The Tribune

FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham yesterday returned more than $100,000 assigned to the North Abaco seat, which he resigned last month ahead of an impending by-election.

In a letter to the Treasurer, Mr Ingraham wrote: “You will be aware that I resigned my seat in the House of Assembly representing the North Abaco Constituency on August 31, 2012.

“In accordance with the provisions of the Parliamentarians (Constituency Office Allowance) Act, 1998 concerning the establishment and maintenance of constituency offices by parliamentarians, I enclose herewith Bank Draft No 1327752 in the amount of $105, 233.17, representing the unspent balance of funds deposited to the North Abaco Constituency interest bearing account inclusive of $15,828.89 in interest payments.

“Additionally, a second bank draft No 1327753 in the amount of $3,366.43 is submitted, representing the balance in the North Abaco Constituency Office operational demand bank account.

“All records on the expenditure of moneys from this account are available should be they required for audit purposes.”

Prime Minister Christie has yet to said a firm date for the North Abaco by-election, although he was recently quoted as saying it would take place next month.

In an earlier interview, he said: “I’m soon going to be in a position to let you know. There’s a process, the speaker has to recognise the seat is vacant, he’s got to communicate with the governor general, and once that is done then I know it’s really on the move.”

He added the calling of the by-election will “obviously be soon”.

The PLP and the FNM have already announced their candidates for the seat as Renardo Curry and Greg Gomez, respectively. The Bahamas Constitution Party’s Ali Mcintosh has offered herself to run for the seat while the DNA opted out.

Mr Ingraham conceded defeat and resigned as leader of the FNM just hours after the PLP was voted in as the new government of the Bahamas on May 7. He did, however, win his constituency’s seat, one that he had held for his entire 35-year political career.

He announced almost two weeks later that his resignation would take effect on July 19. The decision to resign on that date, which was also the anniversary of his first election to Parliament, was delayed in a bid to gain time for a potential by-election candidate and more informed public opinion on the proposed gambling referendum, Mr Ingraham said.

On July 19, he tendered his resignation letter to House Speaker Dr Kendal Major, shortly after 9.30am. In it he had stipulated that the resignation would not become effective before August 31.

Although the House would not arrange a special sitting for him to announce his resignation – as he had done when Sir Lynden Pindling had resigned — the Speaker said he would be allowed to make a farewell address at the House’s sitting on July 25.

However, when the House did reconvene on that day, Mr Ingraham was not allowed to make his farewell address at the beginning of the agenda. Instead he was informed that he would have to wait until the end of the day to address his fellow MPs. On hearing the decision, Mr Ingraham quietly gathered his papers, bowed to the Speaker, and, for the final time left the floor of the House.