Bran: Probe election claims

As of Thursday, June 14, 2012

DNA leader Branville McCartney has urged State Minister of National Security Keith Bell to investigate all claims of election corruption levelled since Bahamians went to the polls on May 7.

Mr McCartney noted that just over a month has passed since the election, and both the PLP and the FNM have made claims about how the other party was financed or what it did to get votes.

He said: "The PLP has said that the FNM bought votes or, simply put, gave people money to vote for them. If this is indeed the case, this would be tantamount to bribery, with the persons accepting the bribe an accomplice to the crime.

"In this regard, I would encourage Minister Keith Bell to take the necessary legal steps, if he has the evidence, to bring this matter before the courts and prosecute accordingly, not only the person or persons bribing, but those alleged voters who accepted the bribe.

"Commissioner of Police Greenslade ought to ensure that examples be made so that we can now start getting the electorate cognisant of consequences of accepting payments for votes."

Mr McCartney reminded every member of the public that their vote is significant and should not be "prostituted away".

"Many persons around the world do not have that right but for some in the Bahamas, it would seem that for a few pieces of silver the integrity of the vote can be compromised," he said. "I say, prosecute!"

The DNA leader also noted claims that certain operatives in both the FNM and PLP accepted financial contributions from "allegedly unsavoury characters".

He said: "It is said in the community today that persons who supported the PLP are now 'cashing in' and want their fair share. One month is long enough, they say, to do what they had to do and now it is time to rock and roll!

"The chickens have come home to roost, in other words, and now the PLP must make good on their promises to them. But they, those contributors, should remember that a promise is a comfort to a fool."

According to Mr McCartney, the allegations against both the PLP and FNM should lead the Bahamian people to demand campaign finance reform.

He said: "If you look at history, for the most part, the same arguments regarding party finances from both parties appear after each election. This is nothing new. It is the same ole', same ole', just a different election.

"And we as a people accept it. I think we deserve better because a party can become a government not because they are the best for the country, but because they had the money to give out 'at the right time', as a voter told me a few weeks ago.

"That is a shame. We as a people deserve better and must move beyond this type of scenario occurring in the future.

The Democratic National Alliance called on the governing party to immediately bring legislation for electoral finance reform to ensure that in the future, "undue influence" cannot be exerted on the political system by unregulated donations from private sources, foreign investors or large companies.

"When parties receive secret donations to get elected, the question of returning the favour must inevitably be in their minds on taking office. Consequently, the interest of those who are less fortunate is not taken into account," Mr McCartney said.

More like this story

242 12 years, 4 months ago

With all due respect Mr. McCartney if you are going to talk about integrity, you should mention the fact that you publicly stated you would resign as party leader if you did not secure your seat in Bamboo Town. How are you on June 14th, still giving responses on behalf of the DNA with the title leader?

kinggrouper 12 years, 4 months ago

Yes when will this happen?

dacy 12 years, 4 months ago

ITS IN THE TRIBUNE242 APRIL 12TH, 2012...WHAT IS HE WAITING FOR. MARK HUMES FOR LEADER!

242 12 years, 4 months ago

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2012/apr…

242352 12 years, 4 months ago

Give it a break, election is over!

Don't waste the people money and time on this.

Put the poilce to work on crime!

bookiedread 12 years, 4 months ago

I cry shame on Bran. You just need not encourage motor mouth Bell in his unfounded statements.

concernedcitizen 12 years, 4 months ago

thank you bookiedread,,,,,

TalRussell 12 years, 4 months ago

Comrades i likes it so much when comrade Bran has not much to say but he says it anyways. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQvzuYqs…

242 12 years, 4 months ago

lol he got plenty time ta make youtube vids na

pepper45 12 years, 4 months ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

kinggrouper 12 years, 4 months ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

John 12 years, 4 months ago

When junkanoo results come in, the judges cheat The refs cheat when your basketball team get beat and the mafia gat the NBA fix.They done decide who gona win championship So ainn no body does win nuttin fair and square these days. So why waste the people money to find out if the PLP really had $100.00 bills in the neatly folded shirts, or if the FNM buy votes/ Errybody gonna say money give out, but ainn no one gone say they get any so jus let it go and get your camera and stuff ready for the next election. Bahamians love slackness

TalRussell 12 years, 4 months ago

Comrade you wouldn't be collectively calling so many of Bahamaland's native's cheats had you known my former coach, educator, professional baseball player and disciplinary, the late Vince Ferguson?

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…

haitianboy 12 years, 4 months ago

Ok…I had enough of this crap! May was the bloodiest month in terms of murders and he’s still worrying about the elections. You lost, the FNM lost and the PLP is now the government. We as a nation need to focus on crime. We need more police in the stations and even more patrolling the streets; so shut up with this crap and come up with ideas to help the government solve the crime problem. Whether the government is PLP, FNM or DNA, we as a people need to band together and uplift the country instead of all this cutthroat tactics and senseless finger pointing. So many people are afraid to go anywhere and do anything because these blood thirsty and heartless thugs have taken control of our country.

kinggrouper 12 years, 4 months ago

It is very ironic that the party claiming all of this bribery was the main one that bought the election in the first place. If they were smart they would just keep their mouths shut. They have already won. Why attack the defeated. The PLP are still on the campaign trail with all of their needless accusations and backbiting towards the opposition. Instead of wasting their time tearing down the FNM they need to get to work and do what they promised the Bahamian people. If I were a foreigner listening to the news since May 7th, I would be appalled at all of the negativity coming from the new leaders of the government.

concernedcitizen 12 years, 4 months ago

when u make a lot of promises that u know u can,t do ,you have to deflect ..my PLP,S friends are blameing commishoner Greenslade for the crime ,,hey your the gov ,if you don,t like greenslade get rid of him ,don,t even fire him give the day to day running to Bell ,,Nottage at your age and what youv,e been through you should have politely decline this ministry ,,they threw you under the bus old boy

pfunkf 12 years, 4 months ago

he can start by first makeing a total discloseare of all the doners who financed his little sharade,so called third party. the rich forign lyford cay ingraham haters,the white knight catel,wells-dupuch-allen sourgrape bunch,sandy [arrogant]schafer and the whole lot. that ought to let all the wind out of his bag,if by chance he have any trace of boldness then show it by beign the first to set the example.put up or shut up bran.

concernedcitizen 12 years, 4 months ago

GGOD POINT

basjazz 12 years, 4 months ago

bye bye bran! if you want to be taken seriously,you must utter these two words(i resign).take a lesson from papa.is he the only political leader in the bahamas with integrity?my my my.

concernedcitizen 12 years, 4 months ago

HAI IS THE MAN ,THANKS AGAIN PAPA

TalRussell 12 years, 4 months ago

Comrade basjazz you mixing up; "the natives don't want me or me loud red shirts around no more, his words, not mine, with the word "integrity?"

Now, you tells me which man looks more like a real leader for our tiny and beloved Bahamaland? One is toasted the other is fresh with ideas.

PM Christie reminds us of a younger Muhammad Ali; float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Hubert looks more like Idi Amin.

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…

John 12 years, 4 months ago

The UBP used to use flour, sugar and grits to buy votes....It wasn't nothing much but for those who didn't have anything it was pleanty.

basjazz 12 years, 4 months ago

i was about to answer talrussell,but i remember an old saying that goes like this;dont ever argue with stupid people,cause they will drag you into the gutter and beat you with expereince! thats my suggestion to all who post on this site!

TalRussell 12 years, 4 months ago

Perhaps Comrade basjazz but sounds more like I like a vain attempt to sabotage the truth about the red shirts. The saving grace is it may be only a matter of days to weeks before the brick wall built around the closed doors of Hubert's ways of running "his" government starts to crack. It will be most revealing don't you agree? Remember, this is the same man whose spite came so damn close to turning Grand Bahama into a Horse and Buggy Town.

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…

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