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Deeper Consequence Of A Failed Referendum

Since The Bahamas became an independent country in 1973 it has only made one attempt at constitutional reform, which was in 2002. All the questions in that proposed initiative failed largely due to a partisan “war” that took place surrounding the vote. The then opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) won the campaign against the then governing Free National Movement (FNM) at the polls in the referendum. Consequently, there was no reform.

The PLP is now in power and it is seeking to ask Bahamians a question on December 3 regarding locals gambling in some form. It’s unclear what the vote will specifically be about because no question has been posed yet. Nonetheless, it will have something to do with some type of gambling. This upcoming vote will not be on constitutional change but will be another type of referendum – the second in our independent history. The protagonists in this fight are the church and the numbers men.

If the vote fails, we will begin to establish a pattern when it comes to public votes – that pattern being we vote no. In both instances, 2002 and now, the process through which the government of the day set up the vote has been criticized. Bahamians now say they are unsure and they have more questions. They said the same thing a decade ago.

When the people said this in 2002, the government pushed through and lost the vote and lost its mandate a few months later. The people were not listened to. This administration seems keen to follow the path of the FNM a decade ago, moving full speed ahead in the face of many concerns by many members of the public.

The danger of this is that we harm the process of direct public consultation via referenda. Another bungled referendum not addressing public concerns before the vote will further enshrine in the minds of Bahamians that the thing to do when these questions are posed is to vote no. This is sad and dangerous to our national development.

Many constitutional reforms are needed now and public support is a part of the process to that reform. If it sets in the minds of the majority of voters that the governing party of the day won’t listen, be organized and take into consideration public fears before the vote, and it will just force the matter because it thinks it must happen now, then the people will be defensive and keep saying no.

The governing party should reflect on this. It has created a constitutional commission to make recommendations on what amendments should be made to our supreme law as we head to 40 years as a free country. But the work of that commission and its many competent members will be for nothing if the public becomes jaded about the referendum process.

The current governing party has some weeks left to answer the questions of the people surrounding this gambling vote. But its members must also remember that more is at stake than just the issue at hand. The people want change, but they also want it done in the correct manner.

Editorial, The Nassau Guardian

Posted in Opinions

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