The Parliamentary Registration Department estimates that between 160,000 to 170,000 Bahamians will register for the next General Elections, Minister of National Security the Hon. O.A.T. “Tommy” Turnquest told Parliament Wednesday.
Minister Turnquest has oversight of the Parliamentary Registration Department which is headed by Parliamentary Commissioner, Mr. Errol Bethel.
Contributing to the 2011 Budget Debate, Mr. Turnquest said the Department has “done much work” in upgrading the map that is being used for registration. He said it is hoped that this exercise will lead to “greater accuracy in the placing of voters.”
“The Parliamentary Registration Department is attentive to the need to create a clean Voter Register and to ensure that all registrants meet the eligibility requirements,” he said.
“The Department will do all in its power to carry out this responsibility with efficiency and integrity. It is hoped that all eligible Bahamian citizens will seize the opportunity to register early. This is important to facilitate the work of the Boundaries Commission and to enhance the accuracy of the Register by making corrections where necessary,” Mr. Turnquest added.
The National Security Minister said the registration process “has been generally going smoothly” as registration officials ensure that “only bona-fide Bahamians are registered.”
He said while there have been some complaints regarding the documents being requested of prospective registrants with regards to preserving their registration, “other persons have expressed appreciation that we are being more careful in the compilation of the Register.”
“All we want to make sure is that only bona-fide Bahamians are registered,” he added.
Mr. Turnquest said there were 74,179 persons entered on the New Register as of June 7, 2011. Of that number, 53, 663 were registered for New Providence; 11,623 on Grand Bahama and 8,893 for the Family Islands.
To facilitate early registration, voter registration centres and sub-stations have been established throughout the country. Permanent centres have been established at the Department’s headquarters in New Providence and Freeport and the Administrator’s Offices in various Family Islands.
Additional stations have been established at the Mall-at-Marathon and Town Centre Malls, National Insurance Board, General Post Office and Elizabeth Estates and Carmichael Road Post Offices.
“There are also a number of roving teams going to various business houses,” Mr. Turnquest said. “The Department continues to offer its mobile services to companies with a minimum of 20 registrants.
“In Grand Bahama, in addition to the Parliamentary Registration headquarters, registration is taking place at the Local Government Office in Eight Mile Rock. Stations are also being mounted from time to time in different parts of the island,” Mr. Turnquest added.
The country’s Voter Registration Drive commenced on October, 2010. Mr. Turnquest said the Register used in the 2007 General Elections will come to an end July 14, 2011, at which time the New Register will come into effect.
“Anyone who seeks to vote in upcoming general elections must ensure that he or she is registered on the New Register,” Mr. Turnquest added.
The National Security Minister said the Parliamentary Registration Department has recruited and trained “competent persons” to ensure that the registration process is a smooth one. He said most of the persons were redeployed from the public sector.
He said extensive training seminars were organised for voter registration personnel in New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family islands.
“The quality of the Register is dependent upon the personnel involved in the registration process,” he said.
Mr. Turnquest said if the forecast of 160-170,000 registered persons holds true, it would mark an improvement over the 150,684 which appeared on the 2007 Register.
“Documents being requested as proof of eligibility for registration are: a valid Bahamian passport, or a birth certificate with an official identification and other documents as requested, or a current Voter’s Card, along with other reasonable documents as requested,” Mr. Turnquest said.
“Persons presenting to register must understand that Revising Officers have the right to request documentary evidence that applicants are qualified to be registered,” he added.
By Matt Maura
Bahamas Information Services
