COI Questions Location of Parliamentary Registration Department Vault Key

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Just one day before Parliament is set to be dissolved, the Coalition of Independents is raising concerns over the location of the key to the vault ahead of the May 12 general election.

COI leader Lincoln Bain delivering a cease and desist letter to the parliamentary commissioner today, warning that this could impact the election’s integrity.

The Coalition of Independents sounding the alarm on what they allege is unauthorized access to the vault located at the Parliamentary Registration Department, a vault COI leader Lincoln Bain says contains sensitive electoral information.

The group gathering outside the Parliamentary Registration Department on Harold Road Tuesday morning, claiming sources within the department along with police sources allegedly told them the Security and Intelligence Branch officers possess a key to the vault when they shouldn’t, further alleging the Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson doesn’t.

In fact, party leader Lincoln Bain claims Thompson admitted to this.

Lincoln Bain, Leader, Coalition of Independents
“We must operate within the law. The police, the government always access to operate within the law, do things the right way. If you want the law to change, then simply change it. You have the legislature, but as it stands the custody of our election materials should be in the hands of the parliamentary commissioner only.”

Bain referring to sections 12, 54, 74 and 75 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, the COI leader also sounding off on the high number of fraudulent passport cases, and while it’s not a new issue, Bain says it can put this year’s election at risks.

Lincoln Bain, Leader, Coalition of Independents
“When you see a person with a brand new fresh passport, you could smell the newness on it like new car leather and they come straight to parliamentary registration department that indicates to me that we have a bigger problem.”

After some resistance at the door from police, Bain hand delivering a cease and desist letter to Thompson, who he says stepped out of a meeting to receive it from him.

He says he’s now calling for international help.

Lincoln Bain, Leader, Coalition of Independents
“We are calling on the United States government, and the British government who we are going to set meeting with and write with to oversee our elections to assist us. Not just the OBS we want actual government to come and assist us in this because there is no way that with this situation going on that we should be left to ourselves.”