Fort Charlotte Member of Parliament Andre Rollins yesterday said that Prime Minister Perry Christie should resign and be made to face a vote of no confidence initiated by both the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the Free National Movement (FNM).
Dr. Rollins said that the PLP is to blame for the resounding No vote following the gender equality referendum yesterday.
He further stated that the results represent a complete across-the- board rejection of this referendum by the Bahamian people and he maintains that this referendum was not about gender equality at all.
“Rather it was a referendum on a very unpopular PLP government and confirmation of the pervasiveness of the perception that this PLP government is not trustworthy,” he said.
“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.”
He added that it was moreover unacceptable for the government to spend alleged $6million dollars on the last two referendums that have in his words, failed and Prime Minister Perry Christie and his cabinet should be held responsible and accountable for their shortcomings.
“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,” Dr. Rollins said.
“The message delivered by the Bahamian people is pellucidly clear: the Prime Minister has lost his mandate to lead this country.”
Bahamians overwhelmingly voted no to the constitution amendment bills.
The officials results will be released by the end of the week.
