The Tribune

Paul Moss, Independent Garden Hills It's going pretty well, I think though that since we've been doing elections we should have had a better coordination with respect to buildings that we use this building while it can accomodate the number of people it seems congested based on that the voting blocks are in the same location so they should have distributed it better I thinks os that that since we are doing this we ought to be able to have a strategy for when we have weather like this because the drainage system is not proper in and around Nassau and many peple now have to try to navigate the puddles and the water and some ppls vehicles were stalled but I think the process is going smoothly I see that the democracy is out adn we believe that this is the day for hte beginning of change in this country, that's what I hope for. Brensil Rolle, Garden Hills, FNM It's extraordinarily well, we're doing extremely well in Garden Hills. It's setting the tone for what's going to happen in the general elections. We are very confident that we will not only to win the advance poll but we will win the general elections its consistent with all the good things we'vr done for the bahamian people and now they are rewarding us for those good things. Hubert Minnis, Killarney, FNM I think it's going very well, it's well organised. People are very disciplined, friendly and I'm happy with the turnout for Killarney, I'm confident that we will win in Killarney and the other stations look quite relaxed also. I think once the relevant agents for the relevant political party are not blocking up the corridor then the constituent's voters can move quite freely. Police are doing a good job keeping the corridors vacant, once the police moves then there is a bit of cluttering and it inhibits the voter for mgetting in that's the only challenge I see. Jamarl Chea, MICAL DNA It's going well it was a surprise to know that persons in MICAL had to come to Nassau to vote we weren't informed in a timely notice we found out two days ago persons had to come in on advance poll to vote its hard for people to travel so far from the south everything is going well so far and we look in the next few days to be the government of the country. Now that I've spoken to my supporters, persons on the island are frustrated by this process, and they are ready to go and they are more excited to go and vote and vote for a new government and vote for the DNA. Carl Bethel, Seabreeze, FNM It's going very smoothly, just the usual tousle and jostle to be found in any electoral situation but quite apart from that everything appears to be moving very smoothly. I'm very satisfied with the level of support we are winning we have majority in the box already and I'm satisfied that the majority of my colleagues also have the majority in the box already Being a candidate often means in a charged political climate that you will be shouted at by the other sides you will be called names you just learn not to respond and move on, move on. Obviously a lot of people have taken advantage of it the advance poll has doubled in size really this year and what we're seeing is a wonderful evolution in our democracy in a sens that as the country becomes by and large more politically mature and our voting populus more politically aware then the franchise in a sense is being expanded in ways that permit greater flexibility that permit greater participation in the bahamas you always have a very high voter turnout we have to start with over 90 per cent voter turnout every election which is almost unprecedented so politics is a very important thing for bahamians now oen of the explanations as to why we couldnt quite get higher than 92 93 per cent is that the flowing date of the election inconvenienced people with the advance poll you have the chance the opportunity to offer to persons who qualify as set out in the act greater flexibility of what the date of their actual voting we think that will lead an even higher voter turnout that has historically been the case. Tommy Turnquest, Mt Moriah Things are going extremely well, early this morning here at COB there were a lot of agents because of hte two buildings that we're using here and we've got about 12 constituencies here theree were a lot of agents who wre inside the compound that polie eventually moved outside the compound Here at Mt Moriah this are going extremely smooth, there are 328 voters on the register here and there are seven registered voters at the overseas missions and so its going extremely well. I think it's a good opportunity for those agents for the candidates to be able to vote today and then they'll be able to work inthe polls at the various areas police and DF that have to be deployed through the bahamas and the government election workes are also able tovote so they could work in watever onst theyve been assigned to it is slightly overcrowred but nothing the police havent ben able to deal with what we've found is that theyve moved persons back We're very comfortable, we're satisfied that hte police and defence force in large numbers would have voted for the FNM. We are also very confident that those government poll workers who would be in the main members of the public service recog what the fnm has done over the past couple of years in the world's greatest recession since 1929 where we have been able to retain jobs retain salary levels we are very confident that they to in large majority will vote for the FNM Arnold Forbes, Mt Moriah PLP I'm very confident I've seen a lot of people that I've touched that I've spoken with I've been in this constituency an excess of two years and I'm very confident that I will become the next member of Parliament for the constituency of Mt Moriah. It's been a longslug but I feel great about it I'm energised and I'm ready to go. I think the location could have been better, I think there was a parking issue that presents a problem for those who cannot walk or are disabled its just not a good place for them because they have to park from far away and walk into this place so that is the only problem otherwise running fairly smoothly. I believe that it indicates where the mood of the country is remember hte police force and defence force and in some cases prison the other agencies are microcosms of who comprises this society and i think that this will be a very good indication of where this election will go. Wayne Munroe, Mt Moriah Logistically there was poor planning for parking and its been going fairly well. It's close to 1pm and nearly 200 people out of 328 people have voted but the vast majority of persons are clearly not showing any colors, red, gold, or green. A lot of the people voting in the advance poll are the election agents for the parties, you can take them right out as the colours, you never know what folks will do I always say that its not a matter of winning an election its a matter of who the most people choose and the bahamian people certainly this evening aren't showing by any party colours or paraphernalia where they stand what they are going to do of course a lot of them are police and defence force officers so there may be some fear to show any colors the one thing i can tell you is that the size of the people congregating outside has nothing at all to do with what is happening inside.