NASSAU, BAHAMAS — With political parties slowly rolling out their lists of ratified candidates for the upcoming general election, the Elizabeth constituency is quickly becoming one of the races to keep an eye on.
Free National Movement (FNM) incumbent Elizabeth MP Dr Duane Sands was ratified for the constituency on Thursday night, following an embattled year after his resignation as minister of health.
Meanwhile, Senator Jobeth Coleby-Davis has been named the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate for the area.
Sands resigned in May after revelations surfaced that he allowed six Americans to disembark a plane on New Providence — with a donation of 2,500 test swabs — despite the country’s border closure.
Since his resignation, he has been vocal against the government on several of its decisions regarding mitigation of the pandemic and its response to Hurricane Dorian.
However, he has maintained his support for the FNM, noting this is now his fourth time serving as standard-bearer for the party.
“It’s truly an honor to have gotten the ratification of the council of the Free National Movement and I look forward to keeping Elizabeth in the winning column for the FNM in the next general election that’s held,” he said following his ratification.
While this will be the first time Coleby-Davis will vie for a seat in Parliament, she has been serving as senator over the past four years.
“It’s never really been an aspiration to be a politician, but it’s always been a part of what’s engrained in my philosophy as a human being to be someone that can help others,” she said in a video the party released last week.
“And so, now if I am a part of the change, give back to persons and see others have that same story of their life, then that would make me feel like I’ve done the job that I am here to do.”
Coleby-Davis said she believes the country has lacked compassion in leadership over the last four years.
“While we know competence and problem-solving are some of the strongest skills, we will definitely need in government, I think, compassion actually captures all of them,” she added.
“If you’re compassionate about what someone is experiencing, what they are going through, if you feel what they are telling you is hurting them and you have compassion, then you will want to do everything in your power to change their circumstances for the better.”
The PLP has already named 18 candidates vying for office, while the FNM has ratified 30 candidates, with some incumbents not receiving nominations.
The prime minister has yet to call a date for the election, which only he holds the power to do, though both PLP and FNM insiders believe it will be called before the next budget debate.
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