Prime Minister Perry Christie.
Reader poll
Why do you think the referendum bills failed?
- Disagreement with the bills.
- Distrust of the government.
- Lack of understanding of the bills.
- Concern over a “hidden agenda”
295 total votes.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday dismissed Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins’ call for him to resign over spending millions on two failed referendums, saying the MP has “no currency with me whatsoever.”
Mr Christie, speaking to reporters, skirted around the question of whether a resignation was a consideration as his administration had now two rejected referendums under its belt, totalling just under $3m, according to The Tribune’s calculations.
Mr Christie was asked by The Tribune to respond to Dr Rollins, who said Tuesday night that the overwhelming rejection of the constitutional referendum, coupled with the failed gambling poll in 2013, was reason for the prime minister to resign. He said he believed the vote was not about gender equality, but rather “it was a referendum on a very unpopular PLP government.”
The MP added that it further was confirmation this PLP government is “not trustworthy.”
“Dr Rollins has no currency with me whatsoever,” Mr Christie said in the foyer of the House of Assembly following the start of debate on the 2016/2017 budget.
“His views are not appreciated by me. It’s his expression. He will be on the ballot (and) he will be able to say to the people of the Bahamas that the prime minister did not step down, show him what you think of it. All of that will happen during the course of a general election. That is what I expect to happen here.”
He continued: “Remember this for me please, I had the leaders of the churches in my office. I told them that I would not move this referendum unless they are supportive of it. I had the Leader of the Opposition (Dr Hubert Minnis) who in the last days were in with (Bamboo Town MP) Renward Wells in my office and I said to the leaders of the church, we are in this together so if there is an expression of no confidence it’s in the process.
“All of us who were there (I said) it is not an expression of no confidence the people were given an opportunity to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Governments do that without having an interest. You stand or fall on ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”
On Tuesday night, the Fort Charlotte MP said the government cannot escape blame for the outcome of this exercise.
“It is unheard of, and likely unprecedented, in any democratic nation for the head of the executive branch to suffer two national referendum defeats in a single term in office and not voluntarily offer his or her resignation, or be made to resign by a vote of no confidence initiated by his or her peers,” he said.
“The message delivered by the Bahamian people is pellucidly clear: the prime minister has lost his mandate to lead this country. Mr Christie ought to resign forthwith or be made to face a vote of no confidence initiated in the House of Assembly by both PLP and FNM members of Parliament.”
Dr Rollins also called for an accounting of all the money that was spent by the government to fund the YES Bahamas campaign.
“The public is entitled to receive, during the course of the impending budget debate, a complete accounting for the expenditures related to the vote ‘yes’ campaign and an admission by the nation’s chief that the PLP - with its history of hypocritically opposing these same questions in the 2002 referendum and its recent failure to respect the results of the gaming referendum – was the wrong party to put these questions to the Bahamian people,” Dr Rollins said.
The government has said it spent $1.2m on the 2013 gambling referendum and had budgeted $1.57m for Tuesday’s vote, for a total of $2.8m according to The Tribune’s calculations.
In February, Dr Rollins predicted that the referendum would fail. At the time, he told The Tribune he believed the vote would become “a victim of the extreme unpopularity” of the Christie administration.
Stating that he has always held the view that women’s rights are human rights and that women ought to be treated as equal to men under the law, Dr Rollins said earlier this year that the push for gender equality was being used as a political tool by the Progressive Liberal Party because of the looming general election.
He suggested at the time that the government delay the vote until after the 2017 election, with a promise from all political parties that the referendum would be held within 90 days of the next election.
Comments
TalRussell 7 years, 10 months ago
Comrades the sounds from the resounding 'No' votes will result in the PM stepping down before the party’s ‘fresh you can trust face’ replacement gets to rungs in the prime minister's 2017 New Year's address to their colony's subjects. I already can clearly see who that fresh, trusted face will be?
In the best case scenario the red party's Loretta, Chippie and Richard will still be as unhappy with the majority votes red party's November 2016 convention's leadership decision.
The reds will still be drafting letters to Her Excellency Dame Marguerite, rather than act in the manner, the peoples does demand from a “government in waiting."
The nation is better served by the opposition over a short-5-year term when we the people are protected by a vibrant and 'effective' policing of government’s polices, legislation and actions, while they remain loyal to the people’s causes, not rubber-stamping the governing party’s, state funded politics' campaigns.
The red party’s MP’s committed to a vital sin when overcome by wanting to bailout through PM Christie’s politics’, the rejected 2002 referendum of their Papa Hubert’s call for the removal of gender discrimination from Bahamaland’s constitution.
The 2017 General’s ship bell soon be rungs and not by PM's Christie nor Papa Hubert. They have let Papa go rest he self - permanently and do it quickly. It’s a must for their 2017 General’s political survival.
by TalRussell
sheeprunner12 7 years, 10 months ago
Perry doesn't have to resign ........ but he must call the election by next August 2017 ........ and then Bahamians will give him and his henchmen a good cut ass ....... that is as sure as death
TalRussell 7 years, 10 months ago
Comrade PM Christie was planning to turn over the reigns of power by mid December 2016. before the "No' votes were ever counted. The PLP have for months been preparing for a 'fresh you trust me face' to take them into 2017. Her Excellency Dame Marguerite will also have retired, so Loretta and gang will have to readdress their letter.
B_I_D___ 7 years, 10 months ago
NOTE FROM THE Frederick Mitchell
Post 2002 Referendum
A SICK, SICK MAN
The Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and his party the Free National Movement went down to resounding defeat on Wednesday 27 February 2002. Their spin doctors and apologists are trying to make-up all sorts of stories about the whys and the wherefores.
The simple fact is they were beaten and beaten convincingly.
This Senator believes that his position from the start that he would vote no has been fully vindicated. The lesson for the PLP is that the role of a political party is to shape public opinion, not the other way around. We must be informed by public opinion but the duty to lead is the role of a political party.
We therefore must congratulate the Leader of the Opposition Perry Christie and his team for the skilful manner in which this whole thing was handled.
On the other hand we have nothing but scorn for this jackass that we call our Prime Minister. He had to concede defeat just after 9:30 p.m. on the night of the referendum. But the next day, he was back true to form. He refused to resign making some spurious distinction by saying that this was a vote not against the FNM and himself but against the issues raised in the referendum. That is utter foolishness and is at variance with every known convention of the constitution.
The only event that we ought to now be discussing is the outcome of the general election. But here we have a Prime Minister who refuses to step down, and the Opposition forces have not yet rallied themselves to force him to go.
At this press conference, he showed no contrition, no repentance, and no remorse. He just continued along like nothing happened.
In fact he said that he is ashamed of the Bahamian people for having voted no. Then he proceeded to jump on a plane to a Heads of Government meeting in Australia on the strength of the same Bahamian people’s tax moneys. We should be out in the streets, forcing him and his Government to go.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 10 months ago
No reason to resign Mr: Christie The No vote is no reflection on you. The Bahamian people have a problem with immigration....,,,,,,.
watcher 7 years, 10 months ago
I agree with your comment Birdie. That is why it is such a pity that Mr Christie and others were shown wearing their coloured t-shirts in the days prior to the referendum. Nobody comes out of this thing with any great credit.
B_I_D___ 7 years, 10 months ago
...when the shoe is on the other foot...
cmiller 7 years, 10 months ago
What goes around..................
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 10 months ago
Both Bernard Nottage and Sherlyn Hall have demonstrated a degree of incompetence that constitutes gross dereliction of duty; Bahamians are truly dismayed and embarrassed by the unacceptable delay in the release of the referendum results. These two, Nottage and Hall, should be sent packing as the Bahamian electorate do not want them to have any involvement whatsoever in the tabulation and communication to the media and public of the results of the next general election. Will Bahamians once again see that Christie lacks the gonads necessary to do the right thing by failing to sack both Nottage and Hall? Any involvement by Nottage and Hall in tabulating and communicating the results of the next general election will rightfully be viewed by the general electorate with great distrust. Nottage and Hall are bereft of even the most basic management skills and they should not be given the opportunity to dismay and embarrass us a second time. Christie desperately needs to do something to restore the trust of voters in our country's electoral processes and both Nottage and Hall are low hanging fruit for doing so.
truetruebahamian 7 years, 10 months ago
Christie and Minnis should both hang their heads in shame. They are not honourable enough to be worthy of their posts and neither of them honourable enough to be called 'Honourable'! They should demit their positions and they should hasten their departure so that the doors of the House of assembly do not hit them on their backsides as they leave.
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