Bahamians Head to the Polls

(The incumbent prime minister, Hubert Ingraham, signs an autograph. Photo:Nassau Tribune)


Bahamians go to the polls today to elect a new government for a five year term.

For the first time, three parties are offering a full slate of candidates in the historic general election.
They are:

• The incumbent Free National Movement (FNM), running under a banner of “Trusted Leadership,”

• The official opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), which “Believes in the Bahamas” and

• The fledgling Democratic National Alliance (DNA), campaigning on “The Vision 2012 and Beyond.”

A record 172,000 Bahamians have registered to vote. The Bahamas traditionally has an exceptionally high voter turnout and we're proud of it!

Today, the polling stations are a riot of the colours of a traffic light – red (FNM), Yellow (PLP) and green (DNA).

The air's charged with excitement.

There are 38 seats at stake.

We enjoy a healthy parliamentary democracy, modelled after the Westminster system and inherited from the British.