Common-law relationships and their legal complications will be highlighted at the College of The Bahamas and the University of West Indies’ Law Society second Law Week.
Along with the Law Students Association at the Eugene Dupuch Law School, the law society will host the event under the theme: Family Law Reform, Jan. 26-Feb. 1.
Last year’s law week that discussed The Referendum received a tremendous response from the public and parliamentarians and the law society hopes to see the 500 participants return.
Panelists will discuss and detail the rights of people in unions outside of marriage, including adulterers or what Bahamians call “sweethearts,” at a town meeting on Jan. 28 at The College of The Bahamas’ auditorium at 7 p.m. under the theme: “Protecting People in Unions Other Than Marriages.”
“In reality, the law in The Bahamas is geared towards married persons. We want to inform people who are not married but are living together on how they are viewed by the law,” said law week coordinator Heather Watkins Monday.
“The law society realizes that this is something that most people don’t want to talk about and that they hide behind the issue. Currently, in The Bahamas we have no legislative protection for persons in unions other than marriage,” said law week coordinator Sandena Mortimer, who is a third year student.
Both couples and children are suffering as a result of the “starve realities” of living as a family outside of marriage, said Ms Mortimer.
“On any day, if a husband dies, a wife can gain all rights against a sweetheart and put them out of their homes. They can hide behind the constitution and Christianity. They can say it’s an act of morality,” said Ms Mortimer. “We just want to open up the discussion and have an open debate.”
This debate may be a timely one as just two years ago the Inheritance Bill was the hot topic of discussion sparked in the House of Assembly and around the country.
The Free National Movement government of the time was quoted as saying that the bill “would reward wives with one-half of all property, which, under the present law she is not entitled; the right to possess any other property of her husband’s estate, the right to occupy the matrimonial home until death or remarriage and the right to apply for a court order awarding her the house in case of hardship, without having to offer payment.”
In defence, the Opposition charged that the bill would not support illegitimate children. The Progressive Liberal Party said that the bill, if passed, would only benefit one-third of The Bahamas, leaving two-thirds of those born out of wedlock without being able to inherit anything.
As this is still a hot topic, the law society hopes the newly formed Constitutional Law Reform Committee will consider recommending reform of the section of the constitution that deals with marriage law as a result of the debate.
Bahamas Christian Council president William Thompson has also been invited as a panelist to present a religious view on the topic.
On Jan. 30, Senator Sharon Wilson will be the guest lecturer on Family Law Reform.
A career fair at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, formerly the Bahamas Hotel Training College will close out the week at the the career fair, people from the law, hotel and financial fields will answer questions from students.
Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
