Election fraud allegations are serious
In a radio statement this week, former Ninth District candidate Dr. Hubert O’Neal raised concerns about alleged improprieties in last week’s elections.
If Dr. O’Neal has substantive evidence of his allegations, he should file an official complaint, and the Elections Office and Governor Boyd McCleary should investigate the matter.
Dr. O’Neal, who lost to former Premier Ralph O’Neal by 28 votes, said in the statement that he is privy to “many reports of alleged vote buying to influence the outcome of the election.”
He added, “Some have given testimony of undemocratic activities on Saturday and Sunday before poll day, such as issuance of small contracts and white envelopes, that transpired not only in the Ninth District but occurred in other districts as well.”
These are serious charges, but they are not new. Such rumours have surfaced often in the past. Indeed, this year’s campaigns were rife with oblique references to the distribution of “envelopes” that some candidates implied contained bribes.
If there is any truth to these allegations, they should be investigated as soon as possible. But first, Dr. O’Neal or another resident would need to make an official report. Then, we presume, witnesses would need to come forward.
We would hope that any voters who have made allegations of impropriety would be willing to speak their piece to the appropriate officials. After all, bribery is illegal, and it is an offence that could jeopardise the territory’s ability to hold a free and fair election. Further, this is not the first time election practices have come into question in the Ninth District.
Independent election observers who visited the territory on Polling Day this year gave the Virgin Islands’ election process a positive preliminary review. However, they probably would not have been privy to any questionable incidents that occurred before their arrival or behind closed doors.
Rumours of unethical election practices have been circulating in the territory for far too long. It is high time to address such allegations directly and bring them to light or put them to rest.