By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
ALTHOUGH he has not announced the date of the 2017 general election, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday he is not “confused” about when Bahamians can expect to head to the polls to cast ballots.
Responding to a question from The Tribune over his decision to announce the date of the dissolution of Parliament and not that of the impending election, Mr Christie said he not only wanted to advance democracy in the country, but it was his intent to give people the time needed to register to vote before this Parliament session came to a close.
The Centreville MP further suggested that once this happens and Bahamians vote, he would accept the results of the election.
However Mr Christie again lambasted Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, describing him as a public figure who “runs” and “hides” because he needs time to draft press statements in response to important matters of national interest.
He spoke to reporters following the official renaming of Thompson Boulevard and the naming of corridor eight to University Drive and University Commons respectively.
“Everything happens,” Mr Christie said. “I wanted to give people an opportunity to know that if they do not register they cannot vote. I wanted to advance our democracy.
“We’ve had a lot of debate about putting more certainty into the process so the first thing I did was I said, ‘listen, even though the House of Assembly has been adjourned to April 10, we are going to be having a dissolution at a precise time and go back 24 hours and that’s when you could register’. We wanted that so no one has any doubts whatsoever. I’ve given them notice that if they want to vote in the upcoming election they must register by that date.
“With respect to the date of election, they will get to know that very shortly. There is nothing, no confusion about me and my mind and my approach to this.
“At the end of the day I’ve been in public life long enough to know that people will make a determination as to who will govern them and whether or not it happens in the way that I would like it to happen, they are going to make a determination.
“You will have to have a real appreciation of your country to be able to understand it (and) to be able to accept it and to know that this is going to happen,” Mr Christie continued.
Mr Christie revealed on Sunday night that Parliament will be dissolved on Tuesday, April 11, and election writs will be issued that day.
In a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Christie implored those who have not yet registered to vote in the next election to do so quickly, because the current register will close on April 10.
According to the Parliamentary Elections Act, an election must be held 21 to 30 days after election writs are issued, meaning the next vote will likely be held in early May.
“For general information, especially for the benefit of all those persons who would like to vote in the forthcoming general election but have not yet registered to do so, it is my intention to cause the present Parliament to be dissolved on Tuesday, April 11, and to cause writs of election to be issued the same day,” the statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said.
“This will mean that only those persons who would have registered to vote on or before Monday, April 10 would be able to vote in the forthcoming general election.”
“I would therefore encourage all my fellow Bahamians to play their part in our democracy by registering to vote if they have not already done so, and to do so without further delay,” the statement continued.
The statement was released a day after Mr Christie reiterated that the “time is very short” until he calls the next general election, again urging Bahamians to register as soon as possible.
Comments
PKMShack 7 years, 5 months ago
call election then move to atlanta to keep up with your wife, tired of you and the band of merry thiefs
DDK 7 years, 5 months ago
He continues to ramble..............
realfreethinker 7 years, 5 months ago
The sooner we rid our country of this doofus the sooner we can remove that noose from around our necks. Good riddance
Cobalt 7 years, 5 months ago
Agreed
TalRussell 7 years, 5 months ago
Comrade PM, I ain't know about you, but the natives inspired - so rungs da damn 2017 General Election bell. Thousands just want an excuse to get off work, or out the house, to go to the polling stations to vote!
Some us need car rides to the polling stations?
sheeprunner12 7 years, 5 months ago
Perry may not be confused ................... but he sure is SCARED shit-less of calling the election ............. BOL
cmiller 7 years, 5 months ago
He is not confused?? Great.....then the whole country can stop worrying, right?
banker 7 years, 5 months ago
Pigeons fly upside down over Perry Christie because he is so wutless, that he is not even worth crapping on.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 5 months ago
But ............ How will the PLP be able to campaign for re-election while juggling the many sporting, cultural, Bahamar and religious events of April & May??????
This is a perfect recipe for the PLP to be overwhelmed by all of their razzle-dazzle events....... while the FNM can just campaign and stick it to Perry (in the front of the world) ......... this election campaign season is going to be a serious embarrassment to the PLP ......... the PLP will be swept out of Parliament by a big margin (at least 12 seats)
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