yesterday on Issues of the day" Mr. Jones stated that one of the Parliamentary Registration Dept staffers made a notation of the fact that one of the persons they registered spoke little or no English.


Mr. Jones obviously doesn't know that Bahamians come in all flavors:

1) Haitian nationals, for example, have been naturalised as Bahamian citizens (many of whom are illiterate)
2) Bahamians returning from years spent overseas, may also have foreign accents; and
3) Spouses of Bahamian citizens who obtained Bahamian citizenship may also have foreign accents, speak limited English etc..

So unfortunately both he and the Registration staffer are clueless...documentation has to be scrutinised, no snap judgements made; and prejudices have to be put aside when we do our jobs..

as a "journalist" his education and job experience should have clued him in

yesterday on Issues of the day" Mr. Jones stated that one of the Parliamentary Registration Dept staffers made a notation of the fact that one of the persons they registered spoke little or no English.


Mr. Jones obviously doesn't know that Bahamians come in all flavors:

1) Haitian nationals, for example, have been naturalised as Bahamian citizens (many of whom are illiterate)
2) Bahamians returning from years spent overseas, may also have foreign accents; and
3) Spouses of Bahamian citizens who obtained Bahamian citizenship may also have foreign accents, speak limited English etc..

So unfortunately both he and the Registration staffer are clueless...documentation has to be scrutinised, no snap judgements made; and prejudices have to be put aside when we do our jobs..

as a "journalist" his education and job experience should have clued him in
Just to give u a heads up the experience he might have, but the education well that's another story... His educational level is very limited.. Contrary to popular belief his only took him as far as the all age school in Aklins..

This seems so simple to me. If you born here, or naturalized, you can register to vote. It should also be up to the voter to prove his credentials according to strict guide lines. Now, if we can get rid of the corruption, bribery, and other tricks, we should be OK. :)

What other items are requred when registering? I know they ask for passport or old voters card. Also, with what has been revealed, they should stop accepting the old voters card as that is no longer valid proof that one is a citizen.

What other items are requred when registering? I know they ask for passport or old voters card. Also, with what has been revealed, they should stop accepting the old voters card as that is no longer valid proof that one is a citizen.

if you're a registered citizen, then your certificate of citizenship is proof of ccitizenship

if you're a registered citizen, then your certificate of citizenship is proof of ccitizenship
That is what I had to show to receive my first voter's card. It was also required when I applied for my first Bahamian passport.

There is no lapse in the system as it relates to who is a Bahamian and what documentation is needed.

The problem is the people working in the system. The rules are simply not followed.

That is what I had to show to receive my first voter's card. It was also required when I applied for my first Bahamian passport.

AA, were you married to a Bahamian and go through the process again (PR) to get passport and citizenship to vote?

There is no lapse in the system as it relates to who is a Bahamian and what documentation is needed.
The problem is the people working in the system. The rules are simply not followed.


I guess what I am getting at is if a person has already illegally obtained a voter's card from the past election, how would using that as a means to obtain a new one ensure that these persons are not participating in our electoral process. KWIM?

AA, were you married to a Bahamian and go through the process again (PR) to get passport and citizenship to vote?
Fisherman, I never had permanent residency. I came here as a teacher on a government contract, had 2- 3 year contracts and was then kept on on month to month terms. We got married and I continued on month to month for 5 years until eligible to apply for and be granted citizenship, I was then able to apply for a Bahamian passport and voter's card. The rules for Government employees are somewhat different than for those who just are spouses of Bahamians as we don't have work permits or residents permits as such.

thanks for the info

another proof of citizenship is a Bahamas Supreme Court Adoption Order - under Section 4 of the Nationality Act where a Bahamian MAN adopts a foreign child and obtains a Bahamian Supreme COurt Adoption Order, which confers citizenship on that person...