Bahamas, April 27, 2017 – Nassau– 57 year-old, Andrew Johnson now lives in fear that his constitutional right to vote has been revoked. The Eleuthera man was charged with making a false declaration last month after it was alleged that he registered to vote twice. The matter appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on Tuesday 25thApril 2017 but did not proceed because there were no witnesses present.
The prosecution alleged that between February 27 and 28, Johnson, while under oath before Revising Officer Lucy Butler stated that he did not register to vote twice. His arrest was made amid the Parliamentary Registration Department reporting that there were persons who had registered to vote for the upcoming election more than once. Parliamentary commissioner, Sheryln Hall stated, “we have noticed that people have been registering twice, so we have to delete their cards.” However Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean went a step further after the arrest was made to say, “The message that we are sending out here today is that we take a no tolerance approach to these matters. We can tell you that there are strict laws on the books.” He added, “through the election laws, in registering of voters and discipline of voters, and I’m going to tell you that anyone who contemplates breaching those laws, what is happening today is an absolute example of what will happen to those persons.”
However, suspicions have been raised as to the manner in which the matter was dealt. A police plane flew to North Eleuthera with armed policemen on board to apprehend Johnson who is concerned by many as a well-respected community leader. He was then put in handcuffs and ankle chains, and dragged before the courts in Nassau with a large police escort and media present. Though persons charged with murder or other serious crimes are not given such treatment.
Allegations of the Administrator for North Eleuthera, Jolton Johnson committing the same act has also been circulating. It appears that Johnson’s name has been listed twice on the same register, once as Jolton L Johnson and the other as Jolton Livingstone Johnson, who both share the same birth date. Yet he has not been arrested or even questioned by police. This now leaves citizens to question the integrity of the entire registration process and by extension the judicial system.
It has since been suggested that Andrew Johnson’s case be transferred to Eleuthera for hearing since the offense allegedly occurred there. The matter was adjourned to May 1st and Johnson remains on $5,000 bail, making him very concerned as to whether the case would conclude before Election Day May 10th 2017.
Story: By Kay-Marie Fletcher
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