Press Secretary Clint Watson. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
MAKING The Bahamas a republic is not on the agenda of the Davis administration, according to Press Secretary Clint Watson.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and a delegation recently visited Barbados and attended a ceremony highlighting that country’s highly publicised transition to a republic.
During a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, Mr Watson suggested that this won’t happen in The Bahamas anytime soon.
He said: “This has been an ongoing conversation in our country since 1973, the next phase in our independence. You’ve heard a member of the Cabinet speak about his push to see it happen personally as an individual. It is a conversation we haven’t heard a lot about in recent years until we heard what happened in Barbados. But it’s obviously in the hands of the Bahamian people to decide.
“It’s not on our agenda right now. However, the Bahamian people can change that if they determine this is what they want to do. It would have to be something the Bahamian people request and put on the government’s agenda.
“There is a process that’s different from Barbados that we have here in The Bahamas in terms of how that would happen. It’s a little more cumbersome than what Barbados had to go through. Based on our Constitution, it would require two thirds of Parliament agreeing to it and then it requires a referendum by the Bahamian people. There is a process that’s quite different from Barbados and that we would have to go through for that to be considered.”
Foreign Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell recently said he believes The Bahamas will eventually become a republic, calling that development his life’s work.
“…Try as I might over my lifetime, I have been unable to fire up the succeeding generations on this issue,” Mr Mitchell said recently. “Perhaps they have more important things to do.”
Comments
ohdrap4 2 years, 5 months ago
Everyone waits till it is their turn to be knighted. Yes Sir!!!
TalRussell 2 years, 5 months ago
Just youse wait!
sheeprunner12 2 years, 5 months ago
Brave already took QC. He hungry for more UK titles. No republic for him!!
licks2 2 years, 5 months ago
REPUBLIC FOR THE BAHAMAS. . .NEVER!!!!! WE CANNOT NOW TRUST THESE CROOKS TO "TRUE TO US " FOR JUST FIVE STINKING YEARS BEFORE THEY TRY TO TIEF WE EYES THEM OUTTA WE HEADS THEM!!
AS A REPUBLIC, WHO WILL PROTECT THIS NATION FROM THOSE BANDITS???
OUR ECONOMY DEPENDS ON US STAYING "WITHIN" THE PROTECTIONS OF THE PRIVY COUNSEL. . .EVEN IF OUR COURTS THEM "GO ROGUE". . .THE PC WILL PROTECT OUR RIGHTS TO JUSTICE!!
LastManStanding 2 years, 5 months ago
Can someone please give me one benefit of becoming a republic? I don't see a single one, but what I do see is a bunch of money and time wasted for no appreciable gain.
It is worth noting that Mia Mottley did not allow the public of Barbados to vote on the matter. I thought that it was a low class move, and no nation committed to democratic government should applaud it. It really makes one appreciate the foresight of our Founding Fathers to require a referendum with public approval to alter ours.
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