Constitution report proposes same-sex marriage ban
The Constitutional Review Commission’s report has recommended that same-sex marriage be banned in the Virgin Islands.
The almost 300-page report was released yesterday, February 5, and made several recommendations concerning revamping, the BVI’s constitution.
Among other things, the report addresses key governance and constitutional reform issues in the territory, focusing on enhancing accountability within the government, evaluating the adequacy of constitutional governance structures, and clarifying the powers of the Governor.
It proposes mechanisms for transferring powers to the local government, suggests regulations for election expenses, and debates the inclusion of statutory boards in the constitution. The document also considers the independence of the Speaker’s role and the need for election candidates with government contracts to declare their interests.
One of the report’s critical recommendations, however, was on the issue of same-sex marriage within the territory.
Recommendation 38 under the section ‘Bill of Rights – Right to marry’ states: “The Commission therefore recommends that section 20 of the Constitution should be amended to state clearly that marriage is between a man and a woman of the opposite sex.”
The report further states: “Every man and woman of a marriageable age has the right to marry a person of the opposite sex and found a family in accordance with laws enacted by the Legislature.”
Highlighted as part of the report’s recommendation on same-sex marriage was a pending court case that challenges the prohibition of same-sex marriage as unconstitutional.
The report examined legal challenges related to the recognition of same-sex marriages in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, focusing on cases brought before the United Kingdom’s Privy Council and local courts.
It was noted that, in the Cayman Islands for instance, the government was required to provide a legal status equivalent to marriage for same-sex couples, leading to the enactment of the Civil Partnership Law 2020. This was based on the understanding that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) does not mandate same-sex marriage rights, allowing the local legislature to decide on the matter.
Premier Dr Natalio previously proposed that the territory should move towards a referendum to address the issue of same-sex marriage, however, this has been met with some hiccups.
Notably, the report shows that in 2016, a referendum in Bermuda on the legal recognition of same-sex unions did not pass due to low turnout, with a majority voting against it.
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marriage is between a man and a woman of the opposite sex.
Marriage is between two non-Christian people. Christians should not be able to marry
Equally yoked.
Remember that it’s BVIslanders who were on this committee, not the UK. Our own people.
People. Remember that the VI is just one small part (a Territory) of the UK. Knowing and understanding that will help many people understand, the respect that is due and also with respect, how to plan for future Independence if that is what the people of the VI want.
While the report may have comprised of “our own”, it is astounding that the recommendation to specifically define who “marriage” was to be between, was supposedly made without polling or a representative sample of the population. Even if the recommendation was ultimately made, the supporting argument is inherently flawed. I would have expected much more from a “learned” group of individuals.
I am neither for nor against same sex marriage, but I wish that there would have been less subjectivity in what led to some of the recommendations, as all sides of the coins were not clearly analysed.
BS
marriage is a union between two PEOPLE who love one another. Not recognizing this shows that we have no love.
So what we are saying is BVI has no love. Tear down the signs.
We are a nation of bigots, homophobes, and loveless idiots
We had someone from Christian council on the review committee . We going backwards. We should be recognizing peoples human rights.
Volcanic lava will recognize you.
Does the BVI have nothing better to worry about than if two people want to get married? how about paying attention to Education, Crime, hospitals , roads, poor public service just to name a few….
@Resident
Who is worrying? It’s a topic and people voice how they feel. It’s not a ‘normal’ situation for us in the BVI and we don’t want it. People can be with whoever they want but we don’t want same sex marriage, plain and simple. Go somehwere that accepts it and get married there.
The only rainbow is the one I see in the sky. Sodom and Gormorrah is what these people fighting for. We know what was the ultimate result.
@ resident u must be one a them that want marry the same sex lol lol
Let Love Win.
So your bum can commit sin?
Your bum commits sin everytime, sex before marriage, unconsensual, underage, adultery but you choose to make a ting of devoted partner !
I done tired of this topic I say let the people dem do what they want they going to be nasty anyway whether you allow them to marry or not so why waste energy on this? why do we care so much about this?
Money talks. Forward a list to US media outlets, of all the international companies in the BVI who are silent while the government pushes bigoted laws and we will see how fast the boycotts will cause change.
A government is not a tool to enforce religious bigotry and the unfair treatment of minority groups in the population. Some of us here want to run our government on cherry-picked religious laws so as to hold power over minority groups. Where is the law to chop off your hand if it causes you to sin? Yes…though so.
The government is there to maintain, enhance and elevate the territory, and all its people, regardless of race, status or in this case, sexual orientation.
You have the human right to live as you wish, but you do not have, nor should you expect on demand, the priviledge of society, or anyone in it, to accept a personal life style that goes contrary to the laws, norms, forays and morays of the majority view/society.
THE EHITE BOYZ WERE DOING BLONDIE A FAVOUR TO GET HIM TO SHUT HIS BEAK WITH YAPPING ON THEM USING RACISM AS A FRONT , SO WHO HE IS GOING TO FLEX HIMSELF ON ? CINDY ? WALWYN ? OR IS GOING TO BE THOSE ISLAND PEOPLE ? ( WE’RE KIND OF HOPING HE WOOD FLEX OFF ON HIMSELF ) TALK ON THE STREET IS , HE GOT TO BE ON SOMETHING ~ LIKE ELSE
It is a heavy topic for some. I think a lot isn’t ready to make this big step yet. This might seem backwards in this day and age. Well i think human in general should have rights, but I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, and as for me I sticking with the P. As for same sex marriage in the BVI, well i think it might come later down the road.
No sodom on out little territory only Gods blessings and doing things that’s pleasing to him
So he can heal our lands in Jesus name amen
Those advocating for same sex marriage are playing scripts they do not understand. Those behind same sex marriage wants a new world that is godless and fully humanistic. This has nothing to do with people born of sexual disorders. The first thing the proponent of the new world philosophy did was to promote and institutionalize abortion. Thereafter, they descended on the children, beginning with the toys and cartoons in the 70s. Before this era, toys were made in human images. These were later changed to animals, shifting the children’s emotions to these animals. That was the focus of Disney world and cartoon networks. Now humans have more affection towards animals than humans. Dog and cat foods adverts are 10 times more on TV screens in the UK and North America. We now prefer to call all women Miss. The word: Mrs. is going into extinction. The goal is bestiality: human sex with animals. This, they intend to promote alongside human AI. Can you afford to join this evil expedition? Say no to same sex marriage
Yo killer u like man all that money u have and u want to stay in jail u leave your family out here and u in jail paying to kill man if you don’t come out you will start crying for them. U love man make blue your wife u not bad as u get out u getting it green light for u Edo style
OFCOURSE WE MUST ,BUT IT EXIST HERE THAT DARK DUDE WITH THE WIG , WHO HAS BEEN HOLLERING OUT ( FREE THE DREW ) & ( FREE UP THE WEED ) LETS SEE IF HE IS GOING TO HOLLER OUT * LEGALIZE , ( MAN ON MAN ) SURELY THE BRITS WAS LOOKING OUT FOR HIM BY TRYING TO IMPLEMENT HIS HOBBY ,BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE BACKFIRED SADLY FOR HIM AND PEOPLE LIKE HIM / SO WHO
P1P1PPHE IS GOING TO BLAME NOW ? ? ?
Some of you are apparently on some really good drugs 🙂
I am seeing that people want to distort the truth for their narrative but let’s remove the emotions and look at logic.
Human beings can love whoever they want to love. That is a human right.
Marriage is not a human right, it is a privilege & sometimes a burden to be legally tied to someone else. Marriage doesn’t need love, but it’s better with love. Many marriages we know of aren’t based on love either. So let’s throw that nonsensical argument out.
Marriage is a legal union between 2 parties and we choose those parties to be exclusively male & female, naturally born of the opposite sex. They can love whoever they want to but legal union has to be male & female.
If 2 same gendered homosexuals want to marry each other then that’s their business and they can go to a jurisdiction that recognizes that but they cannot expect that legal status, & all the fixings, to be recognized here.
Those who stand for nothing, fall for everything. If the BVI Landers don’t want same sex marriage they don’t want same sex marriage. Don’t let the pressure of the US and UK affect our beliefs. No is no! Go marry elsewhere, where it’s legal. Think you could go Dubai and say you want a gay wedding? JAIL for even being gay openly.
Then go independent and see the money disappear from this territory faster than you can drive to the airport.
The BVI is dependent upon international finance and international tourism for around 90% of its income. Dubai does not. So, the BVI needs to pay attention to what others think. The money and the tourists can always go elsewhere and leave you behind, with your quality of life disappearing down the toilet.
stop arguing in news comments… this “news” is something you’ll get a kick out of for a year and make it your entire personality. We have more important things to worry about than two gay guys banging in a hotel room. Our government is stealing our money, our streets are ridden with waste and garbage and we CANT FIX OUR OWN ROADS PROPERLY! Get a f****ng clue
The BVITB will have a hard time explaining to the world that “BVI Love” does not apply to all.
Yet another example of the hypocrisy of this territory, complaining about lost rights through slavery (even though the Bible specifically permits that), yet treating others in a hostile manner, whether they be people from a different island, or religion, or orientation, etc.
Same sex marriage shouldn’t even be debated. This BVI is Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s unnatural for a man to be with a man and a woman a woman. Even animals knows this. God didn’t create Adam and Steve.