The Tribune

BISHOP Laish Boyd urged Anglicans not to exchange their vote for money or political favours. Eligible voters should remain honest and critical of the issues, according to Bishop Boyd, who said that Christian participation would elevate the political process. In a letter to the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Diocese, Bishop Boyd encouraged Bahamians to get registered because each individual vote is vital to achieve a national consensus. "Let your decisions and behaviour result from an honest look at the issues rather than from what someone paid you or promised you," the letter read. "Too often in our electioneering, money, goods and favours determine outcomes." It added: "If 'Christians' are not involved in this process, how will the Gospel be able to influence the process? "How can we expect to help to bring morals, ethics, right behaviours, right procedure and an elevated standard if we absent ourselves? While many of the country's issues are not the result of one political party, Bishop Boyd said that successive governments have put too much focus on distancing themselves from predecessors rather than taking a collaborative approach for sustainable advancement of the country. Key issues outlined by Bishop Boyd include: the economy, crime, the judicial system, education, health, bureaucracy, the number of vehicles, public transportation, and constituency boundaries. "These same issues do not call for a petty, partisan, or mud-sling approach, but for a sustained and continuous national effort by the leaders, government and opposition, of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, her agents and agencies, in collaboration with, and supported by, the people," the letter read. * See today's Religion Section for the full text of Bishop Boyd's letter.