Prime Minister Perry Christie assured today that the government is not involved in any deceptive moves intended to steal today's general election.

The prime minister said he wants to see a free and fair election.

Christie was asked to respond to reports of voter irregularities in Elizabeth, where voting was suspended and eventually resumed this morning amid concerns from the Free National Movement over the handling of the advance poll ballot boxes, and missing unused ballots.

"I'm hoping that all the reports amount to very little because it is difficult for anyone to make a judgment to suspend voting and I'm hoping that, that kind of experience can be avoided," he said.

The prime minister also said: "I find it inconceivable that there could be any kind of intent to deceive or intent to confuse. We think we have put in place the personnel to prevent that."

Today, Christie also suggested that if re-elected, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration would ensure rules to govern money in elections are put in place -- a pledge he has made more than once in the past.

"It is for me, quite a surprise to see the millions of dollars that have been poured into advertising for and on behalf of the opposition party," said Christie, who spoke to reporters at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Base where a ceremony was held to remember the marines who were killed in the 1980 Flamingo incident.

"We hope that we have survived it. And if we have, we hope that the result will be changes to our rules and regulations and will minimize the extent to which we are able to have, whether for or against, the level of foreign intrusion.

"We have just seen in the United States of America where it has become a major issue. And so, it is an issue, not just in The Bahamas but in other countries as well."

Christie also told reporters he is satisfied that he did his best in seeking to convince the Bahamian people to reelect him and the PLP back to power.

"I did the very best that I could, worked as hard as I could to explain to the people the issues that I think are important to the country," Christie said.

"The significant danger that the country faces [is] an untested opposition, an untested leader, one who has had the unfortunate predicament of not being able to keep a party together.

"I've been able to, I think, throughout the length and breadth of the country, communicate what I thought are the important points that would impact the future of our country and our policies that are connected thereto, intended to advance the future, secure the future.

"And so, having been through this on so many occasions, I am well aware that ultimately it is the people's choice and that the people have expressed themselves and that we have to be satisfied with that expression.

"I'm hoping that the elections will go without any real incidents, that we can demonstrate to the world that we have a high voter turnout, that we can do so peacefully and that whatever happens it can be accepted and the country can move on."

Christie is today facing off against Dr. Hubert Minnis, leader of the Free National Movement, who voted after 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church Hall in Lyford Cay.

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