Opposition Leader Michael Pintard revealed today that he has written to international bodies, including the United Nations and the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, to observe the upcoming general election, citing various concerns about the process.
During a press conference at the Free National Movement’s headquarters, Pintard also called for the dismissal of Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson and Returning Officer Neil Campbell.
“Given the gravity of what is now before our country, the Free National Movement has written on April 8 to the United States Ambassador to The Bahamas, to the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, and CARICOM formally requesting election observation support for the coming Bahamian election,” Pintard said.
The OAS has deployed an electoral observation mission in The Bahamas during the last three general elections.
He said the US Embassy has already agreed to participate as observers.
“A free and fair election is a basic democratic right,” Pintard added. “We will pursue every legitimate avenue to achieve it.”
He revealed that a foreign national was allegedly found with two Bahamian voter’s cards, a matter reported to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. This incident, he noted, is part of a series of confirmed issues that the Free National Movement has previously raised with the Parliamentary Registration Department and publicly addressed.
Pintard has raised concern about fraud on several occassions.
Last month, he claimed in Parliament that the names of eight people found with fraudulent Bahamian identification documents were also on the voter register.
Prime Minister Philip Davis, responding later in the House of Assembly, said, “I’m seeing issues too,” but he added there are guardrails in law to address any such concerns.”
As it relates to his call for the dismissal of Thompson and Campbell, Pintard said their replacements must be both competent and demonstrably independent of the governing party.
