From Bahamas Weekly
Mr. Speaker … Today I am honoured to rise on behalf of the
good people of the Elizabeth Constituency. I would like to thank my
constituents for having the confidence in me to speak on their behalf. I find it
ironic that after most of the day yesterday, and today in debating The Sports
Authority Bills we heard all about the prospective economic benefits from sports
and how we need to create an industry out of sports, that we have in front of us
today a Bill that risks an entire industry in the Bahamas, one that is mature,
one that in the PLP Administration the Bahamas was on its way to becoming the
preeminent destination wedding location in the region. With this Bill today, we
are proceeding towards the potential dismantling of the destination wedding
industry in the Bahamas, and affecting hundreds of Bahamian small business
owners and their employees who are connected to this industry.
Sanctity of Marriage —Mr. Speaker, before I speak about the economic
affects of this Bill, and some of the specific provisions, I want to ask the
question, do we as a country no longer believe in the sanctity of marriage? Are
we now willing to sell our name right to any vessel or captain from any country
throughout the world to say, if you pay to register your vessel, you can marry
anyone under Bahamian law? I believe the Bahamian people value and honor the
sanctity of marriage.
Mr. Speaker, I ask also, was the religious community consulted on this legislation? Ministers and the religious community have a significant opinion on the sanctity of marriage. Furthermore, our current Marriage Act recognizes this when it provides that no minister of religion who is a marriage officer shall be required to act as a marriage
officer with respect to any marriage which is contrary to the rules of the
religious denomination to which he belongs. Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, we
should not diminish the value of a marriage, and a family for the sake of adding
a few ships to our Maritime Registry. Furthermore, this legislation has the
potential to put Bahamian business owners at economic risk. …..MORE