Minister of Transport and Local Government, the Hon. Frankie Campbell led a delegation of Senior Officials and members of the media to three islands on Thursday, June 22. The delegation visited Long Island, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, and Freeport, Grand Bahama to observe Local Government elections, for the selection of Chairman, Board members and Council members. After observing and assessing over a dozen polling divisions on the three islands, the Minister said that he was ‘pleased’ with the process.

“After speaking with the officials at the election site and discussing the process with them, I am happy to report to the Bahamian people, that the process has been running smoothly,” said Minister Campbell.

The first stop for the delegation were three polling divisions in the North End and Simms settlements of Long Island, where the Minister spoke with six of the candidates, who said some of the major concerns in their community included the need for school and road repairs, clinics, entertainment and the beautification of parks and community areas. 

The delegation then left for the island of Eleuthera to observe elections at in the settlement of Governor’s Harbor. While there, the Minister spoke with workers at the polling divisions and voters who expressed concerns relating to youth unemployment and the need for social media connectivity and infrastructure.

The final stop during the one-day trip was to the island of Grand Bahama, where Minister Campbell met with officials and poll workers at several polling divisions. Some of the issues raised included the need for the repaving of roads, upgrading of the health facilities and modernizing of government building and services.

At the end of the visit to the islands, Minister Campbell said that he would report his observations to the Cabinet and would continue to study the role of Local Government, which the government hopes to implement throughout the country, including on the island of New Providence.

The polls closed at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. The Minister said that the names of the elected officers would be announced to the public as soon as the counting and tallying up of ballots were complete.

By Vedrine

Bahamas Information Services