CARICOM Observers Call for Campaign Finance Reform, Independent PRD

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CARICOM election observers are calling for campaign finance legislation and an independent Parliamentary Registration Department after identifying a number of issues during the May general election.

International observers have kept a close eye on the Bahamas’ elections for years, and during the most recent poll in May, they say they noticed some inconsistencies which, while troubling, could be addressed through new legislation and electoral reforms.

The general election may have been more than three months ago, but observers around the region are calling for a more detailed, more transparent electoral process, including campaign finance legislation and other sweeping reforms.

The details were released in an August 6 report by the CARICOM Election Observation Mission, which monitored the Bahamas’ general election in May.

The report is also calling for an independent electoral management body, along with stronger logistical preparedness and operations within the Parliamentary Registration Department.

The aim, according to the observers, is to ensure greater accuracy of the voters’ register and help safeguard electoral integrity.

The report says stakeholders raised concerns about the voter registry.

It states that the Parliamentary Registration Department faced criticism over limited preparedness, weak communication, and insufficient civic education efforts.

Stakeholders also called for greater independence of the PRD and the Boundaries Commission to avoid perceptions of political bias.

The observers also shared instances of “xenophobic rhetoric regarding the Haitian community” that were noted, which could have undermined voter confidence among Bahamians of Haitian descent.

When it comes to campaign finance reform, the report is calling for legislation that would require disclosure of campaign funding sources, establish limits on spending, and provide effective penalties for vote buying or the misuse of state resources.

The report also recommends that the government strengthen the integrity of the voter registration process by implementing “robust address verification systems and biometric checks” to reduce duplicate or fraudulent registrations.

On election day, CARICOM observers monitored 317 of the 322 polling divisions in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

They noted minor inconsistencies in voter identification and ink-checking procedures, but said these did not disrupt the process.

The report also found that extreme care was taken to preserve ballot secrecy.

Bruce Golding – Chairperson, Commonwealth Observer Group

“Campaign finance regulation is something that deeply concerns us.”

Bruce Golding – Chairperson, Commonwealth Observer Group

“Why do I need to bother campaigning? Just use a calculator, how much am I prepared to spend for each vote?”