treated as such regardless of where their parents were born or whether their parents came to the Bahamas legally or illegally. The children did not come illegally, hence they should not be deprived of what they are rightfully entitled to. Children who are born in the Bahamas and live here should never be deported for any reason.
Many of our citizens have politicized the Bahamas Constitution Amendments Bills as they have done with other important issues like the gambling referendum which was soundly rejected by the Bahamian people, yet legalized by a government who refused to honour its own word or the will of the people. We are now reaping the negative effects of gambling on our nation by witnessing the destruction of many families and the proliferation of gambling houses throughout the Bahamas.Bahamians have a tendency to support their political party on any issue regardless of the negative affects the initiatives may have on the wider community. We are calling on all Bahamians to take a serious look at these bills and not be influenced by the political rhetoric that surrounds them.
It is believed that the majority of women do not support these gender equality bills with their hidden agendas and they have made their sentiments clear on radio talk shows and other platforms. We urge Bahamians to vote 'No' to Bills 2 and 4. They are not good for the country. Many persons have indicated that they will be voting 'No' on all 4 bills and that is their prerogative. We all have a responsibility to protect future generations from the plagues that our misguided leaders are attempting to bring over the Bahamas with their corrupt mindset. Citizen For Justice will continue to oppose any and all efforts to legalize same-sex marriages or civil unions in the Bahamas.
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The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his/her
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