NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Attorney General Ryan Pinder said yesterday that the government is moving ahead with its citizenship reform plans via ordinary legislation as opposed to a referendum, noting yesterday that it will bring to an end the “vexing” issue of inequality between men and women on the transmission of citizenship.
Pinder spoke to the Nationality Bill, 2022 during his contribution to the budget debate in the Senate yesterday.
“We will advance appropriate legislation to finally bring equality to Bahamian men and women in the transmission of citizenship to their children, bringing to conclusion through law the vexing issues we experience of inequality in this country,” he said.
“An initial draft has been prepared and commented on internally and we look to advance consultation after bringing to Cabinet and ultimately tabling in Parliament.”
Pinder has repeatedly defended the government’s decision to bring citizenship reform through ordinary legislation rather than amending the country’s constitution via a referendum, though some have suggested that the government could face legal challenges if it does so.
According to Article 13(a) of the constitution, “Parliament may make provision (a) for the acquisition of citizenship of The Bahamas by persons who do not become citizens of The Bahamas by virtue of the provisions of this chapter …”
Back in 2016, a referendum to address the ability of Bahamians to pass on their citizenship to children and spouses was overwhelmingly rejected by voters, as was the case in a similar exercise in 2002.
Currently, under the law, a Bahamian woman married to a foreign spouse cannot automatically pass on citizenship to children born abroad.
