The
Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group to the 2017 Bahamas general
elections has commended the country for the peaceful and orderly manner
in which they exercised their right to vote on 3 May in the advanced
polls and on the main Election Day of 10 May.
Issuing
the Group’s interim statement in the capital, Nassau, the Hon Hannah
Tetteh said the group’s overall conclusion was that the elections were
peaceful and credible and the will of the people was decisively
expressed with a high voter turnout.
In
the Group’s statement, issued today, she praised the conduct of the
police force, saying: “We were impressed with the high level of
technological preparedness and the manner in which they had considered
every single aspect of the electoral process that could be supported by
the police. It is a model of best practice that ought to be recommended
across the Commonwealth.”
Ms
Tetteh also drew attention to the visibly high number of women
electoral workers and commended the spirit of young people during the
campaign as well as the number of young candidates participating. Two
young candidates: Travis Robinson, 22 and James Albury, 23 were elected
as Members of Parliament. Mr Robinson is active in the Commonwealth
Youth Council.
In
conclusion, the Group strongly recommended the establishment of an
independent election management body with a modern voting and counting
system.
The
Observer Group has been present in The Bahamas since 3 May and was
preceded by an advance team, which arrived in the country on 27 April.
Their final report will be completed before the Group departs on 13 May and will be made public at a later date.
Read the Interim Statement in full.
