The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH a group of Nassau pastors has launched a “say no” campaign against the fourth Constitutional Amendment Bill for gender equality, Grand Bahama pastors have not yet taken an official position.

Grand Bahama Christian Council President Rev Peter Pinder said it was agreed Tuesday night during a council meeting that the group will hold an executive meeting to discuss the issue to decide what stance to take.

“At this time I would rather not comment until after that meeting,” Rev Pinder told The Tribune when contacted on Wednesday.

The bills were passed in Parliament in March, and Bahamians will vote on them by way of referendum on June 7.

The fourth bill, the most controversial, seeks to end discrimination in the Constitution based on sex. However, some religious leaders believe this would lead to gay marriage.

However, the government and the Constitutional Commission has said this argument is not rooted in facts.

“I think the debate that has been generated as a result is a good thing, and generally I see it as being very positive that we have raised the consciousness of Bahamians to these issues,” Rev Pinder said.

When asked his feelings about gender equality, he said: “Well, I generally think it is a good thing. I feel it has been very unbalanced in that foreign wives of our Bahamian men are entitled to citizenship when foreign [husbands] of Bahamians women were not allowed to become citizens. And bringing about that balance is a very good thing,” he said.

Rev Pinder said the council expects to hold an executive meeting for pastors in the next few weeks when they will hold discussions on their position.

The Tribune also spoke with some residents about the upcoming referendum.

Community activist and church elder Paul Joseph said he supports all of the bills and is looking forward to voting in the upcoming referendum.

As the father of two daughters, he said: “I am voting ‘yes’ for my daughters and grand-daughter and future generations of all Bahamians, and I will be encouraging everyone to vote yes. It is a non-political issue for me.”

Mr Joseph believes that every person is entitled to voice their opinion, even those opposed to bill four.

“That is their democratic right and if they want to form coalitions and campaigns about their opinion, it is part of the democratic process,” he explained.

Mr Joseph said he attended the consultation/presentation meetings chaired by Ruby Nottage of the Constitutional Commission and has read the literature and hand-outs informing the public about the constitutional amendments.

“After all of that, I feel it is only right to level the playing field for all,” he added.

When asked about bill four and concerns about it opening the door to same-sex marriage, he said he does not feel that way.

“That is a legal argument and the law could be challenged, but it has to become law first, it is not for me to pre-empt the law by saying ‘no’.

“We all have a choice. It is not for me to judge anyone morally. It is not for me to judge someone for drinking or gambling because I am a flawed human being as well, and if someone has a stance or lifestyle that is conducive for them, that is their choice. It is for me to put you to the cross and say, Jesus is the answer to all our moral issues.”

“In the Bible, I never saw Jesus pick a moral position, he took a spiritual position. And the very ones opposing this [bill] morally, remind me of the same ones who Jesus wailed in the temple with the whip,” he said.

A Freeport businessman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he supports bill four, but does not support bill three.

“The controversy surrounding bill four is understandable, but all the confusion surrounding it has been cleared up. Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald used historical facts and present-day references and made it clear that there ought to be no further confusion as to the word sex. And from his explanation given, we need not be worried about same sex marriages taking place in The Bahamas. I think his explanation and common sense reading should alleviate any fears or concerns with bill four. I support bill four and I think it is fine to go ahead and vote yes to four.”

A woman, who also did not want to be named, said that after clarification of the meaning of the word “sex” in the fourth bill, she had a change of mind and will vote “yes” for the bill.

“I would not like same-sex marriages to be here. I don’t agree with that,” she said. “The only thing I am worried about…is that a lot of people will come here and try to pay Bahamian women to marry them just to get citizenship. But I understand that foreign spouses would have to give up their citizenship and they would have to establish some ties here to show they are really serious.”