GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas -- Prospective candidates for the upcoming high school Local Government Junior Council were nominated on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at the seven Grand Bahamian schools taking part in the program. Registration by students took place on September 20, with elections set for October 17th.

Kenwood Cartwright, Family Island Administrator for the City of Freeport says that the process will give students a glimpse into the political and election process of the country. The Local Government Junior Council program is a feeder program for the Senior Local Government Councils.

The entire process follows the steps of a general election in The Bahamas.

All the students in the participating schools registered to vote on September 20th. Nominated candidates had to fill out paperwork, which was overseen by teachers and school principals, and pay a nomination fee of $5. Once nominated the candidates will have a short time to campaign in an effort to secure enough votes on election day to become Junior Councilors.

Cartwright said the program has been a great success in Grand Bahama, and some beneficial projects have been carried out not just in the schools, but in some surrounding communities. Grand Bahamian participating schools include Eight Mile Rock High School, Sister Mary Patricia Junior High School, Jack Hayward High, St. George’s High, Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic School, Bishop Michael Eldon High and Grand Bahama Academy of Seventh Day Adventists.

JAGUARS NOMINATE – Principal of the Jack Hayward High Senior School, Malissa Cooper (seated); Coordinator, Venolia Sears-Nelson (standing right) and Assistant Coordinator, Robert Nabb (standing left) pose for a photo with some of the Candidates for Local Government Junior Council at Jack Hayward, on nomination day. Fourteen students from Jack Hayward were nominated.