By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 13, 2021 — The opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has assembled an impressive slate of candidates in its quest to regain control of the government of The Bahamas in the upcoming general election.
With the ratification of seven more candidates on Wednesday, May 12, the PLP has now officially named 38 candidates – including six women — to contest seats in the next general election, which my law must be held by May of 2022 in the archipelagic nation of 700 islands and cays stretching from off the coast of Florida to just off the eastern tip of Cuba.
In the last general election held on May 10, 2017, the Free National Movement (FNM) became the government, despite bitter infighting within the party leading up to the election, resulting in current Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis being replaced as the then Leader of the Opposition after seven FNM MPs, led by Loretta Butler-Turner, supported a Vote of No Confidence in him as Leader of the Opposition.
Dr. Minnis, however, bounced back and regained control of the FNM leading up to the May 10, 2017, general election, with the FNM capturing 35 of the 39 seats.
Since then, however, the leadership style of Prime Minister Dr. Minnis has again been assailed from within the party, with three FNM MPs — Reece Chipman, Centreville; Vaughn Miller, Golden Isles; and Halson Moultrie, Nassau Village — having resigned from the FNM.
With speculation rife that a general election will be held well before May of 2022, some pundits are convinced that it will be held sometime this summer. Meanwhile, the Opposition PLP is ready to do battle and supremely confident that it will form the next government of The Bahamas.
South Abaco is the only constituency for which the PLP has not yet named a candidate, and the seven candidates ratified on Wednesday sent hopes soaring among party stalwarts that the PLP could possibly win all five of the seats in Grand Bahama.
The PLP candidates ratified for Grand Bahama include former Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, a seat he previously held; Curt G. Hollingsworth, Marco City; Ginger Moxey, Pineridge; James Rolle-Turner, East Grand Bahama; and Kirk Russell, Central Grand Bahama.
Also ratified on Wednesday were Patricia Deveaux, Bamboo Town, and Leon Lundy, Mangrove Cay & South Andros.
“We revolutionized our candidate selection process and, in an open, transparent and transformative way, selected an eclectic, diverse and talented group of women and men who will be the future of our party and the future of your next government,” PLP leader Davis said during the announcement of the ratifications at an event at PLP headquarters on Farrington Road
The PLP leader added: “We have been able to put together a mix of experience and youthful enthusiasm, a team of people who have no other motive but to serve our great party and play a role in the next government of our country.”
Strongly criticizing the performance of the Dr. Minnis-led government, Mr.Davis added, “The last four years of FNM government has been one of smoke and mirrors — say one thing and do another. Say one thing and do nothing.”
According to a report in The Nassau Guardian, The PLP leader pointed to the “controversial 2018 signing of the Oban oil refinery and storage facility deal for Grand Bahama, the Minnis administration’s decision in 2018 to increase value-added tax from 7.5 percent to 12 percent, the response to Hurricane Dorian, the rental of facilities owned by former FNM Cabinet minister Brent Symonette for the General Post Office, the purchase of Grand Lucayan resort in Grand Bahama using taxpayer dollars, the purchase of Grand Bahama airport, ‘broken promises’ to public servants, the ballooning debt and the growing deficit as examples of smoke and mirrors or government failures.”
“And so, whenever (Prime Minister Dr. Hubert) Minnis makes up his mind to ring the bell, I say to him and his cronies too soon is not soon enough,” Davis added.
