The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

MONTHS after announcing his intention to contest the Pineridge seat as an independent candidate, former area MP Frederick McAlpine has officially launched his campaign, telling supporters: “We gon’ be ready this time.”

Mr McAlpine addressed residents in a video on social media, flanked by supporters dressed in purple paraphernalia bearing the name of his “Mac Pac” team.

The move could position himself as a potential spoiler after a strong second-place finish in the constituency in the last general election.

Mr McAlpine first announced intentions to run independent in July in a voice note to Pineridge constituents.

He last ran as an independent in the 2021 general election, where he garnered 1,175 votes, trailing only the PLP’s Ginger Moxey, who won the seat with 1,423 votes.

The FNM’s then candidate, Welbourne Bootle, finished third with 886 votes. Pineridge had 5,670 registered voters in that election.

Mr McAlpine was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Pineridge on May 10, 2017. In June 2018, he was dismissed by then-Prime Minister Hubert Minnis from his post as Chairman of the Hotel Corporation after he, along with fellow FNM MPs Travis Robinson, Vaughn Miller, and Reece Chipman, voted against the government’s proposed increase of value-added tax from 7.5 percent to 12 percent.

As an FNM member, he frequently criticised his party, ultimately severing ties with the FNM in July 2021 before running as an independent in the subsequent election.