FREEPORT, Grand Bahama — The return of former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe to frontline politics is receiving mixed reactions following his ratification last week as the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, The Tribune reported on Tuesday, May 17, in an article written by Denise Maycock.
Mr Wilchcombe – who was defeated in the 2017 general election by the Free National Movement’s newcomer Pakesia Parker Edgecombe – was ratified on Wednesday, even though he faced some strong opposition in his efforts to secure the nomination.
The Tribune spoke with several people about whether he is capable of securing a win for the party.
Pastor Lloyd Rolle, of Grand Bahama, believes Mr Wilchcombe could win the seat again.
“I don’t think the FNM has performed well and it makes it much easier now for Mr Wilchcombe to win, and I am going to throw my support behind him as much as I possibly can,” he said.
Pastor Rolle was unsuccessful in his bid to secure the PLP’s nomination for the West Grand Bahama and Bimini constituency. Asked if he thinks Wilchcombe can beat MP Parker-Edgecombe, he said, “Hopefully, things will go well. I believe he stands a good chance even though he lost to her (in 2017). I thought about that, but the FNM has performed so poorly in the last four years.
“And so that is where I think he will make up some ground because of the poor performance of the FNM in the last four years. If the FNM had performed well in West End and Bimini, I would think Obie does not stand a chance to win.”
Pastor Rolle said that Mrs Parker-Edgecombe could have been more vocal on issues.
“Her representation was not robust,” he said. “Pakesia is my friend; she is a good person, but I think she could have done a little more, even if she just stood out and spoke against certain issues that would show representation in your area. And even if nothing was done about it, the fact that you were vocal straight through means a lot. I did not think she was vocal enough.” See article in The Tribune at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2021/may/17/little-welcome-wilchcombe/
