By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PARLIAMENTARY Commissioner Sherlyn Hall said “unscrupulous people” stole five voter’s cards and a government seal from the Parliamentary Registration Department last month.
His statement came a day after opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis claimed in the House of Assembly that “hundreds if not thousands” of voter’s cards were stolen from a government office.
Said Mr Hall: “All I can say is we had an incident on December 18 where some unscrupulous people came to the office and moved about five blank voter’s cards off a desk when personnel were not really looking. No numbers were signed on them and police are investigating. But it was five cards stolen, not thousands.”
Mr Hall added that the stolen seal could facilitate the creation of fake voter’s cards.
“The seal can be impressed upon a card to make it authentic,” he said.
Mr Hall described the situation as “unfortunate,” adding that it “should not have happened.”
He declined to say if there was a political motivation behind the robbery.
“I regret it happened under my watch but more grievous things are going on than this. We are putting security measures in place to make sure no one will have access to electronic materials.”
As for the person or persons who stole the seal, Mr Hall said: “As a Bahamian who loves your country, please return it and do the right thing.”
Yesterday Dr Minnis said the theft was a “threat to democracy.”
He said the stolen cards and seal could somehow be used to change the outcome of an upcoming election.
On Wednesday, during a contribution to the Electricity Amendment Bill, Dr Minnis demanded a thorough investigation into the allegations he raised.
“I’ve been advised that there have been hundreds if not thousands of voter’s cards stolen from the Parliamentary Registry (Department),” the Killarney MP told the House.
“I would like to have an update on that because not only were the cards stolen, but so was the government’s seal. I need to know and the public wants to know how many cards were stolen, the numbers of the cards in terms of sequence so that these cards do not show up at a later date.
“I’d like to have a report on the stolen cards, so as to ensure transparency moving forward.”
When contacted Wednesday night, Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said: “(This is the) first time I’m hearing about it.”
The matter was not made public until Dr Minnis raised it in the House of Assembly.
Comments
realfreethinker 9 years, 3 months ago
Man this government love to live in darkness. If Dr. Minnis didn't break the story when would we have known. The ACP said this is the first time he is hearing this. This happened more than a month ago and we are just hearing about this. This government is corrupt to the core and the parliamentary so cavalier about it. Sounds like an inside job to me.
Publius 9 years, 3 months ago
The theft of the cards and seal is indeed a serious problem, but those cards would not be able to be used in the next general election anyway because voters cards are color coded and the color changes with each new election. And those cards would have a hard time being used even if they call a referendum before the next general election because there would be no corresponding counterfoil or register for those cards, so when the person shows up with the card to vote, it would be recognized as being fraudulent. Where did Minnis get the "hundreds or thousands" of cards story from by the way? Its good that he mentioned the incident itself, but not good that he made the incident out to be far worse than it may have been.
duppyVAT 9 years, 3 months ago
How much would they get on the black market????????????
realfreethinker 9 years, 3 months ago
That's our problem in this country. The real story is not about how many cards but the fact that someone could " just walk in " and carry cards and the official seal. It speaks to the fact that anything goes in our country. This is a huge blunder with possible wide scale ramifications.
TalRussell 9 years, 3 months ago
Comrades don't we still allow dead people to vote, so what hell wrong, if thief's and fraudsters does gets their chance vote too? Why not, we been electing and appointing them for years? Wasn't it "Doctor, Doctor In Da House" Minnis who sounded the alarm, how he was told that "THOUSANDS" voters cards had been stolen? Was this Minnis being Minnis rushing speak, armed with nothing more than his unsubstantiated facts?
Sickened 9 years, 3 months ago
Seals are usually under lock and key with only a few people having access. Once the seal is removed from the safe it is applied to the necessary document(s) and locked back up. It should not be sitting on someone's desk while that person is completing a document that needs to be sealed. But you know a procedure is not in place and, chances are, there are more than a few 'official' government seals lying around the department (one in every desk drawer). Sickening!!!
licks2 9 years, 3 months ago
Voters card are our most powerful identification means used in this country. . .every place will not ask you any more question or for any more ID if you present one of them buggers!!!
Since the new immigration policy. . .them things are "hotter" than pot!!!!!
The question in my mind is why would you steal the seal if you only took five cards. . .when the seal will send ya to jail for plenty time?
I don't know who is telling the truth but this government have a serious problem with hiding things and lying ta we!!! And at the same time mr M could be "over the top" with some things he says at times!!
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
Ahmm, how easy would it be for someone to order the new colour ? people counterfeit US dollars...how easy would it be for someone to make a counterfeit card. Voters cards are used for more than election time. They are considered valid national IDs for all kinds of transactions....and these people have the seal as well. I'm really surprised at the nonchalance of the response... I'd suggest depending on more than "card color" as your insurance. I'm sure the perpetrators can make millions from false IDs with the size of our immigration problem, they wont have a problem shelling out a few hundred for a new card color. And now that they have the cards, they have the perfect templates for making other cards
Publius 9 years, 3 months ago
For fake IDs it can be an issue yes, but for an election, the card as a shell is not what makes your registration valid upon presentation to the polling station. Each card has a counterfoil with the registrant's photo and information (which Parliamentary registration makes and keeps when they register you), and the person must also be on the voters' register. As for the nonchalant attitude, welcome to The Bahamas!
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
Yeah but my concern isn't election time, I can go to the bank on Monday for example and present a voters card to withdraw money from an account. How many tellers are trained to recognize a fake voters card? I'm almost certain the intent wasn't voting privileges but rather a valid national ID. This was a really shortsighted response from the PC. And this happened in December? I wonder if they notified anybody....I wonder how many immigration officers can detect a fake ID..
Publius 9 years, 3 months ago
Agreed. Which is why I said "As for the nonchalant attitude, welcome to The Bahamas!"
duppyVAT 9 years, 3 months ago
Yes............... a Voters Card is considered an acceptable I.D. card now. The new PC is either hiding a security problem OR he running a racket down there .......... we hear of alleged black market passports............. now its Voters cards?? Soon will it be drivers ID and NIB??? This can become a pervasive problem .................. if it isnt already
banker 9 years, 2 months ago
They should change the design immediately.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 2 months ago
Agree. And call an election so we can use it right away too
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID