Panel Discussion: Perspectives on Gender Equality and Constitutional Change

“The Bahamas is a constitutional democracy. I am sure that everyone by now has heard that term over and over again. But what does it really mean? It’s actually not that complicated. We are a country which is governed by those whom we the people elect and together all of us, that elected government, and we the people, are answerable always and without exception to a document called the Bahamian Constitution.

It is the Constitution which makes us the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It’s the Constitution which says who is a Bahamian and it’s the Constitution which gives us our rights and freedoms. If Parliament passes laws which violate the Constitution, then that law is struck down.

Does this mean that we cannot change the Constitution? It does not. The original framers obviously foresaw that that such change would be necessary at times, and therefore the Constitution itself provides the very mechanism for effecting such change.” Excerpts of Opening Remarks by Panel Discussion Moderator, Janet P. Fountain, Attorney-at-law.

Presentations on Proposed Amendments to our Constitution.

Prepare for the upcoming Referendum. Click the links to read the perspectives shared by our panelists.

Lisa Benjamin Gender Equality 24May2016 Lisa Benjamin, Assistant Professor, LL.B. Programme, The College of The Bahamas.

M Scott Presentation Gender Equality 24May2016 Mr. Michael Scott, Attorney-at-law, Scott & Co.

C Moss EDLS Panel Discussion Remarks 24May2016 Pastor Cedric Moss, Kingdom Life

Micheal Allen, Partner, Higgs & Johnson (presentation will be uploaded as soon as it is available)

The Eugene Dupuch Law School thanks the members of the panel for their contributions, and encourages everyone to go out to vote on June 7th.