Bahamians vote today in General Elections – CARICOM Mission observing process

Bahamians go to the polls today to elect representatives to the country’s 41-member Parliament.

An estimated 180,000 persons are registered to vote at polling stations which opened at 8:00 a.m. and are scheduled to close at 6:00.

They will choose from the  incumbent Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) led by Prime Minister Perry Christie, the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) headed by Dr. Hubert Minnis and the smaller opposition Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Mr. Branville McCartney.

An eleven-member CARICOM Electoral Observation Mission has been in The Bahamas since 4 May engaging various stakeholders and will observe Election Day activities starting with the opening of the polls through to the tabulation and announcement of the results.

The Mission, headed by Ms Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Office of Belize, with Mr. Orette Fisher, Director of the Elections Commission of Jamaica as her Deputy, will issue a Preliminary Statement following the elections, which will outline its initial assessment of the process. A final report will subsequently be submitted to CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.