By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE National General Council of the Progressive Liberal Party ratified 18 candidates for the next general election last night.
The candidates include party chairman and former Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell in Fox Hill, former Attorney General Alfred Sears in Fort Charlotte, former State Minister for National Security Keith Bell in Carmichael, and former State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis in St Barnabas.
Others candidates include Senator Clay Sweeting in South Eleuthera, Senator Jobeth Coleby-Davis in Elizabeth, Leslia Brice in Seabreeze, Jomo Campbell in Centreville, Wayde Watson in Bain and Grants Town, Jamahl Strachan in Nassau Village, Mario Bowleg in Garden Hills, Zane Lightbourne in Yamacraw, Bacchus Rolle in South Beach, Wayne Munroe in Freetown, Ronald Duncombe in Killarney, Tyrell Grave Young in Long Island, Basil McIntosh in MICAL, Mckell De’Angelo Bonaby in Mt Mariah and Leonardo Lightbourne in North Andros & the Berry Islands.
The candidates who won an election under the PLP’s banner in 2017 -- party leader Philip Davis, Deputy Leader Chester Cooper, Glenys Hanna-Martin and Picewell Forbes -- have been guaranteed a nomination.
This leaves at least 17 seats for the party to fill.
One constituency likely to garner attention is the Tall Pines seat.
Senator Michael Darville, the former Minister of Grand Bahama, is canvassing that constituency as the establishment favourite to secure the seat.
His bid sets up a potential clash with Leslie Miller, the longtime representative of the area who has threatened to run as an independent candidate if he does not get his party’s nomination.
Both Dr Darville and Mr Miller declined to comment when contacted yesterday.
Some in the party fear that a bitter fight between the two and an independent candidacy from Mr Miller could cannibalise votes, leading to a loss for both. If not for this, insiders see the constituency as a “PLP seat” that would swing to its column in the next election.
Don Saunders is the current MP for the area. The Free National Movement announced in a statement yesterday that he is among 17 people ratified for the next election.
Mr Miller’s public plea for a Tall Pines nomination has not gone unnoticed in the party. Mr Cooper said in 2019 that the PLP’s leadership team “will not be bullied” when it comes to its candidate selection process.
A former parliamentarian in the Pineridge constituency, Dr Darville has established a temporary office in Tall Pines to aid his efforts.
In a statement last night announcing its candidate selections, Mr Mitchell touted the efforts his party has made towards reform, pointing to a new constitution, among other things.
“Our candidates committee had the difficult task of selecting candidates from a very talented applicant pool,” he said.
“With our country facing multiple, very serious crises they have been focused on picking a team that can hit the ground running, ready to make a difference on day one.”
Comments
Hoda 3 years, 2 months ago
I wonder if y’all will demand oil company lawyer resign...
Nonetheless good to see women on the ticket
FrustratedBusinessman 3 years, 2 months ago
The Brave Davis Gravy Train is all lined up and ready to pilfer what they can from the Treasury. Bad news for them is that there soon won't be anything left to steal.
birdiestrachan 3 years, 2 months ago
Mr: sears and the others previously mentioned are great candidates. I remember Mr: Sears at his book signing telling us to treat each other better. If Bahamians did only that. what a beautiful Bahamas we would have.
Mr: Munroe will also do well.
It will not be an easy job to raise the Bahamas from the difficulties the country is in. They are courageous men and women
The FNM's are always saying the PLP stole something but ask them what they can not tell. No facts. TRUMP LIKE they all are.
Hoda 3 years, 2 months ago
But you come and only say nasty things about people who don’t share the same politics as you - some I know for a fact you have never met a day in your life. But I guess that’s most of the country so your right if only we were nicer to each other
tribanon 3 years, 2 months ago
LOL
Topdude 3 years, 2 months ago
Were these candidates ratified by Peter Nygard? And they are all smiling as if to say we got this election in the bank. I don’t think so. Where is Leslie Miller?
I was shocked to see a video of Perry Christie fawning up to Peter Nygard. That destroyed my respect for this person. Wow.
Hoda 3 years, 2 months ago
That’s probably why they all about talking about everything else except Nygard and the disgusting things he did to poor Bahamian girls from the over the hill communities - their support base ironically. They mum on the predator’s boast about his investment in them - talking about island house and symonette. Sigh, but we gal for it every time - they are the party for the poor black bahamian but fifty years later we still poor, as they encourage the ignorant to hate anyone white, successful or not a plp. What a vicious cycle
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 2 months ago
What is the job of a parliamentarian? the country cannot afford to go through another 5 years with people who know how to cut grass, hand out school bags and grocery bags, put up mothers day, Valentine's and Christmas billboards but not much else. Oh step put the car when the driver open the door and bang on the desk.
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 2 months ago
Keith Bell. sigh not again
sheeprunner12 3 years, 2 months ago
Why does the PLP always send undertakers/morticians to Long Island??? ....... now this one has the name "Grave" .......... Sure sign that he is going to lose (big)
SP 3 years, 2 months ago
The PLP campaign slogan is "compassion, vision, change".....Lol....Let's see how many jackasses are out there to fall for this bullshyt.
ABOMINATION 3 years, 2 months ago
Exactly! If we are honest with ourselves, we would not have allowed some of these Politicians to Run our country, knowing that they are sweet hearters, cheaters and corrupt. Seems some Bahamians love that piracy legacy. Wake up Bahamas! We cannot ever allow these hypocrites back in power.
TigerB 3 years, 2 months ago
I'm waiting to see the infighting, it will not go as smooth as they trying to make it to be. No Obie, no Lesile Miller, humm...now we wait.
ABOMINATION 3 years, 2 months ago
All for me! Leslie Miller?! who gone put a post on FB pretending to be a philanthropist! Laughable...she did that, and used kids, to win a laptop, then called herself a philanthropist! Ask her who she's married to..gold digger, numbers guys, illegal numbers guys. Lets see which party will deal with that.....we voted NO to gambling houses, and that Perry man gave them card blanch, now dey all over the island. If this was in AMerica, they could not get away with it. Das probably why the USA don't have an Ambassador....cause perry left crooked Brave in charge! WHat a shame! We could do better than this for picking Leaders, please for Gods sake Bahamas, pick someone with Integrity, morals, ethics and has a proven track record of success as a CEO. TIme for us to place an Advertisement for a Team to run our country for 4 years.
ABOMINATION 3 years, 2 months ago
If any of these new Candidates had an ounce of Integrity, they would not and never align themselves with a known corrupt party... period! It is a fact and clear that the Bahamian Tax payers money has been used, abused and mismanaged over these decades! Just because they all walked free, does not mean they aren't guilty. Repent! God has the final say.
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