Referendum on same-sex marriage suffers setback
The government’s planned referendum on same-sex marriages has hit a proverbial bump on the road, causing it to be delayed much further than was initially expected.
This was the indication given by Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley during a press conference yesterday when he was questioned on the status of the government’s plans for the referendum which was first announced last December.
According to the Premier, the government now needs to look at legislative changes in order to overcome the current hurdle that it has faced.
“We are committed to the referendum moving forward. There was a legislative challenge as it pertains to the voting machines in terms of the length of time that the ballots have to remain within the machines before you can remove them and we’re going to have to solve that challenge to be able to have use of the machines,” Dr Wheatley explained.
He also alluded to the need for additional legislative amendments to make the referendum smoother.
“Referendums are basically like having another election, so we may have to contemplate just some amendments just to allow for it to go much more smoothly. But I’ll be able to update about that in the coming months,” the Premier said.
He also reminded the public that the referendum act was in place before the territory was able to have electronic voting.
Dr Wheatley previously said the referendum will proceed once a resolution was successfully moved in the House of Assembly.
He also commented at the time that the referendum is expected to consider the question of whether new legislation should be introduced to provide persons in a domestic partnership with certain legal rights such as the ability to pass on one’s estate to their partner regardless of sex in intestacy.
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More incompetence; and these people want independence….
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Just like Africa we not for this nastiness let the UK and America keep their sodom and gommera behavior in their countries and them who here dont like what we want and dont want can migrate there .Premier are a man with balls and i hope when the time comes you stand firm like the prime mininster of Jamaica and not be pressured by the UK and america i would like to believe we the majority of the people will stand behind you on this.
This and/or any referendum at this time makes absolutely no sense! Would it not have been smarter to have done this during elections some months ago? Sure there was a low voter turn out last election (2023), however; having this hot topic with the referendum might have influenced more persons to come out an vote during general elections.
Now you want to ask people whom are already dissatisfied and those persons that are leaving or left the country to come back and vote on such a vital issue? What am I really missing here? The timing ⏱️ of this government is way off and makes no sense to me. Why aren’t there other issues up for public vote such as this one that will affect the lives of generations to come? Independence is one that comes to mind. Seems like haphazard planning and as usual Joe/Hane Public are being taken for fools by these cowboys n gals!
Hey Natalio,
I have a to do list for you with things that we actually need here:
1. Fix the roads
2. Fix the schools
3. Fix the ferry dock
4. Fix the airport (stop the closures and please get a screen with departure and arrival information)
5. Improve the marine environment
6. Improve the relationships with the UK
7. Fight Corruption and fire your corrupt ministers
8. Fight Corruption
9. Fight Corruption
10. Fight Corruption
Stop focussing on this stupid referendum but fix actual problems we have here.
What balls are you referring to, cricket balls or base balls. Who is it you say that have balls again. Let the UK say that if it is not pass they would come and take over and then look and see if you see balls. This accidental sl** man would do anything to remain premier, I mean anything if it means selling out his people. Never ever again associate balls with this cl**n.
seem to be normal in the VIP administration: CoI recommendations, residency/belonger application processing, audits, increments, etc.
Kast December, didn’t you look at what you needed to do to ensure that any referendum could take place? Why only announce the delay now?
You don’t need voting machines for a Yes/No ballot question. Paper and pencil works just fine and there’s no danger of bad software or broken machines (or corrupt payments to suppliers).
But why are we even having the referendum? Government has plenty else to do and should get out of this issue altogether. Human rights indicate that one should be able to have whichever life-partner one chooses. Government shouldn’t get involved. Those who bring their personal religion into the issue should butt out. They can do what they want, but they cannot force others to accept their personal view.
Referendum is completely unnecessary. Grow some balls and either say no or yes and keep it moving.
Add fixing the incinerator to this, please!?
When they have convinced Suadia Arabia, Afganistan, Algeria, Burundi and a host of other countries in the middle East, and around the world to nullify their laws on same sex/gay marraige, then they can ask the rest of the world to confirm to their evil ways.
Meanwhile, we the people have never had any such inclinations, minus the exception of course, and that his herprivate business.
Now they want to come and pollute our culture with their pracices that have always since the beginning of time, been antithetical to our culture, norms and way of living.
How is it that they don
t go and force those mamadies on governmentsof the middleeast and others?
I swear all of them just less from top come down
dem say evry ting iz meow for 2023
Imagine wanting to go independent and the place is a hot mess. The roads are f!@#ed up, water & electricity going off every day and the list goes on.
Only now he knows that the referendum is just like an election and that the ballot boxes cannot be opened for a number of years.
Why is he just focusing on same sex marriages when there a numerous other issues which imact the lives of the populace? Again the 2023 voter turnout was only 50%, his head is really in the sand if he thinks that the referendum would garner the same voter turnout or more.
They continue to draft and redraft legislation to suit their agenda but no consideration to things such as consumer protection, a bill of rights etc
Should have happen at the same time as the election. It would have been more feasible.
The reference shouldn’t set at all. Let those funny people go on a continent by their selves.they will surely extinct because no children would comfort.
…is a mamadies???
Something your mother used to do to you?
Everything that UK government have in the news V**o against it but how come not this Law them fighting against to pass …..
If someone decides to marry Whitney love, regardless of their sex,how does that affect your life?
If your excuse is that it goes against your gods commands then hey, let’s bring back slavery as God is alright with that. Let’s bring back stoning our kids if they are disobedient, let’s comdemn and outlaw the eating of shellfish, and wearing mixed cloth.
Ahhh that Christian love.
Let’s forget the fact that Same Sex Marriage is not really an issue in the BVI (I don’t even know anyone that is openly gay here). So how much is this going to cost to get this new law!?
Sounds like it costs as much as a full election!
Maybe we need to have another Full Election. I am beginning to grow tired of your nonsense!
“don’t even know anyone that is openly gay here”
LOL do you even live here???? So the couple that are married , ummm isn’t that considered being openly gay?????
Referendum for what? We don’t want same sex marriage legalize. This is not part of who we are as God fearing people. Let the US and Europe keep that to themselves. It’s nasty and against what we believe in.
Stop with the idiotic Babylonian Circus. Stop following the demons of the West who are hell bent on controlling creation by any means necessary. BVI need a leader who is aware of the schemes of the oppressors and has the guts to stand up for what is right.
The New World Order is mandated to decrease the melanated population.
According to loose lips in the Gates camp.
The UN Declaration of Human Rights is not a menu from which you choose what to consume. If you want to use the UN for one purpose, then with it comes the other obligations of Human Rights. Same sex marriage does not need a referendum it is a UN right same as some other rights we wish for.
I say lets use the money we was going to waste on this to fix one of the many things that falling apart in this place. All this referendum is going to do is prove what we all know already that the BVI is a homophobic society then what? All this money to prove what we know already? let the court decide wether it is constitutional or not. We don’t have money to throw away find something better to do with the money we gonna spend on this.
Well sah! But natalio get an order from the devil to make man and man produce maggots, and he jump to the colonial demon orders immediately.
Mmm blind man. As VI is a Territory of the UK it would seem you are accepting that the Sodom and Gomorra practices should already be in place here.
Dont do it just forget about it. Shame the devil. But no you want to talk about set back. Listen dont get push back. The lord dont like ugly. He like reproduction. So please. Cause i pray for mercy. I know you feel tha heat.