The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage revealed yesterday that the upcoming constitutional referendum will cost $1.57m.

Speaking in the House of Assembly, Dr Nottage said it has been “anticipated” that no more than that figure will be used.

“It is anticipated that $1.57m will be required for the referendum and that is what has been budgeted.”

The government spent $1.2m on the 2013 gaming referendum. Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Perry Christie originally estimated that the vote cost the government more than $1m.

Dr Nottage also reminded the public that Bahamians who registered to vote for the 2012 general election are eligible to participate in the upcoming gender equality vote.

These people, according to Dr Nottage, need not re-register but should bring a passport or voter’s card on June 7, referendum day.

However, those who are newly eligible to vote because they turned 18 following the last general election are urged to register by May 25, as this is when the referendum register will close.

In the meantime, he said, the process of selecting returning officers for the 38 constituencies throughout the country is now underway. They will select the presiding officers for the more than 500 polling divisions in the country.

Dr Nottage said the symbol of the scales of justice will be on the side of the “yes” box and the symbol of a gate will be on the side of the “no” box.

He said the law requires every employer to permit each employee who is registered to be absent from work during the hours of the poll for two hours in addition to the normal “meal hour.” However, he said, this does not apply to an employee who begins work before 10am and leaves before 4pm.

The polls open at 9am and close at 6pm.

Bill one as written would give Bahamian women who are married to foreign men the right to pass their Bahamian citizenship to any child of that union no matter where that child is born.

The Constitution currently says that only Bahamian male citizens by birth have that right.

Bill two as written would allow a Bahamian woman married to a foreign man the right to secure for her husband the same access to Bahamian citizenship as a Bahamian male has in relation to his foreign wife.

Bill three would grant any unmarried Bahamian man the right to pass on his Bahamian citizenship to any child he fathers with a foreign woman with proof of paternity. The fourth bill seeks to end discrimination based on sex.