BAHAMAS-Government thanks observer teams that monitored the last general election.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government has expressed its “sincere appreciation” to the international observer teams that were in the country for the May 12 general election.

In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said that the Philip Davis government thanked the “observer teams for the professionalism and independence with which they carried out their work, and for the time devoted to engaging with public officials, political parties, civil society, election administrators and Bahamian citizens.

“The Government welcomes the role of independent election observation in supporting confidence in democratic institutions and electoral processes. We will carefully review the findings and recommendations contained in their report and consider them as part of our continued work to strengthen the administration of elections in The Bahamas.”

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) has released its final report on the May 12 general election, providing a particularly useful independent assessment.

It concluded that the election was credible, peaceful and competitive and that the result reflected the will of Bahamians who participated.

But the 96-page report also provides an illuminating examination of the electoral process, political culture, declining voter participation, campaign financing, government communications, the Parliamentary Registration Department, access to information and other weaknesses that remain embedded in our democratic system.

Among the observer teams were the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Election Observer Mission, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth Observer Group.

Prime Minister Davis led his ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to a second term, becoming the first incumbent Bahamian leader to secure re-election since 1997. The PLP won 33 of 41 seats, nearly matching the results in 2021.

In the statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said that The Bahamas has a “proud democratic tradition” and that the government “remains committed to protecting the integrity of our electoral system, respecting the will of the Bahamian people and maintaining public confidence in our democratic institutions.

“We thank the observers for their work and for their contribution to this process,” it added.