The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

AS voter registration numbers continue to climb slowly, Free National Movement (FNM) Fort Charlotte candidate Mark Humes has implored potential voters who may not be enthused about participating in the upcoming general election to view current issues in the United States as an indicator of what could transpire locally if they do not vote.

In an email blast on Sunday, Mr Humes categorised the ongoing crisis in the US as an avoidable ordeal, contending that many of the decisions executed by President Donald Trump could have been avoided if voters had taken advantage of their right of choice.

In a week since being sworn in as the 45th president of the US, President Trump has signed 13 executive orders - legislation signed off on by the US leader without consideration given to Congress.

Of those, the most controversial has been President Trump’s decision on Saturday to bar citizens of seven Muslim countries from travelling to the US in a self-described effort to address potential terrorism.

This has led to mass protests around the US and has been condemned by several human rights groups. There were also massive protests in the US and other parts of the world on January 21, the day after President Trump’s inauguration, to voice displeasure in the new president.

“Americans are protesting,” wrote Mr Humes, referencing the civil unrest seen across America in the days since President Trump’s inauguration. “They are angry with Trump’s decisions. In November of last year they had a choice. (President) Trump or (Secretary of State Hillary) Clinton. They were going to be stuck with one. Despite the writing on the wall, many who could have voted to make sure that (President) Trump was not their president didn’t because they didn’t like their choices. Who is it impacting now?

“Not (Mrs) Clinton, and definitely not (President) Trump. Bahamians, the writing is on the wall for you too. This is not time to be emotional.”

Mr Humes further recommended that eligible voters take advantage of their right to vote and “vote for the one that you would prefer to be stuck with”.

He added: “At the end of the day, you will be stuck with one - whether you vote or not.”

Political pundits throughout the country have speculated that low voter registration numbers to date could be attributed to a lack of interest in, and support for, many of the political candidates ratified to this point.

Last November, Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall asserted that there was some level of voter apathy throughout the country. Since then members of the government and opposition factions have made it a point to encourage voters to get registered.

A Nassau Guardian report this week pegged registration numbers at around 88,000; roughly 50 per cent of voters who participated in the 2012 general election.