CLERGYMEN have called for limited tenure of the Prime Minister as they presented their case before the Constitutional Commission.
Bishop Franklin Ferguson, on behalf of the Church of God Of Prophecy, said the time has come to remove certain constitutional powers vested in the Prime Minister.
“We recommend the Constitution reflects a set time for Parliamentary elections which would eliminate the guess work on the part of the electorate, prevent a political play on the emotions of the general public and give the Parliamentary Commissioner and his officers adequate time to prepare for the elections,” Bishop Ferguson said on Friday.
The recommendation would be accompanied by the caveat that provision should be made for exceptional changes in the date of election, which may be as a result of a state of emergency, national catastrophe or any similar event, he said.
“This approach to the exercise of our franchise in our view will be consistent in encouraging an even greater participation in the electoral process and create a degree of fairness similar to that of our closet democratic neighbour.”
The Reverend Patrick Paul who represented The Assemblies of God in The Bahamas including the Turks & Caicos Islands addressed the country’s spiritual heritage, referenced the point of democracy, the Preamble of the Constitution, the recognition of marriage between a man and a woman, immigration, sovereign fund and also the powers of the Prime Minister.
He said it must be recognised that in keeping with the spirit and reference point of the country’s democracy, marriage was a sacred act between a man and a woman.
“It is a sacred institution ordained of God for the health and wealth of both natural and civil society,” Reverend Paul said, adding: “Family is the cradle and foundation for the success of all civil society. As a nation we must support family and seek to strengthen the family unit, in spite of its challenges.”
Dr Antoine St Louis, President of the United Association of Haitian and Bahamians in The Bahamas called for the establishment of a nonpartisan ‘Commission on Citizenship and Immigration’ to conduct research and make recommendations to the Parliament on ways to define and change the nation’s policy on citizenship and immigration matters.
This group should comprise members of various backgrounds including Bahamians of Haitian descent, among others, he said.
“We believe that the most humane policy with respect to the treatment of children born to non-Bahamian parents whether the parents are documented or not is to grant them documentation from birth.
“We therefore recommend that all children born within the Bahamas should have automatic entitlement to citizenship in the Bahamas irrespective of their parents,” he said.
Comments
Understandfacts 11 years, 1 month ago
Why is the church so political?
IloveBahamas 11 years, 1 month ago
Just curious Dr Antoine St Louis what is your recommendation to countries in the East like Kuwait on their immigration policy? This small little nation needs to realize that its just that and stop trying to be like these First world countries in certain aspects. We don't have the resources, economy and structure like they do! If someone comes here illegal why do you think we should legalize their acts? Let people know that if they refuse to abide by the law, immigrate here legally, they must not think that they could come here and find loopholes around the system. Come here legally, contribute to the system and you and your family will be able to enjoy the benefits of the legalized members of the system.
moncurcool 11 years, 1 month ago
It is amazing that people who come here as immigrants want to challenge us to change how we grant citizenship. If you come here illegally, disregarding the laws of this country, there is no way you should be entitled to legal status. If you break the law you to to jail, not be rewarded with citizenship.
Furthermore, in another article, Dr Antoine talks about children being stateless. No child when they are born is stateless. It is just many of the immigrants he refers to do not want to take their home nationality. No way should it be automatic, especially for illegal immigrants.
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 1 month ago
What the hell is this? Stick to the pew and leave our government alone. Why is this church trying to get into government? What kind of nonsense is this?
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
you said it ,,and for votes the politicians will pander to them
John 11 years, 1 month ago
The Bahamas is a small country, in terms of population. At this point in our development we have to be careful not to dilute our heritage, culture and rights of the indigineous Bahamian. Therefore we should not relax neither our policies on citizenship or our immigration laws. If Haiti and Jamaica does not want to accept children born to their citizens outside Haiti and Jamaica, then why should we be forced to accept them, when their parents came here illegally? Since the countires of origin do not want to accept their children, then immigration must make efforts to deport expectingt mothers of these countires before childbirth. If we start accepting these chldren wholesale the problem will only get worse. Just because you can sneak in and have a child in this country shoundn't be grounds for citizenship
Islandgirl 11 years, 1 month ago
Agreed. There should be no willingness to reward criminal behaviour. That sort of thinking has contributed greatly to the mess we find ourselves in today.
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