By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunmedia.net
A LITTLE fewer than half of eligible voters, 46.66 per cent of them, participated in the June 7 constitutional referendum, according to official statistics released yesterday by Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall.
Prime Minister Perry Christie’s Centerville constituency had one of the lowest turnout rates in the country and the third lowest turnout in New Providence, with 37.99 per cent of eligible voters participating in the vote.
In New Providence this was eclipsed only by Bain and Grants Town, represented by Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage, where turnout was 34.01 per cent, and Englerston, represented by Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, where turnout was 37.01 per cent.
Voter turnout in the Family Islands was generally lower than in New Providence. Only 26.92 per cent of eligible Long Island voters participated in the referendum, the lowest in the country. Loretta Butler-Turner represents this area.
Killarney, represented by FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, had the highest turnout in the country, with 61.18 per cent of eligible voters participating in the vote.
Among parliamentarians, Mr Christie and Mrs Butler-Turner were among the most vocal backers of a “yes” vote whereas Dr Minnis did not urge voters to take a particular side on the matter.
Constituencies where more than 50 per cent of eligible voters voted included: Carmichael, Elizabeth, Golden Gates, Golden Isles, Marathon, Mount Moriah, Saint Anne’s, Seabreeze, Southern Shores, Tall Pines and Yamacraw in New Providence and East Grand Bahama and Marco City in Grand Bahama.
The constitutional referendum’s amendments were overwhelmingly rejected by Bahamians, with “no’ votes getting more than double the number of “yes” votes in most constituencies.
The day after the vote, Mr Christie expressed disappointment over the results however he said the voice of the people would be respected.
It is still unclear how much money the Christie administration spent on the referendum through funding of the YES Bahamas campaign and the Constitutional Commission.
Comments
Publius 7 years, 10 months ago
The conclusion the Tribune is inferring here displays gross inadequacy in the area of critical analysis.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 10 months ago
Bahamians only vote in general elections because there are incentives ......... material or otherwise ............ Bahamians tend to leave most of their daily social issues for their "leaders" to solve ............ just like in the case of these referendum questions ......... Bahamians grumble, vilify and armchair quarterback, but they rarely take genuine initiative on political matters outside of a general election vote ...................... and the politicians know this!!!!!!!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 10 months ago
The "Yes Vote" got 99.9% of their fervent supporters to vote in the recent referendum compared to less than 36% of the "No Vote"supporters. Of the 53.37% of registered voters who did not vote, only about 0.01% of them would have voted "Yes" and the remaining 99.9% would have voted "No". Bottom line: Bahamians by an overwhelming more than 4 to 1 margin (whether they voted in the recent referendum or not) were not fooled by the corrupt Christie-led PLP government's hideous hidden agenda.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 10 months ago
Let me say this I voted Yes to taxing the web shops it made good sense. It had nothing to do with any **Party. I voted Yes to one of the bills I wanted to vote for two of the bills, but it was not really about rights for women. In matters such as these I vote Bahamian . What is in my view best for the Bahamas. It has nothing to do with any party. In the general election I will vote for party. and many persons that I know voted Bahamian and not party. Be it FNM, DNA or PLP the results would have been the same.
asiseeit 7 years, 10 months ago
Birdie, I as well voted yes in the gambling referendum that became an opinion poll once the government and their money men were told to roll out. After that betrayal by the corrupt PLP government why in the hell would I waste my time to vote? This government is disgusting, vile, and repugnant! They have harmed The Bahamas to no end for their personal gain. No better than any demon that came before, actually worse.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 10 months ago
But we still have a country of 400,000 citizens to manage ...... that is why citizens must be mature responsible voters and not opportunistic emotional partiers
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