“While It Was Our Idea, We Welcome What Pintard and the FNM Are Doing”

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – As concerns about election fraud take center stage, Coalition of Independents leader Lincoln Bain said he is pleased to see international observers will be closely monitoring the upcoming general election.

He stopped short of praising the Free National Movement for making it happen—instead, insisting it was the COI’s idea first.

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard, told reporters yesterday that he has written to the United Nations and U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker, asking that they send independent election observers for the upcoming general election.

Coalition of Independents leader Lincoln Bain said it is something they have been advocating for.

Lincoln Bain – Leader, Coalition of Independents

“The FNM continues to follow our lead, and so I’m glad that they see the same things we see as important. Of course, at the press conference, we made the announcement that we had been informed by the U.S. government that they would be participating in this election.”

The Organization of American States (OAS) has previously deployed observer missions for past elections.

On Monday, they confirmed they will also monitor this year’s general election.

The FNM is also calling for the United Nations to pay close attention to what is going on. It’s an idea Bain said he is on board with.

Lincoln Bain – Leader, Coalition of Independents

“I want to see as much help as we can get. I want to thank Pintard for writing the United Nations. We did not write the United Nations, but we need all the help that we can get.”

Pintard also called for the immediate removal of Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson and Returning Officer Neil Braithwaite.

Among the concerns this time around are claims of fraudulent passports and voters’ cards in the system. Recently, the COI held a press conference outside of the PRD to address this very issue.

Lincoln Bain – Leader, Coalition of Independents

“I don’t want to pre-empt it, but I know that the British High Commissioner has also had interest in coming and watching this. I don’t know if there is some arrangement with the U.S. government as a partner on this—that was a consideration—but they definitely also had interest in watching this election.”