By CANDIA DAMES ~ Guardian News Editor ~ candia@nasguard.com:
While stressing that the Free National Movement has a leader whom he supports wholeheartedly, Bamboo Town MP Branville McCartney confirmed yesterday that he is interested in vying for the leadership of the party down the road.
McCartney's admission in an exclusive interview with The Nassau Guardian was not at all surprising, as he is viewed by some observers as a leadership hopeful sometime after the retirement of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.
Asked about his interest in the leadership position, he said, "We do have a leader at this time."
McCartney expanded, "What I think the prime minister has done, he has a complement of men in and outside of his Cabinet, in the FNM, who can take over this country and take it to another level. I think I can be one of them. But he has quite a number of them, quite a number. I'm just only one."
McCartney also stressed that his leadership aspirations had nothing to do with his decision to resign from the Cabinet of Hubert Ingraham, and said his focus at this time is on serving his constituents of Bamboo Town.
"I did not want to let the prime minister down. I did not want to let the people of Bamboo Town down and more importantly, I did not want to let The Bahamas down so I did my best while I was there," he said in an interview at his home as his wife, Lisa, looked on.
"...I honestly believe at this stage that I can make more of a difference outside of Cabinet."
McCartney moved onto the political scene when the FNM was under the leadership of Tommy Turnquest, and said he had worked for two years in the St. Thomas More constituency before Ingraham became leader again and asked him to serve in Bamboo Town. While seeking an FNM nomination, McCartney was a strong anti-crime advocate, and some supporters had hoped he would eventually become minister of national security.
While he said yesterday he did not feel that he was serving to his full potential as minister of state for immigration, McCartney said there had not been another portfolio he was eyeing.
"I don't feel at this time I would have been an asset to the country sitting in the Cabinet as an immigration minister of state, because I don't think at this time I would have been effective and if I get into anything, whatever I get into, I want to be effective. I think I've been effective to a certain stage, but I don't think I would be effective moving on," he said.
"When you're in Cabinet you are bound by confidentiality; that is our oath, that is what we promise. You have to tow the party line more so as a Cabinet minister. I would like to speak out more on crime. I would even like to speak out more on immigration. I want to speak out on what is right and not based on party lines. My conviction comes first as to how I feel as a young Bahamian first and I honestly care about my country, the future of my country. "
McCartney said while he believes he is one of the people who could one day lead the FNM, Ingraham is today the right man for the job.
"He is my prime minister. If it were not for the prime minister I would not have had the opportunity to sit in his Cabinet in those two very, very vital ministries," he said.
"He has shown faith in me in that regard. I have also learned a lot from the prime minister. There's no doubt that the prime minister, Hubert Alexander Ingraham, is the best man for the job at this time. He is no doubt the best leader that we have had for our party and he remains that way today... I respect him, I support him. He has my full, full support."
McCartney also said he has a great deal of respect for Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, the substantive minister of immigration. He said he was grateful for Symonette's guidance and learned much from him.
Some observers have speculated that McCartney's resignation on Sunday was part of a wider move to position himself to eventually become leader of the FNM.
Asked to respond to this, he repeated, "We have a prime minister. I want to make myself clear. I still support the prime minister. We have a sitting prime minister as it stands now and as of this date, he is still the best person for the job."
Again making it clear that he has no interest in joining the Progressive Liberal Party, McCartney added, "The FNM is still the best party for this country. There's no doubt about it. Sitting in Cabinet has confirmed that to me over and repeatedly almost on a weekly basis, that the FNM, in my view, has the best interest [of the Bahamian people at heart]. There's nothing perfect. We have our difficulties like anything else, but when it comes down to the running of the country, out of the two parties, FNM hands out."
He said while he has many friends in the Progressive Liberal Party and respects them, "I am an FNM. I don't want persons to get the wrong impression about me going to the PLP. That is not my position. I am going to support the FNM in any which way I can so that they are the next government of The Bahamas whenever the prime minister decides to call the election. I have faith in that party. I have faith in the leadership."
While McCartney stressed repeatedly that he respects the prime minister and his leadership style, he admitted that he had not been privy to the decision to transfer (now former) Deputy Director of Immigration Roderick Bowe to head the defence force.
He also admitted to The Guardian that he had no prior knowledge of the shift in the immigration policy following the January earthquake in Haiti. McCartney said he learned of the change in policy when the prime minister announced it to the media.
" I would have perhaps gone about it a different way. I probably would have waited a little longer to look at the situation, but I respect the prime minister's decision," he said.
Asked about the prime minister's public reversal of the Department of Immigration's decision to have tents and other supplies on hand to prepare for any possible influx of undocumented Haitian nationals in light of the earthquake, McCartney added, "I would have waited to see how the situation in Haiti panned out before making certain decisions."
McCartney — an attorney by profession — said his decision to leave the Cabinet at this time has nothing to do with the state of his finances.
"I got into politics 17 years after becoming a lawyer. This year is my 20th year. I turned 40 four days after I was elected. I made sure that when I got into politics I did not have to work and if I had to work, I had a very smart wife next to me who would pay my bills," he said with a chuckle. "Finances were not a problem. I made a commitment that my children can go to school, go to college prior to me entering the political arena.
"...Even my funds I made as a minister and MP — I'm not even sure how much that is — but everything went into my constituency, from a minister and an MP, whatever that salary is, those funds went into Bamboo Town. The number of programs we have in Bamboo Town, they don't come free."
McCartney said now that he has more time on his hands, he plans to spend even more of it in Bamboo Town.
"We're going to take it to different, new level now," he said.
"Bamboo Town is going to be the blueprint of all constituencies. You've got my word on that."
March 02, 2010
thenassauguardian
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Branville McCartney - Minister of state for immigration resigns
By Juan Mccartney ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ juan@nasguard.com:
In a move that caught many by surprise yesterday Bamboo Town MP Branville McCartney resigned his post in Cabinet, but told The Nassau Guardian that he remains a committed FNM MP and is loyal to the leadership of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian last night, McCartney said that while he would not publicly comment on the reasoning behind his resignation as minister of state for immigration, or how it was done, he wanted his position to be clear.
"I will continue to represent the people of Bamboo Town," he said. "In fact, we're going to be taking Bamboo Town to a whole other level."
McCartney also said that he would remain a member of the Free National Movement (FNM) and has no intention of becoming an independent MP or any plans to "engage in any discussion about joining the Progressive Liberal Party."
"I wouldn't even entertain the thought," said McCartney, when asked about the possibility of switching his party allegiance.
"I am committed to the FNM and Hubert Ingraham. They are the best choice for this Bahamas at this time. And they have my full support."
McCartney then reiterated that the FNM is "without question" the party best-suited to govern the country. McCartney declined further comment.
McCartney was noticeably absent from the mid-year budget presentation in The House of Assembly on Wednesday. He was said to be on vacation with his family.
Sources close to McCartney said he had been planning to resign since January, but stayed on because he didn't want to hurt the FNM's chances in the Elizabeth by-election last month.
The move comes after there had been widespread speculation in political circles that McCartney was unhappy with at least two major decisions that were recently made in Immigration without his prior knowledge.
In a statement sent out Sunday evening, Prime Minster Hubert Ingraham confirmed that he had accepted McCartney's resignation, and while "the resignation of a minister or minister of state is always regrettable, I cannot say that I am completely surprised by Mr. McCartney's decision.
"Each of us in politics (is) bound to follow what we believe to be the best course of action in the interest of the people we are privileged to represent, and in accordance with our own convictions and perceptions at any given time," said Ingraham. "I have no doubt that Mr. McCartney, as he indicates, has given serious consideration to the action he has taken."
The Guardian understands that McCartney was not told that newly-appointed Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Roderick Bowe would be leaving his post as deputy director of immigration last month in order to assume command of the RBDF.
McCartney reportedly learned of the plan to transfer Bowe when he read about it in the newspaper.
McCartney was also said to be very unhappy that the prime minister changed the national policy toward illegal Haitian migrants after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince on January 12.
On January 14, Ingraham announced at an FNM news conference that as a result of the earthquake, the 102 illegal Haitian migrants at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre would be released and given some sort of temporary residency status. Ingraham also suspended the apprehension and repatriation of illegal Haitian migrants.
That news sparked heated debate among the general public.
On January 15, McCartney told The Guardian that his superiors made the call and his job was to ensure that the mandate was carried out.
"This was a decision made at a higher level. I am quite sure that the decision that was made is in the best interests of the country and it's something that we are carrying out," McCartney said.
However, there were reports that McCartney was not informed of the decision prior to its announcement and privately disagreed with the move, viewing it as a hasty decision as the situation on the ground in Haiti was still being assessed.
The public outcry forced Ingraham to repeatedly clarify the government's position on the issue, with the prime minister further stating that the government's policy would be that any new illegal Haitian migrants caught in the country would be taken to court and charged in order for the government to legally hold them for an extended period.
Two weeks later there still seemed to be some confusion as to what the government's policy toward illegal Haitian migrants was.
On January 27, Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette (the substantive minister responsible for immigration) and McCartney had two separate views on what should happen to a group of illegal Haitian migrants that landed in the Coral Harbour area the previous day.
Symonette, who was interviewed as he was going into a Cabinet meeting, said the immigrants would "more than likely" be released.
Minutes later McCartney - who was not yet aware of what the senior minister had told reporters - said he planned to stick to the prime minister's previously stated policy.
Not long after that, Prime Minister Ingraham showed up and said that his policy of charging the immigrants still stood.
The immigrants were charged with illegal landing that day. The men were sent to prison for six months, and the women were sent to the detention center, along with the children in the group.
McCartney has been widely considered as a front-runner for the leadership of the FNM in the future.
He was also widely praised as an effective minister of immigration.
In a statement sent on behalf of the PLP yesterday, PLP chairman Bradley Roberts said that the country should be told the "truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth," regarding McCartney's resignation.
"The resignation of Branville McCartney as minister of state for immigration is a source of serious concern for the country," Roberts said in a brief statement sent out last night in the wake of McCartney's resignation.
"Mr. McCartney was responsible for driving the immigration policy of the government. In the midst of a crisis in immigration, the minister resigns," he said. "The prime minister must give a full and frank explanation for the comment of Mr. McCartney that he believed that he was being stagnated within Mr. Ingraham's Cabinet and could not fulfill his full potential." Roberts called McCartney's resignation "a serious indictment" of the current Ingraham administration.
"His resignation has exposed the truth of how Mr. Ingraham governs the country and his party," Roberts said. The PLP believes that the country is not well served by the conduct of public affairs led with bombast, harsh words and disrespect as a hallmark of governance. We warned against it from the day Mr. Ingraham first took office. Now the FNM has turned on one of its own."
March 01, 2010
thenassauguardian
In a move that caught many by surprise yesterday Bamboo Town MP Branville McCartney resigned his post in Cabinet, but told The Nassau Guardian that he remains a committed FNM MP and is loyal to the leadership of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian last night, McCartney said that while he would not publicly comment on the reasoning behind his resignation as minister of state for immigration, or how it was done, he wanted his position to be clear.
"I will continue to represent the people of Bamboo Town," he said. "In fact, we're going to be taking Bamboo Town to a whole other level."
McCartney also said that he would remain a member of the Free National Movement (FNM) and has no intention of becoming an independent MP or any plans to "engage in any discussion about joining the Progressive Liberal Party."
"I wouldn't even entertain the thought," said McCartney, when asked about the possibility of switching his party allegiance.
"I am committed to the FNM and Hubert Ingraham. They are the best choice for this Bahamas at this time. And they have my full support."
McCartney then reiterated that the FNM is "without question" the party best-suited to govern the country. McCartney declined further comment.
McCartney was noticeably absent from the mid-year budget presentation in The House of Assembly on Wednesday. He was said to be on vacation with his family.
Sources close to McCartney said he had been planning to resign since January, but stayed on because he didn't want to hurt the FNM's chances in the Elizabeth by-election last month.
The move comes after there had been widespread speculation in political circles that McCartney was unhappy with at least two major decisions that were recently made in Immigration without his prior knowledge.
In a statement sent out Sunday evening, Prime Minster Hubert Ingraham confirmed that he had accepted McCartney's resignation, and while "the resignation of a minister or minister of state is always regrettable, I cannot say that I am completely surprised by Mr. McCartney's decision.
"Each of us in politics (is) bound to follow what we believe to be the best course of action in the interest of the people we are privileged to represent, and in accordance with our own convictions and perceptions at any given time," said Ingraham. "I have no doubt that Mr. McCartney, as he indicates, has given serious consideration to the action he has taken."
The Guardian understands that McCartney was not told that newly-appointed Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Roderick Bowe would be leaving his post as deputy director of immigration last month in order to assume command of the RBDF.
McCartney reportedly learned of the plan to transfer Bowe when he read about it in the newspaper.
McCartney was also said to be very unhappy that the prime minister changed the national policy toward illegal Haitian migrants after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince on January 12.
On January 14, Ingraham announced at an FNM news conference that as a result of the earthquake, the 102 illegal Haitian migrants at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre would be released and given some sort of temporary residency status. Ingraham also suspended the apprehension and repatriation of illegal Haitian migrants.
That news sparked heated debate among the general public.
On January 15, McCartney told The Guardian that his superiors made the call and his job was to ensure that the mandate was carried out.
"This was a decision made at a higher level. I am quite sure that the decision that was made is in the best interests of the country and it's something that we are carrying out," McCartney said.
However, there were reports that McCartney was not informed of the decision prior to its announcement and privately disagreed with the move, viewing it as a hasty decision as the situation on the ground in Haiti was still being assessed.
The public outcry forced Ingraham to repeatedly clarify the government's position on the issue, with the prime minister further stating that the government's policy would be that any new illegal Haitian migrants caught in the country would be taken to court and charged in order for the government to legally hold them for an extended period.
Two weeks later there still seemed to be some confusion as to what the government's policy toward illegal Haitian migrants was.
On January 27, Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette (the substantive minister responsible for immigration) and McCartney had two separate views on what should happen to a group of illegal Haitian migrants that landed in the Coral Harbour area the previous day.
Symonette, who was interviewed as he was going into a Cabinet meeting, said the immigrants would "more than likely" be released.
Minutes later McCartney - who was not yet aware of what the senior minister had told reporters - said he planned to stick to the prime minister's previously stated policy.
Not long after that, Prime Minister Ingraham showed up and said that his policy of charging the immigrants still stood.
The immigrants were charged with illegal landing that day. The men were sent to prison for six months, and the women were sent to the detention center, along with the children in the group.
McCartney has been widely considered as a front-runner for the leadership of the FNM in the future.
He was also widely praised as an effective minister of immigration.
In a statement sent on behalf of the PLP yesterday, PLP chairman Bradley Roberts said that the country should be told the "truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth," regarding McCartney's resignation.
"The resignation of Branville McCartney as minister of state for immigration is a source of serious concern for the country," Roberts said in a brief statement sent out last night in the wake of McCartney's resignation.
"Mr. McCartney was responsible for driving the immigration policy of the government. In the midst of a crisis in immigration, the minister resigns," he said. "The prime minister must give a full and frank explanation for the comment of Mr. McCartney that he believed that he was being stagnated within Mr. Ingraham's Cabinet and could not fulfill his full potential." Roberts called McCartney's resignation "a serious indictment" of the current Ingraham administration.
"His resignation has exposed the truth of how Mr. Ingraham governs the country and his party," Roberts said. The PLP believes that the country is not well served by the conduct of public affairs led with bombast, harsh words and disrespect as a hallmark of governance. We warned against it from the day Mr. Ingraham first took office. Now the FNM has turned on one of its own."
March 01, 2010
thenassauguardian
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Perry Christie Defends Ryan Pinder’s Citizenship
By IANTHIA SMITH:
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate, Ryan Pinder has been shrouded in controversy over his US citizenship, which he admits he recently renounced, as well as questions over his allegiance to The Bahamas.
But PLP Leader Perry Christie said yesterday that he is quite satisfied that his candidate is "Bahamian-made."
"I am satisfied that Mr. Pinder today, is satisfied that everything he did was done correctly, on time and we wait for those who assert to make their assertions," Mr. Christie said. "He who asserts must prove."
Since announcing his decision to run on the PLP ticket in the February 16 by-election, numerous questions about his citizenship and loyalty to the country have loomed.
In the weeks leading up to the by-election, members of the Free National Movement (FNM) questioned Mr. Pinder’s qualifications as a lawful candidate in the by-election, pointing out that the PLP candidate had dual citizenship.
With mounting criticisms about his allegiance to the country, Mr. Pinder announced just days before the by-election that he had renounced his United States citizenship.
Mr. Pinder, who is the son of former PLP MP Marvin Pinder, and an American woman, had dual citizenship with The Bahamas and the United States.
But Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said on Sunday that he wants Mr. Pinder to prove that he in fact renounced his citizenship before the by-election.
Mr. Ingraham added that if the matter is in fact heard in Election Court, the party will call on the PLP to present Mr. Pinder’s American passport before the court.
"When we go to court we will have Dr. Duane Sands’ passport and we will say that he is a Bahamian. We will say that he has never held any other citizenship at any other time. We will call upon them [the PLP] to show Mr. Pinder’s American passport to show where it was marked cancelled by the Americans before nomination day.
"It is very important for the court to know upfront that each person who is before it is qualified to be there."
The prime minister argued that there is nothing wrong with Mr. Pinder or anyone else being an American citizen and running for office.
He said "just being a citizen is not an offence by itself."
The FNM even used the citizenship issue as a platform to criticise Mr. Pinder during its campaign trail.
National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest even announced during his party’s rallies that Mr. Pinder had never even voted in The Bahamas.
February 23rd, 2010
jonesbahamas
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate, Ryan Pinder has been shrouded in controversy over his US citizenship, which he admits he recently renounced, as well as questions over his allegiance to The Bahamas.
But PLP Leader Perry Christie said yesterday that he is quite satisfied that his candidate is "Bahamian-made."
"I am satisfied that Mr. Pinder today, is satisfied that everything he did was done correctly, on time and we wait for those who assert to make their assertions," Mr. Christie said. "He who asserts must prove."
Since announcing his decision to run on the PLP ticket in the February 16 by-election, numerous questions about his citizenship and loyalty to the country have loomed.
In the weeks leading up to the by-election, members of the Free National Movement (FNM) questioned Mr. Pinder’s qualifications as a lawful candidate in the by-election, pointing out that the PLP candidate had dual citizenship.
With mounting criticisms about his allegiance to the country, Mr. Pinder announced just days before the by-election that he had renounced his United States citizenship.
Mr. Pinder, who is the son of former PLP MP Marvin Pinder, and an American woman, had dual citizenship with The Bahamas and the United States.
But Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said on Sunday that he wants Mr. Pinder to prove that he in fact renounced his citizenship before the by-election.
Mr. Ingraham added that if the matter is in fact heard in Election Court, the party will call on the PLP to present Mr. Pinder’s American passport before the court.
"When we go to court we will have Dr. Duane Sands’ passport and we will say that he is a Bahamian. We will say that he has never held any other citizenship at any other time. We will call upon them [the PLP] to show Mr. Pinder’s American passport to show where it was marked cancelled by the Americans before nomination day.
"It is very important for the court to know upfront that each person who is before it is qualified to be there."
The prime minister argued that there is nothing wrong with Mr. Pinder or anyone else being an American citizen and running for office.
He said "just being a citizen is not an offence by itself."
The FNM even used the citizenship issue as a platform to criticise Mr. Pinder during its campaign trail.
National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest even announced during his party’s rallies that Mr. Pinder had never even voted in The Bahamas.
February 23rd, 2010
jonesbahamas
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Ryan Pinder's lack of voting record called into question
By PAUL G TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
pturnquest@tribunemedia.net:
TO A SOCIETY that often finds itself at odds at one point or the other with the decisions of its government, a citizen's right to vote is his or her ultimate political weapon in truly effecting the change that they wish to see on the political landscape of their country.
In short, many feel that it is their right, and some would say their responsibility, to participate in a process that many of our forefathers were denied.
In the constituency of Elizabeth, the people have spoken, and their voices are being heard -- however faintly -- by the two major political parties. They showed us, quite rightly, that Bahamians not only have the right to vote, but they also have the right not to vote, as was seen by the nearly 1,700 persons who opted not to show up at the polls on February 16th.
The reasons for their decision are theirs alone, and quite frankly, too numerous to speculate on at this time.
On February 15th, however, the Bahamian people were enlightened by the little known fact that one of the candidates in the Elizabeth by-election has never voted in an election in the Bahamas before. In fact, according to the Minister of National Security, Tommy Turnquest, Mr Pinder had only recently registered in the Bahamas in October 2008.
"He has never voted in the Bahamas before!" Mr Turnquest exclaimed.
"Not in 1997 when he was 22 years old, not in 2002, nor in 2007. He is now 35 years old and he has never voted in the Bahamas."
Having voted up until March of last year in the United States, Mr Turnquest said that Mr Pinder has only ever voted where he was a citizen and where he was "interested" in the affairs of that country.
While the PLP has cried shame on the FNM for seeking to raise this matter, it is not out of the realm of mature political dialogue that this matter be debated.
How can residents of Elizabeth truly believe in a candidate whose voting record in the Bahamas cannot be verified? I can recall having conversations with PLPs who were measuring their loyalty and devotion to the party not only by the number of times they voted for the PLP, but in how many elections they had continued to toe the party line.
As it was explained, if you did not stand by the party in 1992, and 1997, you were a "Johnny-come-lately." Voting for the PLP in 2002 was simply "going with the tide", and if you didn't vote for the party in 2007 it was almost certainly considered a betrayal of the highest order.
Ballot
Grown men and women sit and argue for hours about why they have gone through the oftentimes long and tedious process of casting their ballot for the PLP. Many of them truly believe that their individual votes make a difference and can change the tide of any given election; every vote can help "out the torch". This idea of being a Bahamian, especially a PLP, and simply choosing not to vote, does not register in the minds of many.
How then can the young Mr Pinder explain to these party foot soldiers that he could not be bothered to take the 45-minute flight from Florida to cast his ballot in one very important election in the Bahamas?
For the record, Mr Pinder has renounced his US citizenship and explained that as he was not residing in the Bahamas, he could not vote in this country. He is currently a registered voter for the constituency of Clifton where it is understood he initially planned to run.
However, Mr Pinder's defence has not gone over well with many Bahamians who feel that it was "presumptuous" of the candidate to come to the Bahamas only a short while ago, and seek to represent a constituency right away.
Perhaps Erin Ferguson, who hosts a widely successful new political television programme on JCN TV, put it best on his last show on Thursday night.
He asked the question that has been on the minds of many Bahamians: How is it that Mr Pinder has never voted in the Bahamas?
"Now you tell me, (because) something wrong about this one. You tell me, you eligible to vote from you 18 -- Mr Pinder is 35. That means he could have voted when he was 22 in 1997. He could have voted when he was 27 in 2002. He could have voted when he was 32 in 2007; and the FNM and the PLP does pay for you to come home to vote!
Election
"And further to that, you can't tell me your that your daddy is Marvin Pinder and you can't figure out how to get home for an election? And Mr (Fred) Mitchell said ... he (Mr Pinder) spent most of his time in the Bahamas. And you used your father's name to legitimize yourself as a candidate in the election ... but you can't then say you aren't invested enough to come home and vote or if you are home, to vote."
"And if you tell me that you was in America and was voting in America because that's where you were living and invested at the time, then don't come here and in a couple of years want to run for MP. At least vote once. Just once. That's all I ask. See how it feels. Test this Bahamian thing out."
"I have to tell you, sir, we have the right to ask, if you can't find yourself in the Bahamas to participate in the Bahamian electoral process, we have the right to ask what is it that you have to gain?" he asked.
However blunt and painful his words may have been, Mr Ferguson has a point and his argument holds water.
And while it has not been widely commented on, some FNM's at Thelma Gibson during the recount fiasco questioned the notion of "entitlement" that has permeated both the PLP and the FNM.
There is no greater "turn off" for voters than to feel that a surname will determine who will be their representative and that a particular family will continue to lead them for the rest of their existence.
While those FNM's at Thelma Gibson were seeking to denigrate Mr Pinder, the fact is both parties are guilty of this, and by hook or by crook, it must be stopped.
Representatives should be elected based on their merit and their genuine interest in the people of this country. The rest of the world has shown us many examples where the children of elected leaders have proven to be less than capable of filling their parent's shoes.
When asked for a general response on Mr Pinder's voting record some PLPs brushed the matter aside saying that it was of little consequence and the issue is nothing more than a "red herring" - an "evil scheme" concocted by the FNM to distract voters.
But is this response enough?
Issue
In fact, there is another way to look at this matter. Many would go so far as to say that if it were the FNM who were running Mr Pinder, the issue of him having never voted in the Bahamas would have been a major issue of contention.
We all can imagine the superfluity of rhetoric that would have spewed forth. Many PLP's would have said, 'Does the FNM think we are that gullible? How could they think that we would be satisfied with a man who ain't ever vote in this country to come here and running our affairs?'
From all accounts it appears that even if the PLP are not victorious in their election court challenge, Mr Pinder will still be their candidate of choice for the Elizabeth constituency in the 2012 general election.
If this is the case, it would be wise for Mr Pinder to respond to the criticism that has come his way in regards to this issue. Burying his head in the sand will not do.
If any lesson can be learned from this by-election, it is that voters in the Bahamas seem to expect more from their would-be representatives.
Whether these representatives are listening is another matter; but as with all things, time will tell.
What do you think?
February 22, 2010
tribune242
Tribune Staff Reporter
pturnquest@tribunemedia.net:
Candidate's lack of voting record called into question
TO A SOCIETY that often finds itself at odds at one point or the other with the decisions of its government, a citizen's right to vote is his or her ultimate political weapon in truly effecting the change that they wish to see on the political landscape of their country.
In short, many feel that it is their right, and some would say their responsibility, to participate in a process that many of our forefathers were denied.
In the constituency of Elizabeth, the people have spoken, and their voices are being heard -- however faintly -- by the two major political parties. They showed us, quite rightly, that Bahamians not only have the right to vote, but they also have the right not to vote, as was seen by the nearly 1,700 persons who opted not to show up at the polls on February 16th.
The reasons for their decision are theirs alone, and quite frankly, too numerous to speculate on at this time.
On February 15th, however, the Bahamian people were enlightened by the little known fact that one of the candidates in the Elizabeth by-election has never voted in an election in the Bahamas before. In fact, according to the Minister of National Security, Tommy Turnquest, Mr Pinder had only recently registered in the Bahamas in October 2008.
"He has never voted in the Bahamas before!" Mr Turnquest exclaimed.
"Not in 1997 when he was 22 years old, not in 2002, nor in 2007. He is now 35 years old and he has never voted in the Bahamas."
Having voted up until March of last year in the United States, Mr Turnquest said that Mr Pinder has only ever voted where he was a citizen and where he was "interested" in the affairs of that country.
While the PLP has cried shame on the FNM for seeking to raise this matter, it is not out of the realm of mature political dialogue that this matter be debated.
How can residents of Elizabeth truly believe in a candidate whose voting record in the Bahamas cannot be verified? I can recall having conversations with PLPs who were measuring their loyalty and devotion to the party not only by the number of times they voted for the PLP, but in how many elections they had continued to toe the party line.
As it was explained, if you did not stand by the party in 1992, and 1997, you were a "Johnny-come-lately." Voting for the PLP in 2002 was simply "going with the tide", and if you didn't vote for the party in 2007 it was almost certainly considered a betrayal of the highest order.
Ballot
Grown men and women sit and argue for hours about why they have gone through the oftentimes long and tedious process of casting their ballot for the PLP. Many of them truly believe that their individual votes make a difference and can change the tide of any given election; every vote can help "out the torch". This idea of being a Bahamian, especially a PLP, and simply choosing not to vote, does not register in the minds of many.
How then can the young Mr Pinder explain to these party foot soldiers that he could not be bothered to take the 45-minute flight from Florida to cast his ballot in one very important election in the Bahamas?
For the record, Mr Pinder has renounced his US citizenship and explained that as he was not residing in the Bahamas, he could not vote in this country. He is currently a registered voter for the constituency of Clifton where it is understood he initially planned to run.
However, Mr Pinder's defence has not gone over well with many Bahamians who feel that it was "presumptuous" of the candidate to come to the Bahamas only a short while ago, and seek to represent a constituency right away.
Perhaps Erin Ferguson, who hosts a widely successful new political television programme on JCN TV, put it best on his last show on Thursday night.
He asked the question that has been on the minds of many Bahamians: How is it that Mr Pinder has never voted in the Bahamas?
"Now you tell me, (because) something wrong about this one. You tell me, you eligible to vote from you 18 -- Mr Pinder is 35. That means he could have voted when he was 22 in 1997. He could have voted when he was 27 in 2002. He could have voted when he was 32 in 2007; and the FNM and the PLP does pay for you to come home to vote!
Election
"And further to that, you can't tell me your that your daddy is Marvin Pinder and you can't figure out how to get home for an election? And Mr (Fred) Mitchell said ... he (Mr Pinder) spent most of his time in the Bahamas. And you used your father's name to legitimize yourself as a candidate in the election ... but you can't then say you aren't invested enough to come home and vote or if you are home, to vote."
"And if you tell me that you was in America and was voting in America because that's where you were living and invested at the time, then don't come here and in a couple of years want to run for MP. At least vote once. Just once. That's all I ask. See how it feels. Test this Bahamian thing out."
"I have to tell you, sir, we have the right to ask, if you can't find yourself in the Bahamas to participate in the Bahamian electoral process, we have the right to ask what is it that you have to gain?" he asked.
However blunt and painful his words may have been, Mr Ferguson has a point and his argument holds water.
And while it has not been widely commented on, some FNM's at Thelma Gibson during the recount fiasco questioned the notion of "entitlement" that has permeated both the PLP and the FNM.
There is no greater "turn off" for voters than to feel that a surname will determine who will be their representative and that a particular family will continue to lead them for the rest of their existence.
While those FNM's at Thelma Gibson were seeking to denigrate Mr Pinder, the fact is both parties are guilty of this, and by hook or by crook, it must be stopped.
Representatives should be elected based on their merit and their genuine interest in the people of this country. The rest of the world has shown us many examples where the children of elected leaders have proven to be less than capable of filling their parent's shoes.
When asked for a general response on Mr Pinder's voting record some PLPs brushed the matter aside saying that it was of little consequence and the issue is nothing more than a "red herring" - an "evil scheme" concocted by the FNM to distract voters.
But is this response enough?
Issue
In fact, there is another way to look at this matter. Many would go so far as to say that if it were the FNM who were running Mr Pinder, the issue of him having never voted in the Bahamas would have been a major issue of contention.
We all can imagine the superfluity of rhetoric that would have spewed forth. Many PLP's would have said, 'Does the FNM think we are that gullible? How could they think that we would be satisfied with a man who ain't ever vote in this country to come here and running our affairs?'
From all accounts it appears that even if the PLP are not victorious in their election court challenge, Mr Pinder will still be their candidate of choice for the Elizabeth constituency in the 2012 general election.
If this is the case, it would be wise for Mr Pinder to respond to the criticism that has come his way in regards to this issue. Burying his head in the sand will not do.
If any lesson can be learned from this by-election, it is that voters in the Bahamas seem to expect more from their would-be representatives.
Whether these representatives are listening is another matter; but as with all things, time will tell.
What do you think?
February 22, 2010
tribune242
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Letter says Ryan Pinder renounced US citizenship before he nominated for the Elizabeth constituency by-election
By BRENT DEAN ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ brentldean@nasguard.com:
Progressive Liberal Party Elizabeth candidate Ryan Pinder renounced his United States citizenship on January 20 — more than a week before he nominated for the constituency by-election — according to a letter from the U.S. Embassy in Nassau obtained by The Nassau Guardian.
The letter, which was not provided by the embassy, said Pinder acquired his U.S. citizenship under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act by virtue of birth to a citizen parent on September 13, 1974 in Nassau.
The letter reveals that Pinder renounced his U.S. citizenship at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau.
"The government of the United States no longer considers Mr. Pinder to be a U.S. citizen," the letter reveals. "His U.S. passport is no longer valid and has been forwarded to the issuing agency within the U.S. government."
At a news conference on Sunday at the Free National Movement Headquarters, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham indicated that the governing party would challenge Pinder's eligibility to run in the Elizabeth by-election on the citizenship issue.
"When we go to court we will have Duane Sands' passport; we'll say he's a Bahamian," Ingraham said. "We'll say he has never held any other citizenship at any other time. And we will call upon them to show Mr. Ryan Pinder's American passport, to show us where it was marked canceled by the Americans before the nomination day."
The Bahamian constitution sets out eligibility to sit as a member of the House of Assembly.
It states that no person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House who is a citizen of a country other than The Bahamas, having become such a citizen voluntarily.
The constitution also states that a candidate would be unable to sit in the House if the individual, by virtue of his own act, is under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.
The PLP had argued that since Pinder obtained the U.S. citizenship as a result of his mother's American citizenship, it was not a voluntary act, making Pinder eligible to run as a candidate with dual citizenship.
In spite of this position, Pinder renounced the status before the January 29 nomination day.
Pinder had previously revealed that he renounced his U.S. citizenship. However, he had not provided any details about the move.
Pinder received 1,499 regular votes to the 1,501 regular votes FNM candidate Dr. Duane Sands received in the by-election. Five protest votes were cast in favor of Pinder. If at least three are allowed, he would be the next Elizabeth MP.
If two are allowed a tie would result.
Pinder has petitioned the Election Court to consider the protest votes cast.
The Parliamentary Elections Act states that if a tie results after all votes are considered — including protest votes — the returning officer shall declare a void election between those candidates.
A new election would then be ordered 14 days after such a declaration.
February 25, 2010
thenassauguardian
Progressive Liberal Party Elizabeth candidate Ryan Pinder renounced his United States citizenship on January 20 — more than a week before he nominated for the constituency by-election — according to a letter from the U.S. Embassy in Nassau obtained by The Nassau Guardian.
The letter, which was not provided by the embassy, said Pinder acquired his U.S. citizenship under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act by virtue of birth to a citizen parent on September 13, 1974 in Nassau.
The letter reveals that Pinder renounced his U.S. citizenship at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau.
"The government of the United States no longer considers Mr. Pinder to be a U.S. citizen," the letter reveals. "His U.S. passport is no longer valid and has been forwarded to the issuing agency within the U.S. government."
At a news conference on Sunday at the Free National Movement Headquarters, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham indicated that the governing party would challenge Pinder's eligibility to run in the Elizabeth by-election on the citizenship issue.
"When we go to court we will have Duane Sands' passport; we'll say he's a Bahamian," Ingraham said. "We'll say he has never held any other citizenship at any other time. And we will call upon them to show Mr. Ryan Pinder's American passport, to show us where it was marked canceled by the Americans before the nomination day."
The Bahamian constitution sets out eligibility to sit as a member of the House of Assembly.
It states that no person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House who is a citizen of a country other than The Bahamas, having become such a citizen voluntarily.
The constitution also states that a candidate would be unable to sit in the House if the individual, by virtue of his own act, is under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.
The PLP had argued that since Pinder obtained the U.S. citizenship as a result of his mother's American citizenship, it was not a voluntary act, making Pinder eligible to run as a candidate with dual citizenship.
In spite of this position, Pinder renounced the status before the January 29 nomination day.
Pinder had previously revealed that he renounced his U.S. citizenship. However, he had not provided any details about the move.
Pinder received 1,499 regular votes to the 1,501 regular votes FNM candidate Dr. Duane Sands received in the by-election. Five protest votes were cast in favor of Pinder. If at least three are allowed, he would be the next Elizabeth MP.
If two are allowed a tie would result.
Pinder has petitioned the Election Court to consider the protest votes cast.
The Parliamentary Elections Act states that if a tie results after all votes are considered — including protest votes — the returning officer shall declare a void election between those candidates.
A new election would then be ordered 14 days after such a declaration.
February 25, 2010
thenassauguardian
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Some PLPs have short memories
tribune242 Editorial:
CALLING FOR electoral reform, Opposition Leader Perry Christie described the weeks leading up to the Elizabeth by-election as "the worst" he'd seen in terms of allegations that FNM members were using their government clout to sway voters. "Up to Monday (the day before the election)," he said, "government was giving people jobs with a clear intention of influencing the vote. That's not proper, ethical or fair."
And this is what Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham had to say about the May 2, 2007 election in which Mr Christie, then the prime minister, lost the government to Mr Ingraham, who was Opposition leader.
On becoming prime minister, Mr Ingraham told his supporters that the 2007 election was the most interfered with election in Bahamian history.
"I am ashamed that on Perry Christie's watch there was more political interference in the electoral process than at any time, even under Pindling," said Mr Ingraham.
It was claimed that $80 million was awarded to contractors "a few months ago and days leading up to the 2007 election."
However, in our opinion the June 19, 1987 general election in the Crooked Island constituency, followed by the November 24, 1989 by-election -- called after the MP elected in the 1987 election was sent to prison for offering a drug court magistrate $10,000 to drop a case before her -- were two of the worst elections that we recall. The late Basil Kelly, who had been MP for the Crooked Island constituency for about 20 years, offered as the FNM candidate in both elections. He lost both.
In last week's Elizabeth by-election the PLP protested the presence of National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest -- who is the minister responsible for Parliamentary Elections -- in the recount room at Thelma Gibson Primary School. However, they forget that in the Crooked Island by-election in 1989, Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling at the end of a Cabinet meeting flew to Crooked Island, ordering all of his Cabinet ministers to get themselves to the island to fight the by-election and watch over the stations. Sir Lynden himself gave all of the Long Cay school children a gift of a hand held video camera with a $400,000 contract going to a PLP council member in the constituency to construct an administrative building. During that by-election Yamacraw MP Janet Bostwick said that the by-election reminded her of 1982 when the PLP took tankers of asphalt to the district and told voters that if they wanted the roads repaired they had to vote for Wilbert Moss. The people voted for Mr Moss and a week after the elections, the equipment was taken away. In the 1989 by-election the people were again told that if they wanted the roads repaired, electricity installed and running water into their homes they had to "walk with Walkine." This, said Mrs Bostwick, was just another PLP ploy to fool voters of that impoverished district. She rightly predicted that after the election the flurry of jobs handed out during the campaign would come to an end.
As Mr Kelly pointed out in his report on the 1987 election one must understand that at the time there were no job opportunities in the entire Crooked Island district except for government employment and one small tourist facility that employed no more than 10 people at any one time. During the 1987 election, he said, these people were given jobs off and on from nomination day until election day weeding the road, as assistant janitresses, assisting in the polls on election day, nurses assistants and "whatever could be dreamt up and paid for out of the Treasury."
Campaigning were two civil servants, school teachers, and the returning officer, who did not openly campaign, but who was "directed by PLP generals throughout the campaign."
The helicopter, ostensibly at the island for the PLP candidates, was "also used to ferry government presiding officers, the returning officer, the mailboat captain, and in fact, picked up the ballot boxes after polling on election day. It was openly admitted by the pilot of the helicopter that this was government's helicopter," wrote Mr Kelly. What everyone wanted to know was whether the Treasury paid for the helicopter.
"There was a new trick that I had never seen before in the form of intimidation," Mr Kelly wrote of the 1987 election. "Voters were told during the campaign by leading PLP generals and civil servants that when a particular voter voted, the presiding officer was instructed to write his signature on the back of his ballot differently to others so that his ballot would be easily identifiable. This way he could tell how that particular voter voted when the ballots were counted, and if the voter did not vote right (in other words, for the PLP) his daughter or whoever was working for government would lose their job."
Throughout that campaign civil servants acted as PLP generals, and the few civil servants who were known FNM supporters were ordered not to vote. Whatever the FNM might have done during the Elizabeth by-election, which Mr Christie claims was "not proper, ethical or fair" cannot be condoned.
But when the PLP held the helm of state, they were absolutely ruthless, particularly in some of these impoverished Family Islands. Now maybe some of them will know what it is like to be on the receiving end. Retribution has come full circle.
February 23, 2010
tribune242
CALLING FOR electoral reform, Opposition Leader Perry Christie described the weeks leading up to the Elizabeth by-election as "the worst" he'd seen in terms of allegations that FNM members were using their government clout to sway voters. "Up to Monday (the day before the election)," he said, "government was giving people jobs with a clear intention of influencing the vote. That's not proper, ethical or fair."
And this is what Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham had to say about the May 2, 2007 election in which Mr Christie, then the prime minister, lost the government to Mr Ingraham, who was Opposition leader.
On becoming prime minister, Mr Ingraham told his supporters that the 2007 election was the most interfered with election in Bahamian history.
"I am ashamed that on Perry Christie's watch there was more political interference in the electoral process than at any time, even under Pindling," said Mr Ingraham.
It was claimed that $80 million was awarded to contractors "a few months ago and days leading up to the 2007 election."
However, in our opinion the June 19, 1987 general election in the Crooked Island constituency, followed by the November 24, 1989 by-election -- called after the MP elected in the 1987 election was sent to prison for offering a drug court magistrate $10,000 to drop a case before her -- were two of the worst elections that we recall. The late Basil Kelly, who had been MP for the Crooked Island constituency for about 20 years, offered as the FNM candidate in both elections. He lost both.
In last week's Elizabeth by-election the PLP protested the presence of National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest -- who is the minister responsible for Parliamentary Elections -- in the recount room at Thelma Gibson Primary School. However, they forget that in the Crooked Island by-election in 1989, Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling at the end of a Cabinet meeting flew to Crooked Island, ordering all of his Cabinet ministers to get themselves to the island to fight the by-election and watch over the stations. Sir Lynden himself gave all of the Long Cay school children a gift of a hand held video camera with a $400,000 contract going to a PLP council member in the constituency to construct an administrative building. During that by-election Yamacraw MP Janet Bostwick said that the by-election reminded her of 1982 when the PLP took tankers of asphalt to the district and told voters that if they wanted the roads repaired they had to vote for Wilbert Moss. The people voted for Mr Moss and a week after the elections, the equipment was taken away. In the 1989 by-election the people were again told that if they wanted the roads repaired, electricity installed and running water into their homes they had to "walk with Walkine." This, said Mrs Bostwick, was just another PLP ploy to fool voters of that impoverished district. She rightly predicted that after the election the flurry of jobs handed out during the campaign would come to an end.
As Mr Kelly pointed out in his report on the 1987 election one must understand that at the time there were no job opportunities in the entire Crooked Island district except for government employment and one small tourist facility that employed no more than 10 people at any one time. During the 1987 election, he said, these people were given jobs off and on from nomination day until election day weeding the road, as assistant janitresses, assisting in the polls on election day, nurses assistants and "whatever could be dreamt up and paid for out of the Treasury."
Campaigning were two civil servants, school teachers, and the returning officer, who did not openly campaign, but who was "directed by PLP generals throughout the campaign."
The helicopter, ostensibly at the island for the PLP candidates, was "also used to ferry government presiding officers, the returning officer, the mailboat captain, and in fact, picked up the ballot boxes after polling on election day. It was openly admitted by the pilot of the helicopter that this was government's helicopter," wrote Mr Kelly. What everyone wanted to know was whether the Treasury paid for the helicopter.
"There was a new trick that I had never seen before in the form of intimidation," Mr Kelly wrote of the 1987 election. "Voters were told during the campaign by leading PLP generals and civil servants that when a particular voter voted, the presiding officer was instructed to write his signature on the back of his ballot differently to others so that his ballot would be easily identifiable. This way he could tell how that particular voter voted when the ballots were counted, and if the voter did not vote right (in other words, for the PLP) his daughter or whoever was working for government would lose their job."
Throughout that campaign civil servants acted as PLP generals, and the few civil servants who were known FNM supporters were ordered not to vote. Whatever the FNM might have done during the Elizabeth by-election, which Mr Christie claims was "not proper, ethical or fair" cannot be condoned.
But when the PLP held the helm of state, they were absolutely ruthless, particularly in some of these impoverished Family Islands. Now maybe some of them will know what it is like to be on the receiving end. Retribution has come full circle.
February 23, 2010
tribune242
Elizabeth by-election: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Perry Christie claims 30 supporters of the Free National Movement (FNM) voted illegally
By Brent Dean ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ brentldean@nasguard.com:
Progressive Liberal Party Leader Perry Christie said yesterday he is aware of about 30 supporters of the Free National Movement who voted illegally in the Elizabeth by-election. Christie also warned the prime minister about making comments he claimed were intimidating to the five people who voted on protest ballots in favor of the PLP's candidate Ryan Pinder last Tuesday.
"When the prime minister (Hubert Ingraham) speaks about having a list of people who voted illegally, listen, my list is probably 30 right now, without my having made an effort, of FNMs who voted illegally in there," said Christie at a news conference yesterday at PLP headquarters.
Christie acknowledged that it is necessary for the leaders of both major parties to come together to work on improving the rules that govern elections in The Bahamas.
The Elizabeth by-election was the first major test for the Parliamentary Registration Department since the justices of the Election Court said in a ruling that the Pinewood case had exposed "the most egregious failures in the parliamentary system."
That ruling was handed down nearly two years ago by Senior Justice Anita Allen and now Senior Justice Jon Isaacs.
At the time of the controversial Pinewood matter, the judges said, "The parliamentary commissioner failed, for whatever reason, to ensure the integrity of the registration process in Pinewood."
In their 2008 ruling, Allen and Isaacs said it was startling that Senator Allyson Maynard-Gibson (the petitioner) and Pinewood MP Byran Woodside were forced to concede that 85 of 183 votes challenged were unlawful votes.
"Perhaps the time is appropriate for the parliamentary commissioner to comprehensively examine the practices and procedures of the Parliamentary Registration Department with a view to ensuring that what we saw in Pinewood does not re-occur because it threatens to undermine the fundamental basis of our parliamentary democracy," the ruling said.
Despite the ruling, there have been no amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act, and no major reforms of the election process in the country.
Consequently, both parties have alleged serious improprieties concerning the Elizabeth by-election.
Pinder received 1,499 regular votes to the 1,501 votes FNM candidate Dr. Duane Sands received. However, Pinder would have a total of 1,504 votes, as compared to Sands' 1,501 votes, if the five protest votes for Pinder are allowed.
At a news conference at FNM Headquarters on Sunday, the prime minister said those protest votes would be seriously scrutinized in the Election Court.
"At the end of the day, the court will make a decision. If these persons turn out to be persons that committed perjury or who lied, then there are laws to deal with that. So each of these persons will have to make their own decision on what they want to do. Let go, let be or expose yourself to the other place," said Ingraham, making a clear reference to Her Majesty's Prison.
"In the other place, you go there by yourself, no one goes with you. It's a very lonely place to be."
Christie perceived those comments as a form of voter intimidation by the prime minister.
"The prime minister should not seek to intimidate these people and suggest that because they spoke up for their rights that somehow they are breaking the law. We are concerned about this because it is a continuation of a pattern of intimidation by the Free National Movement and the prime minister," he said.
"I warned about his intimidation during the campaign. I am seriously concerned about the identification of the FNM with a thug culture that appears to dominate what they do in politics. There is no respect for the most basic and elemental aspects of the law and fair play."
While Ingraham said he has hard evidence that four out of the five protest voters were not eligible to vote in the by-election, Christie was confident that the PLP would receive enough protest votes for Pinder to become the Elizabeth MP.
Pinder needs at least three protest votes declared valid to win the seat. If he secures two, a tie would result and a reelection would take place.
"...Going to the Election Court in the circumstances that have now arisen is all about making sure that the way the people of Elizabeth did in fact vote on February 16th is reflected in the final declared result," Christie said.
The PLP leader said that in most instances, the protested voters lived in the constituency for long periods.
"They also say they had been duly registered to vote in Elizabeth," he said. "In fact, they had proper voter's cards."
Their names had been left off the Register of Voters, claimed Christie.
February 23, 2010
thenassauguardian
Progressive Liberal Party Leader Perry Christie said yesterday he is aware of about 30 supporters of the Free National Movement who voted illegally in the Elizabeth by-election. Christie also warned the prime minister about making comments he claimed were intimidating to the five people who voted on protest ballots in favor of the PLP's candidate Ryan Pinder last Tuesday.
"When the prime minister (Hubert Ingraham) speaks about having a list of people who voted illegally, listen, my list is probably 30 right now, without my having made an effort, of FNMs who voted illegally in there," said Christie at a news conference yesterday at PLP headquarters.
Christie acknowledged that it is necessary for the leaders of both major parties to come together to work on improving the rules that govern elections in The Bahamas.
The Elizabeth by-election was the first major test for the Parliamentary Registration Department since the justices of the Election Court said in a ruling that the Pinewood case had exposed "the most egregious failures in the parliamentary system."
That ruling was handed down nearly two years ago by Senior Justice Anita Allen and now Senior Justice Jon Isaacs.
At the time of the controversial Pinewood matter, the judges said, "The parliamentary commissioner failed, for whatever reason, to ensure the integrity of the registration process in Pinewood."
In their 2008 ruling, Allen and Isaacs said it was startling that Senator Allyson Maynard-Gibson (the petitioner) and Pinewood MP Byran Woodside were forced to concede that 85 of 183 votes challenged were unlawful votes.
"Perhaps the time is appropriate for the parliamentary commissioner to comprehensively examine the practices and procedures of the Parliamentary Registration Department with a view to ensuring that what we saw in Pinewood does not re-occur because it threatens to undermine the fundamental basis of our parliamentary democracy," the ruling said.
Despite the ruling, there have been no amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act, and no major reforms of the election process in the country.
Consequently, both parties have alleged serious improprieties concerning the Elizabeth by-election.
Pinder received 1,499 regular votes to the 1,501 votes FNM candidate Dr. Duane Sands received. However, Pinder would have a total of 1,504 votes, as compared to Sands' 1,501 votes, if the five protest votes for Pinder are allowed.
At a news conference at FNM Headquarters on Sunday, the prime minister said those protest votes would be seriously scrutinized in the Election Court.
"At the end of the day, the court will make a decision. If these persons turn out to be persons that committed perjury or who lied, then there are laws to deal with that. So each of these persons will have to make their own decision on what they want to do. Let go, let be or expose yourself to the other place," said Ingraham, making a clear reference to Her Majesty's Prison.
"In the other place, you go there by yourself, no one goes with you. It's a very lonely place to be."
Christie perceived those comments as a form of voter intimidation by the prime minister.
"The prime minister should not seek to intimidate these people and suggest that because they spoke up for their rights that somehow they are breaking the law. We are concerned about this because it is a continuation of a pattern of intimidation by the Free National Movement and the prime minister," he said.
"I warned about his intimidation during the campaign. I am seriously concerned about the identification of the FNM with a thug culture that appears to dominate what they do in politics. There is no respect for the most basic and elemental aspects of the law and fair play."
While Ingraham said he has hard evidence that four out of the five protest voters were not eligible to vote in the by-election, Christie was confident that the PLP would receive enough protest votes for Pinder to become the Elizabeth MP.
Pinder needs at least three protest votes declared valid to win the seat. If he secures two, a tie would result and a reelection would take place.
"...Going to the Election Court in the circumstances that have now arisen is all about making sure that the way the people of Elizabeth did in fact vote on February 16th is reflected in the final declared result," Christie said.
The PLP leader said that in most instances, the protested voters lived in the constituency for long periods.
"They also say they had been duly registered to vote in Elizabeth," he said. "In fact, they had proper voter's cards."
Their names had been left off the Register of Voters, claimed Christie.
February 23, 2010
thenassauguardian
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