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GBHRA responds to Cleola Hamilton
By Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA)
Aug 11, 2016 - 6:08:18 PM

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(Statement) In response to the comments of South Beach MP Cleola Hamilton in the press, the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBRHA) takes this opportunity to assert its total and utter condemnation of the recent assertions by Richard Lightbourn, MP, which called into question a woman’s right to reproductive autonomy.

The GBRHA is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of all facets of a woman’s reproductive rights; just as, in a broader sense, we vigorously support Bahamian women in all aspects of the ongoing struggle to cast off the shackles of second-class citizenship.

We sincerely hope that Lightbourn has learned his lesson from the public backlash he has experienced, and will seek infuturenot only to pay more careful attention to hiswords, but also to the points of view and thought processes which lead to them.

As for Hamilton’s backhanded suggestion that the GBHRA favors certain causes over others, we would firstly point her to the extremely hard work of our members in support of the ‘Yes’ campaign in the lead-up to the sadly ill-fated gender equality referendum.

It is totally irresponsible and very discouraging, particularly to our younger activists, to have a member of parliament disregard their heartfelt efforts so flippantly and publicly. Hamilton cannot claim she is unaware of our work in support of gender equality; she is on the GBHRA mailing list.

In the second place, Hamilton, along with her female colleagues on the governing side, are in no position to criticize anyone for a perceived failure to stand up for women’s rights after their silence in the face of MP Leslie Miller repeatedly joking about savagely beating a woman. Indeed, rather than condemnation, Miller’s shameful remarks were greeted with laughter and amusement by Hamilton’s side.

Unlike governing members of parliament, the GBHRA tries to be consistent in its positions. It condemns both the comments of both Lightbourn and Miller. And, while our members criticized both men in the media, Hamilton may notice that we did not issue an official statement in either case – as both MPs apologized and withdrew their comments in the face of public outrage.

The charge of inconsistency and favoritism by Hamilton is totally unwarranted and shockingly hypocritical. We suggest that all elected representatives remove the beam from their own eye before seeking to discredit the good work of civic organizations in this country. Is Hamilton also willing to condemn Miller in the same terms as she did Lightbourn?

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