There is a lot more at stake in this upcoming election than the winning of the parliamentary seats of those who now hold them; and the hopes of those desiring to hold them. Rather, the very belief in the efficacy of government itself is at stake. In other words, confidence in our politics may be on the ballot this election.
You see, for at least three generations of Bahamians, life has never seemed more harsh. Grandparents, parents and their millennial children commonly say these days that things have never been worse. Be it the economy, public order or prospects for the future, Bahamians are despondent. It doesn't matter who one blames for this situation; the fact is that the situation prevails, and thousands of Bahamians are looking for it to change for the better.
In the lead-up to the last election, many big promises were made about making the country better. At that time, the economy was sluggish, the murder rate was high and people were restless about the future. Bahamians voted for change, and change they got - the Christie administration replaced the Ingraham administration. Five years later, not much has improved, many would say, and, in fact, things have gotten worse, others would say.
The big political change of 2012 did not live up to its billing. In the lead-up to the elections of 2007, a great deal was promised then to Bahamian voters. At the time, the economy was anaemic, crime was rising, and voters were feeling frustrated about what they thought was an unproductive administration. Bahamians voted for change, and change they got; the Ingraham administration replaced the Christie administration. Five years later, they were ready to make a change again, and change they did.
For 15 years now, Bahamian voters have been electing and firing administrations following one term in office. Their experiment in change for the better appears to have failed. The ballot has been impotent in yielding the returns for which they have looked over the past decade and a half. Frustrated with their failed experiment, voters seem discouraged. Thousands have decided not to register to vote, even. In other words, for the first time in its history, Bahamians seem prepared to join people around the globe in having huge segments of the population abandon any hope that the ballot could make a positive difference in their lives.
Low voter turnout rates around the world include the following: Egypt (28 percent), Romania (42 percent), United States (53 percent), Japan (55 percent), the UK (66 percent) and Canada (68 percent). Voter registration at home now hovers around 52 percent, a historic low for a country whose ordinary voter participation rate exceeds 90 percent. Such a high level of discouragement is not good for our democracy, as it threatens to put critical decisions about who should lead the country in the hands of a smaller segment of the population than is desirable to achieve the best results for our nation.
Extraordinarily high voter turnout has been a hallmark of elections in The Bahamas, and exemplary of democracy, as well as a reason that we have been able to achieve changes in government at critical times to move us forward. The changes in 1967, 1968 and 1992 are all examples of this.
Bahamians' motivation to vote in the past has been tied significantly to their confidence in the leadership of the parties for whom they voted. The late Sir Lynden Pindling was for many years the inspiration that drove thousands upon thousands of Bahamian voters to the polls. His eloquence, charisma, aspirational promises, people skills and general political craft drove voters to the polls to support him and his party. Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham emerged as a new force in the nation's politics and his compelling political skills, bravado in the face of the political juggernaut, Sir Lynden, and practical and pragmatic plan for the country compelled tens of thousands to go to the polls to support him and his party. Perry Christie, following his ascendancy to the leadership of the PLP, seized upon the mood of the country in 2002, and with his people skills and affability moved thousands of voters to go to the polls to vote for him.
Yes, these leaders had the benefit of entrenched political parties with sizable stable support bases, but their particular abilities as politicians did much to keep their supporters motivated and to encourage others to support the cause.
Leadership matters. It matters to the confidence of voters to expend the necessary energy and focus to go to the polls to vote during an election. In the upcoming elections, leadership will matter again. In fact, the lack of enthusiasm among voters might suggest that they are unsure about the ability of the leadership of the various parties to make a difference in their lives. It stands to reason that if the voters of this nation, in the great majority, felt that voting for one or more of these leaders would mean better for them, they would run to the parliamentary registrar to sign up. They are not, and this speaks volumes about what they believe.
This is sad, but it would be sadder still if they finally mustered up the interest to go and register, only to find that, over the five years following the election, life for them would be no better, or even worse. Under such a circumstance, be sure, not only would they be pissed, but low voter turnout might become a staple of the political profile of our nation. That would be truly troubling for our democracy. Perhaps there is a leader or group of leaders who can step up and change this possibility. We shall see.
o Zhivargo Laing is a Bahamian economic consultant and former Cabinet minister who represented the Marco City constituency in the House of Assembly.
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