Some hiccups as nat’l figures among those first to vote

An hour into voting yesterday morning, the line at Gambier Primary in the Killarney constituency stretched hundreds of feet down the hill, with scores of people waiting to cast their ballots in the advanced poll.

Former Prime Minister Perry Christie, who voted along with his wife, Bernadette, at the location, said the election — called months earlier than it was constitutionally due — will undoubtedly be a COVID-19 superspreader.

“Once the prime minister decided to use his constitutional powers to call an election in the middle of a pandemic, the logical conclusion would be that he is running the risk of a superspreader campaign,” Christie said.

“In other words, all areas of the campaign would cause there to be an increase in the number of people affected.

“And so, it is really a disastrous decision to do that, but under our constitution, he has the right to do it when he thinks it’s best for him.

“And the people of The Bahamas again will respond and the results will say whether or not they approve of what he’s done.”

For months now, The Bahamas has been grappling with the worst surge in COVID cases and deaths since the start of the pandemic.

August was a particularly brutal month, with more than 3,500 cases and 160 deaths recorded.

In spite of that, the House was dissolved on August 19, and Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis set an election date of September 16. 

Christie predicted the results of the election will ultimately come down to how the public feels about Minnis’ management of the pandemic.

“The people will make a decision on whether or not the pandemic was well-managed,” he said.

“And Dr. [Duane] Sands, one of the eminent physicians in our country, one of the most qualified in the region, as early as this morning was saying the country was brought to its knees and that everyone should work together.

“Well, the challenge for the country is the political directorate of the country have not seemingly worked together. They have different views, very strong divisions as to how they would go about managing it. And so, the people will make a choice…”

Christie added, “There is no doubt that the country has to dedicate more money to the fight. [PLP Leader Philip] Brave Davis is right in the sense that you have to be testing and it has to be free and that all of the protocols have to be reinforced and expanded, contact tracing. I mean, you are in a war, and therefore you have to treat it that way.”

Davis, who also voted in Gambier, encouraged everyone who is registered to go out and vote, and said it can be done safely.

“Just follow the COVID protocols,” he said.

“Wear your mask. Sanitize your hands and stay safely distanced from other voters. Once you engage in that process, you have minimized your risk of being infected by COVID. What we ask you to do, though, is please participate. You will find a way to do it safely.”

While COVID-19 restrictions have prevented traditional political rallies with large crowds, gatherings seen on Nomination Day were in clear violation of the emergency orders and there were people bunched together at some polling sites yesterday.

 Thirty thousand people were eligible to vote in the advanced poll, which had expanded categories this year.

Brent Symonette, who is not seeking re-election in St. Anne’s, said the crowd at Gambier Primary School was what he expected.

Symonette, who arrived before the poll opened at 8 a.m., said he waited in line for less than an hour.

 “I think the crowd is a normal election crowd,” he said.

“Don’t forget that this time at the advanced poll persons over 65 like myself are entitled to vote, which I think is a very good idea.”

Symonette said that with more polling stations open on Election Day next week, it should also be a smooth process.

“I encourage people to come out to vote,” he said.

“It is a democracy. Vote for the person of your choice and make sure that we don’t let COVID scare us off, because the worst thing that could happen is that we have a low voter turnout and a government gets elected without that much of a majority.”

Dame Marguerite Pindling, former governor general and widow of the late former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling, also described the voting process as smooth.

Asked if she felt safe voting in a pandemic, Dame Marguerite said, “Yes, ma’am. Yes, I do.

“And I hope that all those who have been vaccinated will come and mark their X for freedom.”

However, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham was among those who encountered some difficulties yesterday.

Ingraham said he was told upon arriving to vote that his name was not on the list of early voters in Killarney even though he registered for the advanced poll.

However, after Ingraham left, the presiding officer confirmed that his name was on the list.  

After being informed that his name was indeed on the list, Ingraham returned later in the afternoon and voted along with his wife, Delores.

He raised concern over images and videos depicting large crowds at polling stations.

“I do encourage people to come and vote as safely as possible,” Ingraham said.

“I saw a number of photographs earlier today where there was no social distancing, etc.

“I think that the authorities ought to do a better job at ensuring that there is social distancing, that there is an adequate number of polling stations so that large numbers of people do not crowd in one place, that there are people outside who are able to tell you, ‘You are to go to polling division number five, and that’s situated over here or over there’.

“I think there’s much that could be done to improve the flow of voters if the authorities would take those basic steps.”

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