By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas would be in “deep trouble” if voters in the upcoming constitutional referendum succumbed to misinformation and fear when casting their ballots, an award winning filmmaker told The Tribune yesterday.
Kareem Mortimer, co-founder of production company Best Ever Film, weighed in on the intense debate surrounding the upcoming gender equality referendum scheduled in less than ten days.
Mr Mortimer, who expressed full support for all four referendum bills, expressed concern for the country’s future and its international reputation should the bills fail to pass due to confusion and bigotry towards some sects in society.
“I support all four bills wholeheartedly as a man with three sisters. I strongly believe that they should be equal in every way to me as citizens of this country,” Mr Mortimer said.
“I also believe in having a forum for criticisms and opposing viewpoints but the tone that has been set at times has been really discouraging with the open sexism, xenophobia and homophobia that has allowed to enter the conversation through the radio waves and social media has exposed a side to our country that is completely heartbreaking. History has taught us that nothing good comes out of fear and those who engage in fear-mongering lead us to a path of destruction.”
“In The Bahamas, we do not exist in a bubble. The world is watching us – as the world visits us – but most importantly we have an opportunity to say what our values are with the referendum. And if we determine our values from an uninformed, fear-based perspective then we are in deep trouble.”
A report by the World Bank Group, titled “Women, Business and the Law 2016,” listed The Bahamas as one of 22 countries in the world whose constitutions do not allow for married women to convey their nationality to their children and spouses in the same way that men can.
Similarly, the report noted that The Bahamas is one of 44 countries in the world in which spouses do not have equal rights to convey citizenship. As such, the report cited The Bahamas as being one country of many that hosts “gender-based legal restrictions”.
The first Constitutional Amendment Bill would enable a child born outside The Bahamas to a married Bahamian woman and a non-Bahamian father to have automatic Bahamian citizenship at birth. However, the government does not plan to have the clause operate retroactively.
The second bill would allow a Bahamian woman who marries a foreign man to secure for him the same access to Bahamian citizenship that a Bahamian man has always enjoyed under the Constitution in relation to his foreign wife.
The third bill would give an unwed Bahamian father the same right to pass citizenship to his child that a Bahamian woman has always had under the Constitution in relation to a child born out of wedlock, provided proof of paternity.
The fourth bill aims to remove discrimination from the Constitution based on sex, being male or female.
Mr Mortimer admitted his shock at the number of people opposed to the bills who seem “hell-bent” on confusing an issue that seems pretty clear from the wording and explanations by the education campaigns.
He also questioned whether the opponents towards the bills were merely motivated by “how many quotes they can get in a newspaper, maintaining a faulty status quo, and withholding rights from their sisters, wives, and daughters.”
“I believe in democracy...I have to believe there are still Bahamians with common sense,” Mr Mortimer said.
Mr Mortimer is a Bahamian filmmaker who is known for such projects as Chance, The Eleutheran Adventure, Float, I Am Not A Dummy, Children of God, Wind Jammers and Passage.
The latter film, which is now being developed into a feature film called Cargo, was screened in New Zealand at the Commonwealth Writers Forum, The Aruba International Film Festival, among other festivals.
He was also the editor of “Womanish Ways: Freedom, Human Rights and Democracy”, a documentary on the women’s suffrage movement in The Bahamas that was produced and directed by acclaimed writer Marion Bethel.
• See Insight for more on the referendum vote.
Comments
Economist 7 years, 11 months ago
Bahamian women who get married and have children outside The Bahamas are most likely better educated and will cause their children to be better educated.
These children would be a valuable asset to The Bahamas because they will be adding specialized skills to the workforce.............maybe that is why all the noise about BIll 1.
People, especially Bahamian men are scared because they may be forced to man up.
You see we have a large number of immature, childish and poorly educated people who have physically grown to be Bahamian men, but very few who are ready to take responsibility for their children, their actions and their lives, who have matured and can be called real Bahamian Men with a capital "M".
Those Men are not afraid of voting "yes" for any of the Bills. They are not homophobic or xenophobic, they are comfortable in their own skin, they know who they are.
jackbnimble 7 years, 11 months ago
“In The Bahamas, we do not exist in a bubble. The world is watching us –"
Actually they are not only watching, they want to get in. #VOTENO
Economist 7 years, 11 months ago
You are making so that the rich are investing in places like the Turks & Cacaos and Cayman.
Yes those people, that you so despise, those horrible foreigners who are creating thousands of jobs for Turks islanders and causing educated Caymanians to return home, will stay away because of you.
Your children will be out of work because of your narrow bigoted attitude.
But then again we will all have to settle for your poor work ethic and attitude as YOU DRAG THE COUNTRY BACKWARDS.
aconcernedresidentofnassau 7 years, 11 months ago
Who are "they"? And how would a Yes vote lead to increased immigration? And why is immigration a "bad" thing?
birdiestrachan 7 years, 11 months ago
There are some women who go to America to have their babies.
juju 7 years, 11 months ago
Bravo Mr. Mortimer, and thank you for your comments Mr ( or Mrs) Economist!
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 11 months ago
Your "simple" wording will not be so simple once a lawyer the likes of Wayne Munroe applies legal pliers to it in a court of law.
pileit 7 years, 11 months ago
"Award Winning Filmmaker" a true man of the world, trying to lift us from the pit of ignorance.... right.
Have a read of this article and see where "The World" is going regarding migration & marriage, perhaps our filmmaker should include Singapore and the UK on his worry list...please.
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/2016...">http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/2016...
aconcernedresidentofnassau 7 years, 11 months ago
Good article. For the naysayers, I say that it is better to adopt a world standard which allows The Bahamas to live up to its international obligations and to provide equal rights for men and women. Countries are built on immigration. Naysayers ought to be campaigning for the removal of the rights of male citizens to pass on citizenship to children born to non-Bahamian wives. The logical conclusion would be that, genetically, you will end up with an in-bred population! If there is a concern about unbridled immigration to marry Bahamian wives, then perhaps the Bahamas can implement a financial requirement for foreign spouses. Remember that the issue is about the children of the Bahamian citizen, not spouses acquiring citizenship. As this country continues to deteriorate, with rising crime, illegitimate births, absentee fathers, babies raising babies, corruption in all levels of society and other social ills, I can assure you that there is no rush for Bahamian citizenship from the first world. Permanent Residence is far better. Wealthy people invest and spend in the country, spend only a portion of the year in the country and are not subject to exchange controls. They are here primarily for their own tax planning and lifestyle wishes. So perhaps the so-called "foreigners" are from troubled countries like Haiti. In any case, is the real concern by some Bahamian men that they cannot compete with the foreign men for the love and attention of Bahamian women? Perhaps they will have to up their game, including treating women with respect and as equals! Bahamian citizens should do their own research and clearly understand the real issues and vote accordingly.
Alex_Charles 7 years, 11 months ago
Yes x4
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