APRIL 4th, 2007

MY FELLOW BAHAMIANS :

We live in one of the oldest democracies in the world.  For two hundred and seventy-six years now, Bahamians have been going to the polls to elect representatives to the House of Assembly.

We also live in one of the most vigourous democracies in the world.  Bahamians cherish their hard won political rights and freedoms. Amongst these there is none more precious than the right of the Bahamian people to choose their own government in free, fair and democratic elections.  Bahamians have always exercised this right in record numbers.  Voter turnout at elections has consistently been on the magnitude of ninety plus per cent.  This is an astounding statistic by world standards, and one more reason why our little nation is the envy of so many other nations, large and small, all around the world.

But the time has come, my fellow citizens, for you to exercise that greatest of all your rights once again.  The time has come for you to choose your Government for the next five years.

I am pleased to inform you, therefore, that in accordance with the powers vested in me as Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas under our Constitution, I have advised His Excellency, the Governor-General, to dissolve Parliament today, and to issue writs for a General Election to be held on Wednesday, the 2nd May, 2007.

The next Parliament will be convened on the 23rd May, 2007.

The last General Election, as you know, was held on the 2nd May 2002.  The May 2nd 2007 date that I have fixed for the forthcoming General Election is therefore in faithful accord with the promise I made to you earlier that the General Election this year would be held on or before the 5th anniversary of the last General Election.

As the date for the General Election has now been fixed, it means that all persons who registered to vote up to and including Tuesday of this week will be eligible to vote in their respective constituencies on Election Day.

I encourage all registered voters to cast their ballots in the forthcoming General Election.  I have every confidence that they will do so in record numbers this time just as they have always done so impressively in the past.

As Prime Minister, I also admonish all political parties, including my own, and all candidates, including myself, to conduct a campaign that is lively and spirited but at the same time peaceful, and respectful of the differences that come between us at this time in our national life.

Let us leave all the name-calling and nastiness behind us.  Let us move resolutely instead to higher ground, for it is only there that we can engage each other in mature and civilized debate of the issues that really matter to the Bahamian people.  We do our people and our nation a grave disservice if we, the leaders and would-be leaders of our nation, refuse to heed this call.

Let each and everyone of us, therefore, resolve to conduct a clean campaign, and free and fair elections, so that the voice of the people can be heard in the fullness of all its wisdom and power, and with unmistakable clarity, on Election Day, the 2nd May, 2007.

Finally, as this is Holy Week, I wish to confirm that my party will not be holding any rallies nor engaging in any other public political campaign activities until after Easter Monday.  I believe that the other parties will be observing similar constraints as well.

Thank you for listening and, in closing, permit me to wish all of you in advance Happy Easter and a safe holiday weekend.