Free National Movement Targets Young Voters at University of The Bahamas

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – With a general election on the horizon, efforts to engage young voters are ramping up. On Tuesday, the Free National Movement’s Torchbearers Youth Association hosting a “Youth on Fire to Vote” event at the University of The Bahamas, aimed at encouraging participation and giving students direct access to candidates.

Today’s energy on campus could be tomorrow’s votes at the polls, but are events like this really encouraging young people to participate, and are they educating them about the process?

At the University of The Bahamas, the “Youth on Fire to Vote” event hosted by the Free National Movement’s Torchbearers focused on one key goal, getting young people engaged in the democratic process.

This future voter telling me events like this are encouraging.

Cecil Roberts, Student, University of The Bahamas
“Right now, because the upcoming general election a lot of students just came out of school, so I feel as though events like this will help students to want to be able to vote as well as execute their rights. Are you register to vote? I was registered from July.”

Cecil Roberts, Student, University of The Bahamas
“I feel as though if you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice. I know persons tell you about a lot of things about their friends, politicians, and their friends’ political things, but I feel as though personally, execute your right to vote because that’s your right.”

Some students say that access provided the transparency they’ve been looking for.

Renardo Rolle, Student, University of The Bahamas
“Yeah, we really started to and then as more mp show up, I get to speak to their point of view how they really see, and then yeah, really bringing that knowledge of definitely getting to meet them on a personal level.”

While others say the event helps to bring awareness, but insist more is needed.

Devin Rolle, Student, University of The Bahamas
“I guess it brings awareness to it, but however, I feel like, you know, more needs to be said. Like each party needs to say what they represent, what are they promising. So I feel like this is good and all the fun, but you know, more needs to be said about what you are promising.”

Torchbearers President Xavier Knowles says the event was designed to meet young people where they are, while giving them direct access to potential decision makers.

Xavier Knowles, President, Torchbearers Youth Association
“We wanted to provide access to all of the students, to many of the candidates and current sitting members of parliament of the Free National Movement, just so that they can ask the questions that matter to them. We’re also giving away some food, drinks, et cetera. This is UB, this is a college campus. We have entertainment, and we just wanna engage students where they are, at UB.”

FNM candidates were also in attendance at the event.

Heather McDonald, FNM Candidate, Englerston
“It’s about developing online, but also giving them a seat at the table. And that’s what the Clark Paris is about. You want to give young persons the opportunity to sit at the table and actually be a part of the process of what we’re doing. Because I can tell you this, when I was in Clark Paris, one of the things we told our former leaders of the committee, he said, we believe that college should be free for all Bahamians. And that was one of the things we did during our last administration.”

As parties ramp up efforts to connect with younger voters, the Progressive Liberal Party is expected to host a similar event at UB later this week.