But Government rejected Referendum

Dean Barrow

The intention of the Coalition was to have the referendum on March seventh to coincide with the elections. But at a press conference last week, Prime Minister Dean Barrow out rightly rejected the poll.

Dean Barrow [File: February 1st, 2012]

“I assume of course that the verification exercise that the chief elections officer is doing will in fact establish that the valid number of signatures meets the required threshold. I did get a letter—I’m sorry—from Miss Matura yesterday which I found the height of effrontery suggesting that this government should go to the National Assembly and have the National Assembly declare that the referendum on their issues is to be had and is to be had on the seventh of March.  I will not quarrel with a soul, but I repeat that I do think it took some … for that suggestion to have been made. Let me just make clear that the National Assembly will stand dissolved as of Friday so that even with the best will in the world, I will not be able to accede to what I am sure is a very humble request that Miss Matura is making.”

Oceana says it is not giving up and it is pursuing all other options.