By Krystel Rolle ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:
Progressive Liberal Party Leader Perry Christie said yesterday he is satisfied that Ryan Pinder did what he needed to do in order to be qualified to offer himself in the Elizabeth by-election last Tuesday and challenged the Free National Movement to prove otherwise in court.
Christie was responding to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham's announcement that the Free National Movement will raise the question of whether Pinder was in fact qualified in the first place to run as a candidate in the recent poll.
"For the prime minister to raise that issue tells me that he knows that we are going to win that Election Court case," said Christie during a news conference at the PLP's headquarters.
"I'm comforted by the fact that by raising that question, Ingraham knows that. At all material times the prime minister must be aware of the fact that not only he has intelligence; that we understand the issues that affect our candidate and we accept the assurance that [he is a] Bahamian citizen and otherwise fully qualified to offer himself for the by-election for Elizabeth. So when Ryan Pinder went forth, we were satisfied on the basis of all assurances that he was qualified — a qualified candidate to be elected and serve in the Elizabeth constituency."
Christie added: "Now since the prime minister wants to raise it, I just want to go on the principle of law: He who asserts must prove and we leave it to him to make his application and to present his proof."
The Progressive Liberal Party has announced its intention to go to court for the court to decide on five protest votes cast in Pinder's favor during last week's by-election in Elizabeth. The two-day recounted ended with Pinder receiving 1,499 votes to the 1,501 votes that FNM candidate Dr. Duane Sands received.
No winner has been certified, however, as the five PLP protest votes could still impact the outcome of the race, should the court rule them to be valid.
During his party's news conference on Sunday, Ingraham said the FNM would raise the issue of Pinder's qualifications as a preliminary matter.
"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."
Ingraham noted that there is nothing wrong with Bahamian citizens who possess citizenship of another country to run for office in The Bahamas. However, the prime minister added that someone who takes advantage of his citizenship of another country — by voting, working and benefiting from special university rates — is a different story altogether.
"If you've done that, then you need to get rid of that citizenship before you nominate and certainly before you are elected," he said.
February 23, 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, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Need for election reform
tribune242.com editorial:
PLP Leader Perry Christie has called for election reform, accusing FNM operatives of conducting an unethical by-election in the Elizabeth campaign. He said it was a campaign filled with promises of jobs and offering incentives to voters in exchange for their support.
A seasoned parliamentarian of 30 years, Mr Christie condemned the by-election as "the worst" he had "ever seen it" in terms of allegations that members of the FNM were using their government clout to sway voters. He claimed that on the eve of the by-election, a PLP supporter told him that her daughter had been offered a job by an FNM member, presumably to influence her vote.
Up to Monday, said Mr Christie --the election was on Tuesday-- "government was giving people jobs with a clear intention of influencing the vote. That's not proper, ethical or fair."
At present he said too much was happening "below the radar", elections had to be more transparent. What goes on now is just "not fair," he said.
It would seem that the Opposition leader believes his party has patented election practices that are "below the radar" and that at no election should they be imitated, particularly if it means a defeat for the PLP.
This observation does not mean that we condone unfair electoral practices or that there should not be electoral reform. It is just that it seems ironic that such a complaint should come from the leader of the PLP, a party that in the past 43 years has honed unfair election practices into a fine art.
Let's go back three years to 2007.
Mr Christie, PLP leader, was then the Prime Minister. His first -- and only -- five-year term ended that year and an election was called for May 2, 2007.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham was then the leader of the FNM and headed the official Opposition.
During the 2007 election campaign the FNM also accused the PLP of many unfair practices.
For example, police, Defence Force officers and public administrators always vote before the general public. The day they voted in the 2007 election was government pay day. One police officer told The Tribune that before voting he checked his bank account. He discovered that an extra $150 had been added to his salary. This extra was his pension that had been suspended. He said senior officers also received a lump sum as their pension payment.
It was understood at the time that retired officers on pension, who had returned to the force could not receive both salary and pension while they continued to serve. Their pensions were, therefore, suspended during this working period. However, two weeks before they were to vote they were told that the pension suspension had been lifted. They were paid both their salaries and their pensions on the day they voted.
It was also rumoured that certain government contracts were being hurriedly signed for five-year periods to secure jobs for PLP favourites should the Christie government lose the 2007 election.
About a month before the election it was reported that hundreds of temporary workers had been added to government's payroll.
Civil servants are banned from campaigning for either side during an election, but during the 2007 election -- as in most elections before it --reports were coming into The Tribune from Eleuthera that not only were civil servants campaigning, but they were using government vehicles to do so. The FNM candidate for North Eleuthera complained to the Parliamentary Registrar General Errol Bethel that the North Eleuthera administrator, who was also the assistant returning officer for the 2007 election, was openly campaigning for the PLP candidate.
In the three weeks leading up to the 2007 election, Bahamians were talking about vote buying, intimidation, threats of loss of jobs, pensions and even government housing if they failed to vote PLP.
And where was Mr Christie in the June 19, 1987 Crooked Island by-election that he can honestly say today that the Elizabeth by-election was the worst he had ever seen in terms of allegations that members of the FNM were using their government clout to sway voters? What was the late Sir Lynden Pindling doing when he ordered his whole Cabinet to descend on that isolated constituency, backed up by a Defence Force boat circling the island as further intimidation in the late Basil Kelly's 1987 by-election?
In a four-and-a-half page type written report of that by-election, Mr Kelly said that in one small settlement the mailboat landed an estimated $2,000 to $3,000 worth of groceries. The groceries were issued before the election, $50 worth to every voter. The voters were told that if the PLP got 30 votes or more out of that settlement, they would not have to pay the grocery bill.
Mr Kelly said that this particular settlement was the most isolated in the whole district. They were also told that if the PLP did not get their 30 votes the people's mail boat service would be taken away. The settlement was expected to go 50-50 -- half FNM, half PLP. In the end the district voted 16 FNM, 30 PLP.
If Mr Christie in fact believes that Elizabeth was the worst he has seen then maybe we should continue this discussion in this column tomorrow with quotes from Mr Kelly's report. Surely we can't let our Opposition leader remain uninformed.
February 22, 2010
tribune242
PLP Leader Perry Christie has called for election reform, accusing FNM operatives of conducting an unethical by-election in the Elizabeth campaign. He said it was a campaign filled with promises of jobs and offering incentives to voters in exchange for their support.
A seasoned parliamentarian of 30 years, Mr Christie condemned the by-election as "the worst" he had "ever seen it" in terms of allegations that members of the FNM were using their government clout to sway voters. He claimed that on the eve of the by-election, a PLP supporter told him that her daughter had been offered a job by an FNM member, presumably to influence her vote.
Up to Monday, said Mr Christie --the election was on Tuesday-- "government was giving people jobs with a clear intention of influencing the vote. That's not proper, ethical or fair."
At present he said too much was happening "below the radar", elections had to be more transparent. What goes on now is just "not fair," he said.
It would seem that the Opposition leader believes his party has patented election practices that are "below the radar" and that at no election should they be imitated, particularly if it means a defeat for the PLP.
This observation does not mean that we condone unfair electoral practices or that there should not be electoral reform. It is just that it seems ironic that such a complaint should come from the leader of the PLP, a party that in the past 43 years has honed unfair election practices into a fine art.
Let's go back three years to 2007.
Mr Christie, PLP leader, was then the Prime Minister. His first -- and only -- five-year term ended that year and an election was called for May 2, 2007.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham was then the leader of the FNM and headed the official Opposition.
During the 2007 election campaign the FNM also accused the PLP of many unfair practices.
For example, police, Defence Force officers and public administrators always vote before the general public. The day they voted in the 2007 election was government pay day. One police officer told The Tribune that before voting he checked his bank account. He discovered that an extra $150 had been added to his salary. This extra was his pension that had been suspended. He said senior officers also received a lump sum as their pension payment.
It was understood at the time that retired officers on pension, who had returned to the force could not receive both salary and pension while they continued to serve. Their pensions were, therefore, suspended during this working period. However, two weeks before they were to vote they were told that the pension suspension had been lifted. They were paid both their salaries and their pensions on the day they voted.
It was also rumoured that certain government contracts were being hurriedly signed for five-year periods to secure jobs for PLP favourites should the Christie government lose the 2007 election.
About a month before the election it was reported that hundreds of temporary workers had been added to government's payroll.
Civil servants are banned from campaigning for either side during an election, but during the 2007 election -- as in most elections before it --reports were coming into The Tribune from Eleuthera that not only were civil servants campaigning, but they were using government vehicles to do so. The FNM candidate for North Eleuthera complained to the Parliamentary Registrar General Errol Bethel that the North Eleuthera administrator, who was also the assistant returning officer for the 2007 election, was openly campaigning for the PLP candidate.
In the three weeks leading up to the 2007 election, Bahamians were talking about vote buying, intimidation, threats of loss of jobs, pensions and even government housing if they failed to vote PLP.
And where was Mr Christie in the June 19, 1987 Crooked Island by-election that he can honestly say today that the Elizabeth by-election was the worst he had ever seen in terms of allegations that members of the FNM were using their government clout to sway voters? What was the late Sir Lynden Pindling doing when he ordered his whole Cabinet to descend on that isolated constituency, backed up by a Defence Force boat circling the island as further intimidation in the late Basil Kelly's 1987 by-election?
In a four-and-a-half page type written report of that by-election, Mr Kelly said that in one small settlement the mailboat landed an estimated $2,000 to $3,000 worth of groceries. The groceries were issued before the election, $50 worth to every voter. The voters were told that if the PLP got 30 votes or more out of that settlement, they would not have to pay the grocery bill.
Mr Kelly said that this particular settlement was the most isolated in the whole district. They were also told that if the PLP did not get their 30 votes the people's mail boat service would be taken away. The settlement was expected to go 50-50 -- half FNM, half PLP. In the end the district voted 16 FNM, 30 PLP.
If Mr Christie in fact believes that Elizabeth was the worst he has seen then maybe we should continue this discussion in this column tomorrow with quotes from Mr Kelly's report. Surely we can't let our Opposition leader remain uninformed.
February 22, 2010
tribune242
Ryan Pinder faces challenge on citizenship issue
By Candia Dames ~ Guardian News Editor ~ candia@nasguard.com:
As far as Ryan Pinder sees it, the matter of his U.S. citizenship — which he announced he has renounced — is a non-issue.
But when the Elizabeth Election Court challenge commences, the Free National Movement plans to raise the question of whether he was in fact qualified in the first place to run as a candidate in the recent poll.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who leads the FNM, confirmed this intention at a press conference at the party's headquarters yesterday.
"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 Progressive Liberal Party has announced its intention to go to court for the court to decide on five protest votes cast in Pinder's favor during last week's by-election in Elizabeth. At the end of the recount early Friday, Sands was ahead by two votes and during yesterday's press conference was repeatedly referred to as the member of Parliament-elect for Elizabeth.
No winner has been certified, however, as the protest votes could still impact the outcome of the race, should the court rule them to be valid.
The prime minister said yesterday it is very important for the process for the court to know upfront that each person who is before it is qualified to be there.
"There's nothing wrong with him (Pinder) or anybody else being a citizen and running for office," Ingraham explained. "Just being a citizen is not an offense by itself because any of our children could be born in America and grow up in The Bahamas, and live here and never take advantage of their American citizenship. That would not disqualify them from running for office."
But the prime minister said someone who takes advantage of his American citizenship — by voting, working and benefiting from special university rates — is a different story altogether.
"If you've done that, then you need to get rid of that citizenship before you nominate and certainly before you are elected," he said.
"But if you didn't do that before you nominated then your nomination is a nullity, null and void, of no use. And that certainly will be a preliminary point that the FNM side will put forward to Mr. Ryan Pinder."
During the campaign for Elizabeth, Pinder repeatedly faced questions about his dual citizenship. One week before the election, he announced that he renounced his U.S. citizenship, but insisted it had nothing to do with politics.
At a Free National Movement rally the night before the election, the issue was again raised, this time by Mount Moriah MP and National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest, who pointed out to the nation that Pinder never voted in an election in The Bahamas.
"In fact, Leo Ryan Pinder only registered in The Bahamas for the very first time in his life in October 2008," Turnquest said.
"He has never voted in The Bahamas before; 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. He has only voted where he is a citizen and where he was interested in the affairs of that country. He has only voted in the USA and never in The Bahamas. Is this someone you want to try Elizabeth?"
Pinder told The Nassau Guardian last week Monday that the reason why his name still appears on the U.S. voter register is that that register is only updated during election time.
"My U.S. citizenship is not an issue and renunciation is not an issue in this campaign," Pinder said. "I am focused on the good people of Elizabeth, addressing their issues and concerns as the representative and I will not be brought down into the personal attacks that the Free National Movement has found themselves involved in."
Februray 22, 2010
thenassauguardian
As far as Ryan Pinder sees it, the matter of his U.S. citizenship — which he announced he has renounced — is a non-issue.
But when the Elizabeth Election Court challenge commences, the Free National Movement plans to raise the question of whether he was in fact qualified in the first place to run as a candidate in the recent poll.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who leads the FNM, confirmed this intention at a press conference at the party's headquarters yesterday.
"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 Progressive Liberal Party has announced its intention to go to court for the court to decide on five protest votes cast in Pinder's favor during last week's by-election in Elizabeth. At the end of the recount early Friday, Sands was ahead by two votes and during yesterday's press conference was repeatedly referred to as the member of Parliament-elect for Elizabeth.
No winner has been certified, however, as the protest votes could still impact the outcome of the race, should the court rule them to be valid.
The prime minister said yesterday it is very important for the process for the court to know upfront that each person who is before it is qualified to be there.
"There's nothing wrong with him (Pinder) or anybody else being a citizen and running for office," Ingraham explained. "Just being a citizen is not an offense by itself because any of our children could be born in America and grow up in The Bahamas, and live here and never take advantage of their American citizenship. That would not disqualify them from running for office."
But the prime minister said someone who takes advantage of his American citizenship — by voting, working and benefiting from special university rates — is a different story altogether.
"If you've done that, then you need to get rid of that citizenship before you nominate and certainly before you are elected," he said.
"But if you didn't do that before you nominated then your nomination is a nullity, null and void, of no use. And that certainly will be a preliminary point that the FNM side will put forward to Mr. Ryan Pinder."
During the campaign for Elizabeth, Pinder repeatedly faced questions about his dual citizenship. One week before the election, he announced that he renounced his U.S. citizenship, but insisted it had nothing to do with politics.
At a Free National Movement rally the night before the election, the issue was again raised, this time by Mount Moriah MP and National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest, who pointed out to the nation that Pinder never voted in an election in The Bahamas.
"In fact, Leo Ryan Pinder only registered in The Bahamas for the very first time in his life in October 2008," Turnquest said.
"He has never voted in The Bahamas before; 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. He has only voted where he is a citizen and where he was interested in the affairs of that country. He has only voted in the USA and never in The Bahamas. Is this someone you want to try Elizabeth?"
Pinder told The Nassau Guardian last week Monday that the reason why his name still appears on the U.S. voter register is that that register is only updated during election time.
"My U.S. citizenship is not an issue and renunciation is not an issue in this campaign," Pinder said. "I am focused on the good people of Elizabeth, addressing their issues and concerns as the representative and I will not be brought down into the personal attacks that the Free National Movement has found themselves involved in."
Februray 22, 2010
thenassauguardian
Elizabeth by-election: FNM wants PLP to put up security for Election Court costs
By Candia Dames ~ Guardian News Editor ~ candia@nasguard.com:
The Free National Movement will seek the agreement of the Election Court for the Progressive Liberal Party to be required to put up security for costs, so that if the PLP loses the pending Elizabeth challenge, there would be money to meet its obligation to pay, FNM leader Hubert Ingraham announced yesterday at his first news conference after the hotly-contested by-election.
Ingraham stressed that the FNM fully expects the PLP to lose in court.
"The elites in the PLP seem to prefer court cases over the expressed will of the people," he said.
"It is not enough to talk about the ideals of democracy. A responsible and democratic government is charged with putting in place the measures which help to protect these ideals."
The PLP is preparing to mount an Election Court challenge after a grueling two-day recount resulted in its candidate, Ryan Pinder, receiving 1,499 votes to the 1,501 votes secured by Dr. Duane Sands, the FNM's candidate.
Pinder also got five protest votes that could still impact the outcome of the election, but Ingraham said the FNM has evidence that at least four of the people who voted on colored ballots had no entitlement to vote.
According to Ingraham, the PLP has long found it difficult to accept the will of the people expressed on election day.
"They like to go to court; but they are only satisfied when the court finds in their favor," he told the media and FNM supporters gathered at the party's headquarters on Mackey Street.
He noted that following the 2007 general election the PLP mounted a series of challenges in Election Court that proved unsuccessful.
"All were unnecessary — in Pinewood, in Marco City, and in Blue Hills," Ingraham said. "In none of those cases have the PLP paid the Election Court costs. Not one. This is par for the course.
"It is also part of an entitlement mentality by the PLP that the standards of fair play, common decency and abiding by the rules apply to everyone but themselves. In their minds the decisions of our national institutions may be circumvented or ignored if they are not in keeping with the self-interests of the PLP."
Ingraham reminded that the PLP owes ZNS $236,000.
He said had The Nassau Guardian not exposed this information recently, he would not have discussed it publicly.
"I would have sought to cajole to persuade them to pay, but now it looks like we've got to shame them to pay," Ingraham said.
This amount was incurred by the PLP over two and a half years ago at the last general election, he said.
"Ironically, the money still owed to ZNS is mostly a result of the television broadcast of rallies, which ignored longstanding broadcast rules which the PLP ignored and unilaterally broke," Ingraham charged.
"Further, despite not paying their general election bill they felt they were entitled to more time on ZNS during the Elizabeth by-election. With the extraordinary amount of funds the PLP spent in Elizabeth, they had more than enough funds to pay their other legal debts inclusive of sums owed Bahamasair. That they refused to do so is indicative of their mindset.
"Not paying their court costs and failing to pay ZNS and Bahamasair is a clear abuse of our national institutions. It sends the wrong example on many levels. The PLP are happy to take advantage of these institutions. But they refuse to abide by their decisions as and when it suits their purposes."
Ingraham claimed that the PLP had much more money than the FNM to spend during the Elizabeth by-election campaign and did so.
Ingraham also said when he became leader of the FNM in 1990, one of the early matters that he had to address was the settlement of costs for Election Court challenges mounted by the FNM following the 1987 general election.
"We raised the money and paid the $750,000 costs awarded against us by the court. We did so before the 1992 elections. We paid the monies to Nottage, Miller & Co., their legal representatives," Ingraham said.
"When the courts found in the government's favor on matters involving Sir Lynden Pindling (the now deceased former prime minister), Darrell Rolle and Philip Bethel (former PLP ministers) we, in the FNM government did not hound them to pay because we did not believe that the government should pursue people into bankruptcy."
Ingraham added, "When Sir Lynden Pindling was sued by Sir Kendal Isaacs (former FNM leader) on a matter concerning public disclosure, Sir Lynden insisted that he pay the $100,000 assessed by the courts. I never tire of saying that we are different from them; distinctly different."
He noted that in 2007 the FNM mounted a challenge against the PLP's victory in MICAL and lost.
"We paid costs of almost $225,000 to Davis & Co., the PLP's legal representatives. As a party, we take ownership and responsibility for our Election Court cases," Ingraham said.
"The PLP takes ownership and responsibility for nothing. When they lose an election case, they claim that the individual took the case to Election Court, not the party, and they pay nothing; ignore the debt.
In their world they never lose, cannot lose: The voters make mistakes, the parliamentary commissioner is inefficient, the FNM steals elections and the courts are in error."
Ingraham pointed out that in the case of the 2007 Marco City challenge, the Election Court assessed costs at $1 million.
"They have not paid a red nickel. We have not yet assessed the costs for Pinewood and Blue Hills; be assured however, we will do so," Ingraham said.
"They have a new mantra now. When they lose, they declare victory, tell their supporters that the election isn't over yet; send their operatives to all the radio stations to spill their vile mistruths and half-truths. They drag their matters on for as long as possible, hoping that somehow they will be able to reverse the decision made by the people on election day.
"They did this in 2007 and for more than a year held out to their supporters that victory was just around the corner. They did this cynically because they knew they had lost the 2007 general election fair and square. They knew they were wasting the Election Court's time when attention ought to have been given to serving the people."
Ingraham said the PLP appears now to be on the verge of "this same self-serving, delaying tactic" following the Elizabeth by-election.
"This is not the behavior of democrats," he said.
"Instead, it is the behavior of a PLP elite who manipulate our political system for their own self-aggrandizement and personal benefit. In other words, rather than serving our democratic institutions, the PLP mostly seek to have these institutions serve their personal needs and agendas."
Februray 22, 2010
thenassauguardian
The Free National Movement will seek the agreement of the Election Court for the Progressive Liberal Party to be required to put up security for costs, so that if the PLP loses the pending Elizabeth challenge, there would be money to meet its obligation to pay, FNM leader Hubert Ingraham announced yesterday at his first news conference after the hotly-contested by-election.
Ingraham stressed that the FNM fully expects the PLP to lose in court.
"The elites in the PLP seem to prefer court cases over the expressed will of the people," he said.
"It is not enough to talk about the ideals of democracy. A responsible and democratic government is charged with putting in place the measures which help to protect these ideals."
The PLP is preparing to mount an Election Court challenge after a grueling two-day recount resulted in its candidate, Ryan Pinder, receiving 1,499 votes to the 1,501 votes secured by Dr. Duane Sands, the FNM's candidate.
Pinder also got five protest votes that could still impact the outcome of the election, but Ingraham said the FNM has evidence that at least four of the people who voted on colored ballots had no entitlement to vote.
According to Ingraham, the PLP has long found it difficult to accept the will of the people expressed on election day.
"They like to go to court; but they are only satisfied when the court finds in their favor," he told the media and FNM supporters gathered at the party's headquarters on Mackey Street.
He noted that following the 2007 general election the PLP mounted a series of challenges in Election Court that proved unsuccessful.
"All were unnecessary — in Pinewood, in Marco City, and in Blue Hills," Ingraham said. "In none of those cases have the PLP paid the Election Court costs. Not one. This is par for the course.
"It is also part of an entitlement mentality by the PLP that the standards of fair play, common decency and abiding by the rules apply to everyone but themselves. In their minds the decisions of our national institutions may be circumvented or ignored if they are not in keeping with the self-interests of the PLP."
Ingraham reminded that the PLP owes ZNS $236,000.
He said had The Nassau Guardian not exposed this information recently, he would not have discussed it publicly.
"I would have sought to cajole to persuade them to pay, but now it looks like we've got to shame them to pay," Ingraham said.
This amount was incurred by the PLP over two and a half years ago at the last general election, he said.
"Ironically, the money still owed to ZNS is mostly a result of the television broadcast of rallies, which ignored longstanding broadcast rules which the PLP ignored and unilaterally broke," Ingraham charged.
"Further, despite not paying their general election bill they felt they were entitled to more time on ZNS during the Elizabeth by-election. With the extraordinary amount of funds the PLP spent in Elizabeth, they had more than enough funds to pay their other legal debts inclusive of sums owed Bahamasair. That they refused to do so is indicative of their mindset.
"Not paying their court costs and failing to pay ZNS and Bahamasair is a clear abuse of our national institutions. It sends the wrong example on many levels. The PLP are happy to take advantage of these institutions. But they refuse to abide by their decisions as and when it suits their purposes."
Ingraham claimed that the PLP had much more money than the FNM to spend during the Elizabeth by-election campaign and did so.
Ingraham also said when he became leader of the FNM in 1990, one of the early matters that he had to address was the settlement of costs for Election Court challenges mounted by the FNM following the 1987 general election.
"We raised the money and paid the $750,000 costs awarded against us by the court. We did so before the 1992 elections. We paid the monies to Nottage, Miller & Co., their legal representatives," Ingraham said.
"When the courts found in the government's favor on matters involving Sir Lynden Pindling (the now deceased former prime minister), Darrell Rolle and Philip Bethel (former PLP ministers) we, in the FNM government did not hound them to pay because we did not believe that the government should pursue people into bankruptcy."
Ingraham added, "When Sir Lynden Pindling was sued by Sir Kendal Isaacs (former FNM leader) on a matter concerning public disclosure, Sir Lynden insisted that he pay the $100,000 assessed by the courts. I never tire of saying that we are different from them; distinctly different."
He noted that in 2007 the FNM mounted a challenge against the PLP's victory in MICAL and lost.
"We paid costs of almost $225,000 to Davis & Co., the PLP's legal representatives. As a party, we take ownership and responsibility for our Election Court cases," Ingraham said.
"The PLP takes ownership and responsibility for nothing. When they lose an election case, they claim that the individual took the case to Election Court, not the party, and they pay nothing; ignore the debt.
In their world they never lose, cannot lose: The voters make mistakes, the parliamentary commissioner is inefficient, the FNM steals elections and the courts are in error."
Ingraham pointed out that in the case of the 2007 Marco City challenge, the Election Court assessed costs at $1 million.
"They have not paid a red nickel. We have not yet assessed the costs for Pinewood and Blue Hills; be assured however, we will do so," Ingraham said.
"They have a new mantra now. When they lose, they declare victory, tell their supporters that the election isn't over yet; send their operatives to all the radio stations to spill their vile mistruths and half-truths. They drag their matters on for as long as possible, hoping that somehow they will be able to reverse the decision made by the people on election day.
"They did this in 2007 and for more than a year held out to their supporters that victory was just around the corner. They did this cynically because they knew they had lost the 2007 general election fair and square. They knew they were wasting the Election Court's time when attention ought to have been given to serving the people."
Ingraham said the PLP appears now to be on the verge of "this same self-serving, delaying tactic" following the Elizabeth by-election.
"This is not the behavior of democrats," he said.
"Instead, it is the behavior of a PLP elite who manipulate our political system for their own self-aggrandizement and personal benefit. In other words, rather than serving our democratic institutions, the PLP mostly seek to have these institutions serve their personal needs and agendas."
Februray 22, 2010
thenassauguardian
Elizabeth by-election: Many illegal votes cast says Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham
By Krystel Rolle ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:
Many people voted illegally in the Elizabeth by-election last Tuesday, according to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who indicated yesterday that the Free National Movement would wage an all-out war to secure victory, and fully expects to win the looming Election Court challenge.
"...We were also surprised by a number of persons who voted who shouldn't have voted," said Ingraham during a press conference yesterday at the FNM headquarters on Mackey Street.
"We didn't have sufficient information on that day (by-election day) to challenge them. We challenged many of them, however; and should the matter go to the Election Court, we believe that there are large numbers of persons whose votes would be liable to be declared void."
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is preparing to mount an Election Court challenge after a two-day recount ended with its candidate, Ryan Pinder, receiving 1,499 votes to the 1,501 votes that FNM candidate Dr. Duane Sands received.
Pinder also got five protest votes that could still impact the outcome of the election.
Protest votes are those votes that were cast on a colored ballot paper because the presiding officer was not satisfied as to the identity of the voter or as to his entitlement to vote because of a defect in the voter's card; an incorrect entry in the register; or the voter had a voter's card but his name did not appear in the register for the constituency or the particular polling division.
Although the person is still allowed to vote, it is not counted, but if the protest votes could materially affect the outcome of an election, a court may make a final determination.
PLP trustee and attorney Valentine Grimes pointed out last week that if the protest votes are added to Pinder's tally after the election challenge, Pinder would have a total of 1,504 votes as compared to Sands' 1,501 votes, and therefore would be declared the winner.
However, Ingraham said the FNM is not worried about those protest votes.
He also claimed that corruption and voter fraud were high in the Elizabeth constituency.
"I wouldn't dare burden my supporters with what I know," he said.
Ingraham hinted that the FNM has developed a three-pronged plan to ensure that it secures a victory.
"The FNM expects to win what the PLP is taking to court so we don't need to consider any further steps. We challenged those five voters. In the case of four of them, we have very good evidence that they had no entitlement whatsoever to vote," said Ingraham, who is also the leader of the FNM.
He later added, "The PLP can't go to court and succeed unless those five persons also show up to court. They have to come themselves and we call upon them to come and take that Bible in their hand and swear an oath [indicating] their qualifications to vote in Elizabeth, then be cross-examined by the FNM team of lawyers."
Ingraham added that each of the five candidates in the election would also have the option to question each one of the protested voters and cross-examine them.
"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," he warned.
"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."
In addition to protesting five of the votes, the FNM also challenged a number of votes for various reasons. The votes of people who were challenged were counted in the final tally. The PLP also challenged a number of votes.
Asked yesterday how many votes the FNM challenged, Ingraham said that would be revealed in "phase three" of the Election Court challenge.
"Quite a few people were challenged — many people voted who do not live in Elizabeth. We never believed that there were [nearly] 5,000 people eligible to vote in Elizabeth," Ingraham said.
"The register said 4,943. We never believed that. In the last election [nearly 4,000] persons voted. We don't believe that the constituency has many more than that today."
He said the FNM found numerous empty apartments where no one lives.
Given that, Ingraham said voter turnout was probably around 75 percent.
Throughout the news conference, Sands was referred to as the member of Parliament-elect for the Elizabeth constituency. He also referred to himself that way.
"The results from the February 16th poll declared Dr. Duane Sands of the FNM the winner of the poll and hence the Elizabeth constituency MP-elect," said Ingraham.
"We are confident that once that process (if it is in fact undertaken) is completed that Dr. Duane Sands will once again be declared the winner of the February 16th poll. We will ensure that the intentions of the majority of those eligible to vote in the Elizabeth by-election are honored and upheld."
Ingraham added that the people of Elizabeth are entitled to and deserve full representation in the House of Assembly.
Unnecessary delays in the certification processes fail to honor both the spirit and the rules of our democratic traditions. The voice of Elizabeth must and will be fully heard in Parliament as soon as possible.
"In short, it is only a matter of time before Dr. Sands is certified as the member of Parliament for Elizabeth," Ingraham said. "He and the FNM won the election fair and square."
Sands, who briefly addressed supporters, said he is proud to be the member-elect for Elizabeth.
He thanked his supporters yesterday, and pledged to serve all the people in the constituency with the same passion that he brought to the campaign.
Sands said after the election results are certified, he would look forward for other opportunities to thank the people of Elizabeth.
Ingraham urged all FNM supporters to remain patient and calm. He told them to conduct themselves with dignity and good cheer as the rule of law is followed.
"Do not be provoked," he cautioned, adding that the FNM will remain focused throughout the next stages of this process.
"Finally, I urge all of those in political office and those engaged in party politics to refrain from any actions or irresponsible and intemperate language which may inflame passions," said the FNM leader.
"Our democracy has the procedures, rules and laws necessary to properly adjudicate the electoral matter at hand."
Februray 22, 2010
thenassauguardian
Many people voted illegally in the Elizabeth by-election last Tuesday, according to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who indicated yesterday that the Free National Movement would wage an all-out war to secure victory, and fully expects to win the looming Election Court challenge.
"...We were also surprised by a number of persons who voted who shouldn't have voted," said Ingraham during a press conference yesterday at the FNM headquarters on Mackey Street.
"We didn't have sufficient information on that day (by-election day) to challenge them. We challenged many of them, however; and should the matter go to the Election Court, we believe that there are large numbers of persons whose votes would be liable to be declared void."
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is preparing to mount an Election Court challenge after a two-day recount ended with its candidate, Ryan Pinder, receiving 1,499 votes to the 1,501 votes that FNM candidate Dr. Duane Sands received.
Pinder also got five protest votes that could still impact the outcome of the election.
Protest votes are those votes that were cast on a colored ballot paper because the presiding officer was not satisfied as to the identity of the voter or as to his entitlement to vote because of a defect in the voter's card; an incorrect entry in the register; or the voter had a voter's card but his name did not appear in the register for the constituency or the particular polling division.
Although the person is still allowed to vote, it is not counted, but if the protest votes could materially affect the outcome of an election, a court may make a final determination.
PLP trustee and attorney Valentine Grimes pointed out last week that if the protest votes are added to Pinder's tally after the election challenge, Pinder would have a total of 1,504 votes as compared to Sands' 1,501 votes, and therefore would be declared the winner.
However, Ingraham said the FNM is not worried about those protest votes.
He also claimed that corruption and voter fraud were high in the Elizabeth constituency.
"I wouldn't dare burden my supporters with what I know," he said.
Ingraham hinted that the FNM has developed a three-pronged plan to ensure that it secures a victory.
"The FNM expects to win what the PLP is taking to court so we don't need to consider any further steps. We challenged those five voters. In the case of four of them, we have very good evidence that they had no entitlement whatsoever to vote," said Ingraham, who is also the leader of the FNM.
He later added, "The PLP can't go to court and succeed unless those five persons also show up to court. They have to come themselves and we call upon them to come and take that Bible in their hand and swear an oath [indicating] their qualifications to vote in Elizabeth, then be cross-examined by the FNM team of lawyers."
Ingraham added that each of the five candidates in the election would also have the option to question each one of the protested voters and cross-examine them.
"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," he warned.
"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."
In addition to protesting five of the votes, the FNM also challenged a number of votes for various reasons. The votes of people who were challenged were counted in the final tally. The PLP also challenged a number of votes.
Asked yesterday how many votes the FNM challenged, Ingraham said that would be revealed in "phase three" of the Election Court challenge.
"Quite a few people were challenged — many people voted who do not live in Elizabeth. We never believed that there were [nearly] 5,000 people eligible to vote in Elizabeth," Ingraham said.
"The register said 4,943. We never believed that. In the last election [nearly 4,000] persons voted. We don't believe that the constituency has many more than that today."
He said the FNM found numerous empty apartments where no one lives.
Given that, Ingraham said voter turnout was probably around 75 percent.
Throughout the news conference, Sands was referred to as the member of Parliament-elect for the Elizabeth constituency. He also referred to himself that way.
"The results from the February 16th poll declared Dr. Duane Sands of the FNM the winner of the poll and hence the Elizabeth constituency MP-elect," said Ingraham.
"We are confident that once that process (if it is in fact undertaken) is completed that Dr. Duane Sands will once again be declared the winner of the February 16th poll. We will ensure that the intentions of the majority of those eligible to vote in the Elizabeth by-election are honored and upheld."
Ingraham added that the people of Elizabeth are entitled to and deserve full representation in the House of Assembly.
Unnecessary delays in the certification processes fail to honor both the spirit and the rules of our democratic traditions. The voice of Elizabeth must and will be fully heard in Parliament as soon as possible.
"In short, it is only a matter of time before Dr. Sands is certified as the member of Parliament for Elizabeth," Ingraham said. "He and the FNM won the election fair and square."
Sands, who briefly addressed supporters, said he is proud to be the member-elect for Elizabeth.
He thanked his supporters yesterday, and pledged to serve all the people in the constituency with the same passion that he brought to the campaign.
Sands said after the election results are certified, he would look forward for other opportunities to thank the people of Elizabeth.
Ingraham urged all FNM supporters to remain patient and calm. He told them to conduct themselves with dignity and good cheer as the rule of law is followed.
"Do not be provoked," he cautioned, adding that the FNM will remain focused throughout the next stages of this process.
"Finally, I urge all of those in political office and those engaged in party politics to refrain from any actions or irresponsible and intemperate language which may inflame passions," said the FNM leader.
"Our democracy has the procedures, rules and laws necessary to properly adjudicate the electoral matter at hand."
Februray 22, 2010
thenassauguardian
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Dr. Duane Sands Dissatisfied With Elizabeth by-election Results
BY KENDENO N. KNOWLES:
He was declared the unofficial winner of the much anticipated and hotly contested Elizabeth by-election, but Free National Movement (FNM) candidate Dr. Duane Sands only won the election by one point – almost 300 votes less than Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham had previously predicted.
Dr. Sands admitted last night that he was not too happy with the way things went at the polls.
Slightly disappointed with the close finish at the polls, the FNM candidate said the results have left him with a bit of uncertainty.
"It is not the type of feeling that I would have hoped to have had at this point. I imagine that [Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate] Ryan Pinder is feeling similarly and that is almost unsure of what [Wednesday] is going to bring," Dr. Sands said.
While uncertainty looms about who the official winner is up to this point, Dr. Sands said he feels that he is more or less in a better position that Mr. Pinder.
"I prefer, however, to be in a position where I am one point up as opposed to one point down. But to be quite honest with you this is not going to be the jubilant night that we all expected," he said.
The exhausting campaign trail took the FNM candidate from door-to-door in the Elizabeth constituency and even to the houses of those that did not support him.
Even with that, Dr. Sands said he never doubted his success at the polls.
"I never doubted that I would win this election, but, we always gave the voters the respect that they deserved and you can see that one vote made all the difference," he said.
The ballots are scheduled to be recounted today and there is a possibility that Mr. Pinder might be declared the official winner.
If he loses, Dr. Sands said he would focus his energy on running in the 2012 General Election.
"If I do not win it’ll be over at this point, but now we [will have to] get on with the business of taking care of the people’s needs in Elizabeth," he said.
"If I don’t win I will be back practicing medicine and will return to seek the seat in Elizabeth in the 2012 election."
Dr. Sands could not say whether he would reapply for the many government and private positions he resigned from in order to pursue a political career.
Meanwhile National Development Party (NDP) candidate Dr. Andre Rollins – whose performance at the polls rivaled the performance of the other third parties – pointed out that while the PLP and FNM may have been successful at the polls, there was a poor voter turnout.
That is something Dr. Rollins said shows how fed-up the people of Elizabeth and around the country really are with both parties’ performance.
"I think that the poor voter turnout is evidence that many Bahamians are displeased with what is in fact the state of the nation. I think that many persons stayed home despite the excitement that we feel was being generated on a national level," he said.
"By virtue of the poor voter turnout, I believe it implies that persons were not sufficiently motivated or stimulated enough by either of the mainstream political parties."
Dr. Rollins said a look at the votes garnered by the third parties would reveal that all three of the parties made an impact on this election.
February 17th, 2010
jonesbahamas
He was declared the unofficial winner of the much anticipated and hotly contested Elizabeth by-election, but Free National Movement (FNM) candidate Dr. Duane Sands only won the election by one point – almost 300 votes less than Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham had previously predicted.
Dr. Sands admitted last night that he was not too happy with the way things went at the polls.
Slightly disappointed with the close finish at the polls, the FNM candidate said the results have left him with a bit of uncertainty.
"It is not the type of feeling that I would have hoped to have had at this point. I imagine that [Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate] Ryan Pinder is feeling similarly and that is almost unsure of what [Wednesday] is going to bring," Dr. Sands said.
While uncertainty looms about who the official winner is up to this point, Dr. Sands said he feels that he is more or less in a better position that Mr. Pinder.
"I prefer, however, to be in a position where I am one point up as opposed to one point down. But to be quite honest with you this is not going to be the jubilant night that we all expected," he said.
The exhausting campaign trail took the FNM candidate from door-to-door in the Elizabeth constituency and even to the houses of those that did not support him.
Even with that, Dr. Sands said he never doubted his success at the polls.
"I never doubted that I would win this election, but, we always gave the voters the respect that they deserved and you can see that one vote made all the difference," he said.
The ballots are scheduled to be recounted today and there is a possibility that Mr. Pinder might be declared the official winner.
If he loses, Dr. Sands said he would focus his energy on running in the 2012 General Election.
"If I do not win it’ll be over at this point, but now we [will have to] get on with the business of taking care of the people’s needs in Elizabeth," he said.
"If I don’t win I will be back practicing medicine and will return to seek the seat in Elizabeth in the 2012 election."
Dr. Sands could not say whether he would reapply for the many government and private positions he resigned from in order to pursue a political career.
Meanwhile National Development Party (NDP) candidate Dr. Andre Rollins – whose performance at the polls rivaled the performance of the other third parties – pointed out that while the PLP and FNM may have been successful at the polls, there was a poor voter turnout.
That is something Dr. Rollins said shows how fed-up the people of Elizabeth and around the country really are with both parties’ performance.
"I think that the poor voter turnout is evidence that many Bahamians are displeased with what is in fact the state of the nation. I think that many persons stayed home despite the excitement that we feel was being generated on a national level," he said.
"By virtue of the poor voter turnout, I believe it implies that persons were not sufficiently motivated or stimulated enough by either of the mainstream political parties."
Dr. Rollins said a look at the votes garnered by the third parties would reveal that all three of the parties made an impact on this election.
February 17th, 2010
jonesbahamas
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Elizabeth by-election: Recount ends - No winner confirmed
By Candia Dames ~ Guardian News Editor ~ candia@nasguard.com:
Forty-one hours after the recount of the three thousand plus ballots cast in the Elizabeth by-election got underway, the candidates in the hotly-contested race emerged with no clear winner being certified although the Free National Movement's Dr. Duane Sands was up by two votes.
The recount ended at 1 a.m. today.
Progressive Liberal Party officials indicated that they will invoke their entitlement under Section 69 of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
That provision provides for the Election Court to decide on protest votes if one candidate does not secure a margin of victory that exceeds his opponent's number of protest votes.
Sands' two vote margin is less than the five protest votes of PLP candidate Ryan Pinder. If the court approves Pinder's protest votes as regular votes, he could win the election.
The law states that in the event of any candidate wishing to avail himself of this provision, either he or his election agent shall notify the returning officer in writing immediately following the re-count, and in such case no such declaration of a winner shall be made.
The law requires that such an application be made within 10 days of the re-count.
"The procedure and practice of the Election Court on the hearing of such applications shall be regulated by rules which shall be made by the Rules Committee under section 75 of the Supreme Court Act, such rules making due provision for the preservation of the secrecy of the name or names of the candidate or candidates for whom each such protest ballot was cast; and at the hearing of any application all candidates for the relevant constituency shall be entitled to appear personally or by counsel, to call, examine or cross-examine any witnesses; and generally to be heard by the Election Court," the act states.
The law requires that the Election Court make a determination on the protest votes. In the event that the Court approves any such votes as legally cast, the protest votes shall be deemed to be regular votes and taken into account and added to the regular votes cast in favor of each candidate, and the returning officer shall declare the final result of the poll.
This morning's results were anti-climactic for hundreds of PLP and FNM supporters who waited off and on since before 8 a.m. Wednesday for the recount to end.
Except for a break between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. yesterday, the counting was non-stop for the 12 polling divisions.
Since early yesterday morning, Progressive Liberal Party leader Perry Christie, who was present nonstop throughout the recount, told The Nassau Guardian that it appeared likely the matter will end up in Election Court.
"We know that after the ballots are counted we have five protest votes, which means really that if Dr. Sands does not have a majority of over four or five votes the protest votes must be and will be counted," Christie said early yesterday.
"If my candidate loses by fewer votes than five, and we then indicate our preparedness to go to the Election Court to have the protest ballots examined, yes, it would automatically go to the Election Court for that adjudication because when you add the protest votes [that our candidate got] it would give him the majority. So it would be a question of whether those votes will in fact be agreed to by the courts, so I think we are headed really as it looks now, to the Election Court."
Christie, who has been in politics for more than 30 years, said he has never seen anything like what played out before, during and after Tuesday's by-election.
"I've said publicly already that there has been an extraordinary amount of intimidation, perceived or otherwise. People felt it and I spoke publicly to it," he said. "There have been...inducements to get people to vote and there are people who have been given jobs and infrastructure improvements and we decried that. But on top of that the voting process itself was really much to be desired. And look how long we've been trying to arrive at a determination where people are very, very tired, and so we have to examine this with a view to trying to improve it.
"And I think, quite frankly, that this is time for the political parties — most certainly Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie who've been in elected politics for 32 consecutive years — we have an obligation before we demit office to try to improve the electoral rules in our country so that we can avoid the kinds of problems we now face and we've seen enough signs to know that our system is headed toward being very corrupt and that in itself should be a tremendous warning to us that it is something that we should not accept and we should do something about."
Since 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sands had either been tied with Pinder in the race or up by one, two or three votes in what shaped up to be an extremely grueling and tedious exercise.
When the counting ended at 1 a.m., the unofficial results for polling division 12 remained unchanged. Pinder had 123 votes and Sands had 108.
Both the PLP and FNM had lawyers on hand during the recount, arguing over the last two days.
Sands has no protest votes. But the Bahamas Democratic Movement's Cassius Stuart has one.
February 19, 2010
thenassauguardian
Forty-one hours after the recount of the three thousand plus ballots cast in the Elizabeth by-election got underway, the candidates in the hotly-contested race emerged with no clear winner being certified although the Free National Movement's Dr. Duane Sands was up by two votes.
The recount ended at 1 a.m. today.
Progressive Liberal Party officials indicated that they will invoke their entitlement under Section 69 of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
That provision provides for the Election Court to decide on protest votes if one candidate does not secure a margin of victory that exceeds his opponent's number of protest votes.
Sands' two vote margin is less than the five protest votes of PLP candidate Ryan Pinder. If the court approves Pinder's protest votes as regular votes, he could win the election.
The law states that in the event of any candidate wishing to avail himself of this provision, either he or his election agent shall notify the returning officer in writing immediately following the re-count, and in such case no such declaration of a winner shall be made.
The law requires that such an application be made within 10 days of the re-count.
"The procedure and practice of the Election Court on the hearing of such applications shall be regulated by rules which shall be made by the Rules Committee under section 75 of the Supreme Court Act, such rules making due provision for the preservation of the secrecy of the name or names of the candidate or candidates for whom each such protest ballot was cast; and at the hearing of any application all candidates for the relevant constituency shall be entitled to appear personally or by counsel, to call, examine or cross-examine any witnesses; and generally to be heard by the Election Court," the act states.
The law requires that the Election Court make a determination on the protest votes. In the event that the Court approves any such votes as legally cast, the protest votes shall be deemed to be regular votes and taken into account and added to the regular votes cast in favor of each candidate, and the returning officer shall declare the final result of the poll.
This morning's results were anti-climactic for hundreds of PLP and FNM supporters who waited off and on since before 8 a.m. Wednesday for the recount to end.
Except for a break between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. yesterday, the counting was non-stop for the 12 polling divisions.
Since early yesterday morning, Progressive Liberal Party leader Perry Christie, who was present nonstop throughout the recount, told The Nassau Guardian that it appeared likely the matter will end up in Election Court.
"We know that after the ballots are counted we have five protest votes, which means really that if Dr. Sands does not have a majority of over four or five votes the protest votes must be and will be counted," Christie said early yesterday.
"If my candidate loses by fewer votes than five, and we then indicate our preparedness to go to the Election Court to have the protest ballots examined, yes, it would automatically go to the Election Court for that adjudication because when you add the protest votes [that our candidate got] it would give him the majority. So it would be a question of whether those votes will in fact be agreed to by the courts, so I think we are headed really as it looks now, to the Election Court."
Christie, who has been in politics for more than 30 years, said he has never seen anything like what played out before, during and after Tuesday's by-election.
"I've said publicly already that there has been an extraordinary amount of intimidation, perceived or otherwise. People felt it and I spoke publicly to it," he said. "There have been...inducements to get people to vote and there are people who have been given jobs and infrastructure improvements and we decried that. But on top of that the voting process itself was really much to be desired. And look how long we've been trying to arrive at a determination where people are very, very tired, and so we have to examine this with a view to trying to improve it.
"And I think, quite frankly, that this is time for the political parties — most certainly Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie who've been in elected politics for 32 consecutive years — we have an obligation before we demit office to try to improve the electoral rules in our country so that we can avoid the kinds of problems we now face and we've seen enough signs to know that our system is headed toward being very corrupt and that in itself should be a tremendous warning to us that it is something that we should not accept and we should do something about."
Since 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sands had either been tied with Pinder in the race or up by one, two or three votes in what shaped up to be an extremely grueling and tedious exercise.
When the counting ended at 1 a.m., the unofficial results for polling division 12 remained unchanged. Pinder had 123 votes and Sands had 108.
Both the PLP and FNM had lawyers on hand during the recount, arguing over the last two days.
Sands has no protest votes. But the Bahamas Democratic Movement's Cassius Stuart has one.
February 19, 2010
thenassauguardian
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