Breaking from tradition, scores of members of the Rastafarian community registered on Monday to vote in the upcoming general election.
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Members of the Rastafarian community registered to vote on Wednesday. |
For many years, Rastas have chosen not to vote, saying they wanted no part in politics, particularly because voters are required to mark an X on ballot sheets.
Several of the Rastas explained that X to them signified something wrong or negative and that was one of the reasons they chose not to take part in voting.
The Rastas, who showed up at the Parliamentary Registration Department on Farrington Road in New Providence, were reluctant to say which party or candidates they will support.
Ethelbert Harrison, a constituent of Golden Gates, said the time has come for Rastas to have a say in who their members of parliament are.
"Our purpose here today is to drive everyone out and come and register. Truly it is not a regular process for Rastas to vote because we have sat back for some time and just watched the process. Although we were not banned from voting, the marking X situation was something for the Rastas to have to learn to understand," Mr. Harrison said.
"So we see it now that we don’t have to mark an X because we know X is always wrong, so we come to mark a tick if possible, but we want all the Rastas to come out and exercise their right to vote."
One of the issues the Rastafarians said they are concerned about is discrimination.
"We feel like we are not protected under the constitution of The Bahamas fairly. We also have a problem with Rastafarians children not being allowed to attend private schools with their locks. Rastas are also being sent to jail for any reason and their locks are being cut, so at this time we will like to step up and have some changes made," Mr. Harrison said.
A Rasta priest, Rithmond McKinney, also encouraged Rastas throughout the country to register to vote.
He said with the thousands of Rastas in The Bahamas, their vote will make a difference in deciding the future for The Bahamas.
"I think now our organization is more matured and we feel that it is very important for us to participate in the process of the election of this country," Mr. McKinney said.
"My main concern today is to get the message out to my brothers and sisters that now is the time to register to vote. Over the years our basic right has been denied. We have been discriminated in the workplace and we feel the oppression. So by us coming forward now we feel all of our issues will be properly addressed and protected under the constitution and laws of The Bahamas."
Valentino Josey, a member of the Rastafarian community, was also at the Parliamentary Registrar Department on Wednesday.
"I feel that all of us…need to ban together and support one cause so when the election is called we will be able to have a say and if you’re not registered you won’t have a say," Mr. Josey said.
"Over the years a lot of brothers had refused to register maybe because they did not fully understand the process and so we need to come together from all the grass root areas and make each other understand so we can have a say."
Mr. Josey added that all Rastafarian camps will be approached and urged to have their members registered.
"We don’t support a party as such right now, but we will wait until that time come for us to make a decision and move forward," Mr. Josey said.
Several of the Rastas indicated that in the near future they would like to see a Rasta as a member of parliament, so that their agendas could be pushed at the highest level.
As of Tuesday, 115,439 people had registered to vote, according to officials at the Parliamentary Registration Department. Officials are trying to get 160,000 people registered.
