It officially became a four-man race in Bamboo Town yesterday after the candidates vying for the seat filed their nomination papers at Carlton E. Francis Primary School.
The group includes Free National Movement (FNM) candidate Cassius Stuart, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate Renward Wells, Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader and incumbent MP Branville McCartney and independent Craig Butler.
Each of the contenders arrived with a contingent of enthusiastic supporters who blared music, waved posters and banners and boasted that their candidate was going to win.
The four men all said they would work to create more employment, better education and improve standards of living in Bamboo Town, if elected.
McCartney was the last to arrive at the nomination site. He was accompanied by more than 50 supporters who played Junkanoo music and danced in a circle around him. On his way into the nomination room, McCartney hugged Butler who was exiting the area.
Afterward, McCartney said he was confident he would retain his seat - and that his new party would win the government - in spite of the showings of support for the other candidates. He said if he is re-elected he will expand the social programs he began in his constituency in 2007.
He added that it does not matter who has the biggest rallies this election season, but which party could best address critical social issues.
"It's not about a party, it's not about dancing and entertainment," he said. "It's about the crime rate we have that's the worst we've ever had, the illegal immigration problem is the worst we've ever had, the educational system is certainly not working and we have over 30,000 people out of a job. You can party all you want, but when the rally is over, the issues are still there."
Stuart was the first candidate to go through the nomination process. He arrived at the school at 9:40 a.m. with his wife Sharmaine, two young daughters and around 30 supporters.
As he entered the gates of the school, some members of his crowd danced, waved posters bearing his face and beat on goatskin drums.
After he handed his documents over to returning officer Herbert Brown and paid his $400 nomination fee, Stuart told reporters that he was confident of a win.
"The best will come out on top and we will win this," he said. "This has been an historically Free National Movement seat. . .we will return this seat. People in Bamboo Town don't play with personalities, they just vote for party."
Stuart spent 13 years at the helm of the now defunct Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) but was never elected to Parliament despite contesting in two general elections and one by-election. He said that after his failed bids to become a member of Parliament as leader of the BDM, it was a "breath of fresh air" to be running under the banner of one of the major political parties.
"We worked hard in the past and we just have more fire behind us. [Being a part of the FNM] has given us that extra push that we need to go to the top," Stuart said.
The PLP's candidate was the second to arrive at the site.
Wells, a former member of the National Development Party (NDP), was accompanied by nearly 100 supporters who came in several cars, two jitneys and a flatbed truck that blared music.
Although the area is considered an FNM stronghold, Wells said the tide will soon turn in favor of the official opposition.
"The PLP is going to win Bamboo Town. The PLP has not run a candidate in Bamboo Town in [10] years. The PLPs in Bamboo Town are hungry to vote and to vote this government out," said Wells, flanked by his wife Sara.
"First on my agenda is to work with the new PLP government that's going to right off the bat lower the cost of living for the Bahamian people, deal with the energy situation in terms of BEC, we're going to deal with mortgage situation and expand the economy."
Butler, the only independent running in Bamboo Town, arrived with a group of about 35 supporters.
Butler said even though he is not attached to a major political party he has enough support on the ground to be elected to Parliament.
If elected, he will use his constituency allowance to build a community center, launch a program to reintegrate released convicts into society and help homeowners facing foreclosure.
"We will be victorious, we are confident. It's no longer about just the views of the FNM and PLP," Butler said.

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