As a means of strengthening the BVI’s case against legalising same sex marriage in the territory, Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley believes a referendum will allow for the true opinions of locals to be made known to the United Kingdom and the respective courts.
Premier Wheatley explained his reasoning behind his decision to trigger the territory’s first referendum during a forum which was held on Sunday, March 12, for Seventh and Eighth District candidates in the upcoming general election.
He said the referendum will be the document that allows for the people’s views to be made clear in an official way.
Premier Wheatley also stated his views on cultural imperialism, stating that he is totally against such practices.
Last December Dr. Wheatley announced his decision to have a referendum on the matter which is before the High Court, stating that the decision threatens to tear apart the “social and religious fabric of society”.
He said that should the court rule in favour of the couple “section 13 1 C of the matrimonial proceedings and property act, which provides that marriage is void unless the parties are respectively male and female, would be declared unconstitutional and therefore be null and void”.