Elizabeth PLP Incumbent Clashes With PRD Officials and Police at the Polls

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – C.V. Bethel High School wasn’t the only center of chaos during Thursday’s advance polls.

Thelma Gibson Primary School was the center of drama as well.

It appeared to show party supporters from all sides of the political divide, along with PLP incumbent JoBeth Coleby-Davis, who argued with parliamentary officials at one of the polling division doors.

Coleby-Davis could be heard and seen shouting, along with others, at the presiding officer, demanding that the ballot boxes be brought out of the room.

The drama eventually moved outside, as officers escorted the ballot box to the bus, holding back the crowd following them, with expletives shouted at the presiding officer who accompanied the box.

The box eventually made it onto the bus, along with an accompanying representative from each party.

Coleby-Davis officially filed a complaint in a statement sent by the Progressive Liberal Party, claiming the returning officer acted outside of legally established procedures by allegedly instructing presiding officers to leave polling rooms after boxes were sealed, directing them to be moved to another classroom without agents being present.

While Coleby-Davis did not provide a comment, FNM candidate for Elizabeth, Heather Hunt, told us that tensions between parties and the presiding officers had been brewing all day.

Heather Hunt – FNM candidate, Elizabeth

“They were complaining about that particular officer the entire day, and although there was chaos everywhere throughout Nassau and Thelma Gibson, that particular area on the Yamacraw side of Thelma Gibson was utter chaos from the beginning to the end. So what happened in the end was just a larger reflection of what happened throughout the entire day.”

It was the end of a chaotic day across the capital.

Despite a written statement by the Parliamentary Registration Department that addressed the frustrating process, mum’s the word from Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson, who did not give any interviews today.

Hunt said it’s a situation that needs to be resolved by May 12.

Heather Hunt – FNM candidate, Elizabeth

“I’m hopeful that now that the minister has experienced what we have been complaining about for weeks and months, the government will actually take steps to remove, firstly, the commissioner, and secondly, any returning officer who has demonstrated that they are incapable of running an election.”