The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

National Security Minister Myles Laroda yesterday defended the integrity of the May 12 general election despite concerns raised by CARICOM observers, while conceding there were “glitches” and backing calls for the Parliamentary Registration Department to be made independent.

CARICOM’s final report on the election raised concerns about xenophobic rhetoric targeting Haitians, allegations of vote-buying and partisan use of state resources, as well as claims that problems with the voters’ register and advance polling were deliberate attempts to influence the process in favour of the incumbent.

Mr Laroda, however, said Bahamians made their choice at the polls and suggested complaints about the election were not unusual.

“There are always going to be some complaints that are going to be made,” Mr Laroda said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a CARICOM firearms trafficking workshop. “That's not just peculiar to The Bahamas.”

He said even some of the world’s most established democracies face complaints about elections despite having more advanced technology and equipment.

Mr Laroda also pointed to The Bahamas’ 66.4 percent voter turnout, comparing it with lower turnout rates recorded in several other Caribbean countries.

According to CARICOM figures cited by the minister, turnout in recent elections was 32 percent in Dominica, 40 percent in Jamaica, 42 percent in Barbados, 48 percent in Saint Lucia and 54 percent in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We had repeat governments with less than with 30 percent voter outcome,” Mr Laroda said. “There's a certain segment of our society would glorify those countries, but yet complain about what happened in a country that had 67 percent voter turnout.”

CARICOM’s report said xenophobic rhetoric aimed at Haitians may have discouraged some Bahamians from voting.

Stakeholders also raised allegations of vote-buying, partisan use of state resources and attempts to influence the electoral process in favour of the incumbent.

The mission nevertheless concluded that the election was peaceful and transparent and that the results reflected the will of Bahamians.

One of its recommendations was for the Parliamentary Registration Department to be made independent of the government.

That recommendation followed complaints from stakeholders about the voters’ register and advance polling, including allegations that problems with both were deliberate attempts to favour the incumbent.

The Free National Movement has repeatedly questioned the Parliamentary Registration Department’s competence to manage elections, citing missing names on the register, the absence of records showing transfers between constituencies and allegations that deceased people remained registered.

Mr Laroda agreed yesterday that the department should become an independent body.

He also acknowledged legitimate complaints about lengthy waits during advance polling.

Concerns intensified after elderly voters were forced to wait for hours in the heat to cast their ballots, with some reportedly fainting.

Mr Laroda said officials could make efforts to address those problems.

Despite those shortcomings, he maintained that the 2026 election was not fundamentally different from previous elections and said there had not been many complaints about the final result.