The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

RETIRED Justice Ruby Nottage, organiser of the Christie administration’s constitutional referendum education campaign, said the delay of the Parliamentary vote on the proposed equality Bills is “concerning” and leaves only “a short window” to clear up points of confusion before the vote.

However, Mrs Nottage yesterday told reporters that she remained hopeful that the November 6 referendum will not be delayed.

Since the anticipated vote in the House of Assembly was put off last Monday, Mrs Nottage said the education committee has not had any indication of when members of Parliament will vote on the package of Bills. But by her own estimation, Mrs Nottage said, the vote could possibly happen after the education committee meets with the Bahamas Christian Council next week.

In the meantime, she said officials were continuing to meet with stakeholders and non-government organisations. The consultations are to continue in the weeks to come, although Mrs Nottage admitted that the education campaign is still not in full gear, with only 69 days until votes are expected to be cast.

“I am realistic,” Mrs Nottage said, “because I know that persons don’t want to vote on anything that they are not clear about and that is right.

“The November 6 date is coming on us fast and we still haven’t had the Bills move through the House and so that bothers me. It concerns me because it leaves such a short window for us to really try to open up and make clear what the Bills say. So to that extent I think it is a very short window, but it’s doable.  It’s doable with a total concentration not only of politicians, political parties in their own way, the church and our public education committee of the (Constitutional) Commission.”

Some observers have called on the government to delay the vote, to ensure that there is political unanimity and proper education. However, Mrs Nottage said if the November 6 date is put off, the controversial process may not be addressed any time soon.

“There  is still room for the argument ‘take your time’. I have heard that,” she said. “My fear there is if we take too much time it gets put on the back burner and it may never ever be brought forward again. We have this opportunity the momentum is building and I feel energised.”

Last week, Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly Dr Bernard Nottage said that while the Parliamentary vote was postponed it was with a view to avoid a return to the Bills prematurely only to be forced to make additional changes later.

At the time he said: “We don’t want to have to come back to do the same thing. It is in our interest to wait to see the results of ongoing consultation in light of the fact that further recommendations may be made with respect to the Bills.”

The House of Assembly meets next Wednesday when the Gaming Bill is expected to be tabled.