PM says “reliably informed” FNM won advance poll

PM says “reliably informed” FNM won advance poll
Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on stage at a Free National Movement (FNM) drive-in rally on Cat Island on Friday, September 10, 2021.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis claimed yesterday that he has been “reliably informed” of his party’s victory at the advance polls.

Minnis was speaking at the Free National Movement’s (FNM) drive-in rally ion Cat Island, and also made the claim later that day at another rally on San Salvador.

“I’ve been reliably informed that in the advance poll, the FNM has taken the advance polls, and I know on Thursday we will take the rest and Cat Island is ours,” he said.

Some two hours later on San Salvador, Minnis said: “We just had the advance poll. I can report tonight that I’ve been assured that the FNM has won the advance poll.”

Thursday’s advance polls became chaotic at some stations, where procedural challenges like bottlenecking collided with poor adherence to COVID-19 social distancing protocols and inadequate provisions to accommodate the elderly and disabled.

There were also concerns raised about the sealing of ballot boxes at some polling stations.

Acting Parliamentary Commissioner Lavado Duncanson told Eyewitness News that the post-mortem on how the day went is still ongoing, with plans to make much-needed improvements.

In a letter, Deputy National Coordinator of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Valentine Grimes contended that “unintentional but serious errors” took place that could threaten the integrity of the September 16 vote if not corrected

On San Salvador, Minnis further claimed that the PLP has been paying between $50 to $100 for people to wear “yellow shirts”, including his own party’s supporters.

Minnis said: “They went as far as offering some of my own generals whom they thought were vocal $400 to $500 to wear T-shirts and become vocal against me, figuring that that would give them some milage. But, of course, their $400 was taken and nothing else happened. You know why? The Bahamas is staying red.”

FNM supporters at a drive-in rally in San Salvador yesterday.

Minnis asked voters to support the FNM’s candidate for the area, Felicia Knowles, and force long-time incumbent and PLP Leader Philip Davis into retirement.

He told Cat Islanders that his administration is “investing millions in waterworks”, adding he didn’t understand how Davis failed to provide potable water for decades.

“Brave is all over promising you what he says he would do for you,” Minnis said. “He likes to show pretty pictures of his plans; they are only pictures and things in his imagination. They certainly are not real plans and the FNM is actually doing for you.”

Minnis also committed his administration to reopen the Arthur’s Town airport. He said the request for proposals process to develop Family Island airports will also include an invitation for bidders to express an interest in the total rebuild of the shuttered facility.

In 2019, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar told the media there was no way to justify spending money on the refurbishment of the Arthur’s Town Airport.

About Ava Turnquest

Ava Turnquest is the head of the Digital Department at Eyewitness News. Her most notable beat coverage spans but is not limited to politics, immigration and human rights, with a focus especially on minority groups. In 2018, she was nominated by the Bahamas Press Club for “The Eric Wilmott Award for Investigative Journalism”. Ava is deeply motivated by her passion about the role of fourth estate, and uses her pen to inform, educate and sensitize the public.

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