Sir Arthur Foulkes, GCMG, Governor-General
Government House, Nassau, Bahamas
Pursuant to Article 70 of the Constitution, the Constituencies Commission makes the following report.
1. The number of constituencies in the House of Assembly should be 38.
2. The constituencies to be distributed as follows:
a) New Providence and its adjacent Cays and Islands – 23
b) Grand Bahama and Bimini – 5
c) Abaco and Cays – 2
d) Andros & Berry Islands – 2
e) Eleuthera – 2
f) Exuma and Cays and Ragged Island – 1
g) Long Island – 1
h) Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador – 1
i) Mayaguana, Inagua, Acklins, Crooked Island and Long Cay – 1
3. The Register of Voters as at 14th November 2011 is 137,444. New Providence 69.92% or 96,111, Grand Bahama and Bimini 14.67% or 20,166, and the other Family Islands 15.4% or 21,167.
4. As at 14th November 2011, the average number of registered voters in the existing 25 constituencies in New Providence is 3844.
5. The current numbers of registered voters in New Providence show a range of 2235 with a high of 5202 registered voters in Blue Hills (35% over the average) and a low of 2967 in Bain & Grants Town (23% below the average).
6. We therefore propose that the 23New Providence constituencies be delineated as indicated on the attached map. In making this proposal, we have been “guided by the general consideration that the number of voters entitled to vote for the purposes of electing every member of the House of Assembly shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, be the same….” Every attempt was made to cut boundaries along natural roadways, and to minimize the cutting of Polling Divisions. The New Providence boundaries proposed produce the following result on the Register as at 14th November, 2011:
New Providence
1. Golden Isles 4107
2. Bain Town & Grants Town 4532
3. Bamboo Town 4377
4. Carmichael 4334
5. Elizabeth 3923
6. St. Cecilia 4537
7. Centreville 4444
8. Fort Charlotte 4133
9. Fox Hill 3947
10. Garden Hills 4116
11. Golden Gates 4388
12. Killarney 4209
13. Marathon 4034
14. Montagu 4216
15. Mount Moriah 4277
16. Nassau Village 4302
17. Tall Pines 4010
18. Pinewood 4085
19. Seabreeze 4097
20. South Beach 4019
21. Southern Shores 3948
22. St. Anne’s 3987
23. Yamacraw 4089
TOTAL 96,111
The proposed changes will produce on average an additional 550 voters per constituency.
This proposed distribution produces a range of 626 with a high of 4537 registered voters in St. Cecilia and a low of 3923 in Elizabeth. We have set a standard of no more than 10% (418) over or below the average of 4178. We have achieved this standard and in the majority of cases we have kept within 5% (209) of the average. The numbers of registered voters in the constituencies with the lower numbers are expected to grow much more than the constituencies with higher numbers.
7. In view of the proposed configuration, resulting from a shift in population, we propose that the following names be eliminated:
Blue Hills
Clifton
Englerston
Kennedy
St. Thomas More
We propose that the following new names be created:
Nassau Village
Tall Pines
Southern Shores
We also propose that Bain & Grants Town be amended to “Bain Town & Grants Town”, and Farm Road and Centreville to “Centreville”.
8. The changes proposed can be compared to the last Constituencies Commission Report dated March 13th 2007. In New Providence when the boundaries were last changed, the total number of registered voters was 90,417, with an Election due by May 2nd 2007. We are now proposing changes with the total number of registered voters in New Providence of 96,111 with General Elections due by May 2nd 2012.
New Providence
Register of Voters
13 March 2007
Bain Town & Grants Town 3606
Bamboo Town 3663
Blue Hills 3862
Carmichael 3672
Clifton 3216
Elizabeth 3737
Englerston 3707
Farm Road & Centreville 3720
Fort Charlotte 3590
Fox Hill 3766
Garden Hills 3705
Golden Gates 3658
Golden Isles 3514
Kennedy 3482
Killarney 3476
Marathon 3501
Montagu 3565
Mount Moriah 3698
Pinewood 3793
Seabreeze 3662
South Beach 3509
St. Anne’s 3550
St. Cecilia 3382
St. Thomas More 3662
Yamacraw 3721
TOTAL 90,417
9. In being guided by the general consideration that the number of voters entitled to vote shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, be the same, the proposal meets that standard in the 23 New Providence constituencies.
10. We propose that the 5 Grand Bahama and Bimini constituencies be delineated as indicated on the attached map.
11. As at 14th November 2011, the average number of registered voters per constituency in Grand Bahama & Bimini is currently 3361.
12. The Grand Bahama and Bimini boundaries proposed produce the following result on the Register as at 14th November, 2011:
1. East Grand Bahama 3935
2. Central Grand Bahama 4119
3. Marco City 4296
4. Pineridge 3810
5. West Grand Bahama and Bimini 4006
TOTAL 20,166
This distribution produces a range of 486 with a high of 4296 registered voters in Marco City and a low of 3810 in Pineridge.
13. In view of the proposed configuration, we propose that the following names be eliminated:
High Rock
Lucaya
Eight Mile Rock
West End and Bimini
We propose that the following new names be created:
East Grand Bahama
Central Grand Bahama
West Grand Bahama and Bimini
14. The distribution of seats in Grand Bahama and Bimini is accordance with the mandate in the Constitution.
15. The changes proposed can be compared to the last Constituencies Commission Report dated March 13th 2007.
Grand Bahama
Register of Voters
13 March 2007
West End & Bimini 3134
Eight Mile Rock 3515
Pineridge 3235
Marco City 3535
Lucaya 3865
High Rock 3434
TOTAL 20,718
16. In the remaining Family Islands, we propose that Ragged Island be joined with the Exuma constituency. We also propose that the following constituency names be amended:
South Abaco to “Central & South Abaco”
South Andros to “Central & South Andros”
South Eleuthera to “Central & South Eleuthera”
Exuma to “The Exumas & Ragged Island”
Long Island & Ragged Island to “Long Island”
17. The Family Island boundaries proposed produce the following result on the Register as at 14th November, 2011:
North Abaco 3437
Central & South Abaco 2465
North Andros and the Berry Islands 1980
Central & South Andros 1905
Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador 1291
North Eleuthera 2921
Central & South Eleuthera 2171
The Exumas and Ragged Island 2376
Long Island 1450
MICAL 1171
TOTAL 21,167
18. The distribution of seats in the Family Islands takes account of “the needs of sparsely populated areas, practicability of elected members maintaining contact with electors in such areas, size, physical features, natural boundaries and geographical isolation”.
19. We now enclose herewith the following:
- Map of New Providence showing the 23 constituencies.
- Individual Maps of the 23 constituencies in New Providence.
- Description of 23 constituencies – New Providence.
- Spreadsheets of 23 constituencies – New Providence, showing existing Polling Divisions.
- Map of Abaco showing the two constituencies.
- Map of Andros showing the two constituencies.
- Map of Eleuthera showing the two constituencies.
- Map of Family Island constituencies.
- Description of Family Island constituencies.
- Map of Grand Bahama and Bimini showing the five constituencies.
- Description of 5 constituencies – Grand Bahama and Bimini.
- Individual Maps of the 5 constituencies in Grand Bahama and Bimini.
- Spreadsheets of 5 constituencies – Grand Bahama, showing existing Polling Divisions.
RESOLUTION
Resolved that this House approves the Draft Order to be made by His Excellency the Governor-General under Article 70(7) of the Constitution and in accordance with the recommendation of the Constituencies Commission appointed under Article 69(1) of the Constitution and laid upon the Table of the House on the 28th day of November, 2011.
Resolved further that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to His Excellency the Governor-General.
