Voters kick out Bahamian government
By Bert Wilkinson
Bahamian Prime Minister,
Hubert Minnis last month called
general elections almost a year
ahead of schedule, fearing the
archipelago’s uphill battle with the
COVID-19 pandemic and massive
losses of revenues and restrictions
on the travel and tourism
industry would have undermined
his administration’s chances of a
second consecutive term.
So he named Thursday, Sept.
16 as election day, figuring that
he would catch the opposition
Progressive Labor Party (PLP) of
Opposition Leader and prominent
attorney, Phillip “Brave” Davis
off guard and sneak in a second
term.
But by midnight Thursday,
Minnis and his Free National
Movement (FNM) party were
headed to the opposition benches
as voters turned their backs on
Minnis and his cabinet, blaming
them for the economic downturn,
the alleged mishandling of
the response to the pandemic
and for runaway corruption and
nepotism.
Minnis had asked islanders to
bear with him and to reflect on
the fact that the lifeline tourism
sector had not only almost
died during the global lockdown
and subsequent measures after
reopening, as well as to remember
that the country has had to
endure a torrid battering from
superstorms Irma and Dorian in
the past five years. It appears,
however, voters were unsympathetic
and kept up with a post
2002 tradition of changing their
governments at every election
since.
Many of the FNM’s cabinet
ministers will not make it to the
new parliament when it reconvenes
in about a month, having
been part of the tide of change
that swept through the famous
islands that make up The Bahamas
family chain.
Detailed results were not available
up to mid-morning Friday
but local media reported that a
large group of ministers including
those from health, tourism,
the environment, foreign affairs,
security, disaster relief and education
will have to find new jobs as
they were swept out of power by
PLP voters.
“The people determined that
they preferred the PLP. My party
and I accept that result. We are
proud of our record the past fourplus
years. During our term we
Caribbean Life, S 6 EPTEMBER 24-30, 2021
faced the most difficult times in
Bahamian history. In September
2019, Abaco, the Abaco Cays and
Grand Bahama were struck by
the strongest storm to hit The
Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian
was one of the strongest storms
recorded on our planet. It caused
generational destruction to our
northern islands. Six months
later, we were in the COVID-19
pandemic. Throughout each crisis
my government worked hard
to assist the Bahamian people.
The FNM has a proud legacy. We
have governed The Bahamas over
four terms,” he said in a late night
concession speech.
There were more than 40 multimillionaires
among the 225
candidates vying for seats in the
39 constituencies. Eligible voters
amounted to just under 200,000.
Voter turnout usually averages
close to 90 percent but statistics
from this week’s poll were not yet
available.
For his part, PM elect Davis,70,
addressed jubilant supporters,
thanking them for their support
but warning of challenges ahead.
“It is time to face our challenges
and face them head on.
You voted for a new day, a new
beginning. To those who voted
PLP today I promise to work
hard to justify your faith in us.
To those who voted for a different
party today I pledge to work
hard to overcome your doubts.
Many of you didn’t vote at all
today because the snap election
took you by surprise and you
weren’t able to register on time,
or because transferring from
one constituency to another was
deliberately made too difficult for
you. Many of you didn’t vote today
because you were afraid of being
exposed to the virus; the protocols
for protecting voters were
only published at the last minute
but I want to say tonight our
government will serve all Bahamians.”
Prime Minister of The Bahamas Hubert Minnis addresses
the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at
U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., Sept. 27, 2019. REUTERS
/ Lucas Jackson, File
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3rd, 2021, 6:30pm-7:30