NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As political parties continue efforts to jumpstart their political campaigns for the next general election, the Free National Movement (FNM) is close to wrapping up its full slate of ratified candidates.
According to FNM Chairman Carl Culmer, the FNM will name its remaining six candidates, including the seats held by the prime minister and deputy prime minister, in short order, though he did not provide an exact date.
The remaining seats include Englerston, Pineridge, Fox Hill and Seabreeze.
Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and Deputy Prime Minister Desmond Bannister, the incumbents for Killarney and Carmichael respectively, are expected to be renominated for those constituencies.
Culmer told Eyewitness News: “The vetting committee is doing its final checks, so once they report, then we will take it to the executive committee and we will go from there.
“We’re still trying to make sure that we go through the process to make sure everyone is as what we believe they should be. There are several names in the hat for the different constituencies.”
Asked if there were internal battles occurring in some of the “hot seats”, Culmer said: “Well, there are several persons who are vying for them, so at the end of the day we must make sure we do the proper vetting.”
In February, Lanisha Rolle, the MP for Seabreeze, resigned as minister of youth, sports and culture.
It remains unclear why she resigned, though she has defended her integrity as a public servant amid a routine audit of the ministry.
Asked about renomination last month, Rolle said she was “being patient” and “trusting the process”.
The Pineridge seat has similarly been a subject of controversy.
Last month, Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine made another sweeping rebuke of the Minnis administration, the prime minister and the opposition.
During his mid-year budget communication, the prime minister jeered that if he called a general election then, the Pineridge MP would be gone.
But McAlpine has said if the prime minister called a general election, “you’ll be gone before I’m gone”.
Shonel Ferguson, the incumbent for Fox Hill, announced earlier this month that she will not be contesting the seat in the upcoming general election.
Eyewitness News understands that Director of Labour John Pinder has expressed interest to the FNM to vie for the seat.
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has already named 32 candidates vying for office, while the Free National Movement (FNM) has ratified 33 candidates, with some incumbents not receiving nominations.
Culmer indicated that the FNM is committed to moving The Bahamas forward with reforms, creating a more transparent, accountable and responsible government to improve the lives of all Bahamians — “not just a chosen few”.
According to Culmer, over 50 candidates vied for the seven constituencies alone.
Among the latest nominations were political newcomers Nicole Martin, the former Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union president, for Nassau Village; Drumeco Dexter Lauriston Archer for Fort Charlotte — replacing incumbent Mark Humes; and incumbent Hank Johnson for Central and South Eleuthera.
Speaker of the House of Assembly Halson Moultrie has predicted Minnis will call a general election by June this year or shortly thereafter.
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