§ 5. Mr. Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the adult population of the Seychelle Islands; and how many of them appear on the current electoral list.
§ Mr. H. FraserThe total adult population is 21,468. About 11,000 are qualified to register, but only 2,308 persons have actually registered.
§ Mr. AllaunIs not there something seriously wrong when roughly nine out of ten people are not registered to vote? Has not the Colonial Secretary said recently that, with very minor qualifications, all those above 21 years of age have the right to vote? Is it not the case that, apart from the property qualifications, the registration notices are printed in English, which very few can read, and that they are in highly legalistic language?
§ Mr. FraserI do not think that that is true, but I will certainly investigate it. If course, it is impossible to force people to register. Eleven thousand people could have registered, but only 2,308 have.