Branville McCartney last night vowed to continue to lead the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) despite a crushing defeat at the polls and the loss of his seat in Bamboo Town.
McCartney lost by 917 votes.
His statement last night was an abrupt turn from a public pronouncement he made last month on the Guardian Radio show "Darold Miller Live" when he said he would step down as leader of the year-old party if he could not retain his seat in Parliament.
McCartney lost his seat to Renward Wells of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) by a huge margin.
"There was some vicious political rumor going around about me quitting if I was not successful, that was a vicious rumor, which is not true," he told The Nassau Guardian last night during an interview from his home in western New Providence.
"We're just getting started, in terms of leading the party; the party will make that decision. I would certainly like to move forward in that vein, but that is certainly not up to me."
He spoke at his home where a handful of friends, family and party supporters watched the returns.
Earlier in the night, the scene was much quieter at the DNA's headquarters on Prince Charles Drive and McCartney's Bamboo Town headquarters where fewer than 10 supporters turned up to await the election results.
In spite of the loss, McCartney appeared in good spirits last night making jokes and telling The Nassau Guardian that he was looking forward to a much-needed vacation at Disney World with his wife Lisa.
He was also adamant that he would not return to the Free National Movement (FNM), the party he left in 2010.
"No, no I am not going to do that," he told The Nassau Guardian, when asked if he would return to the party that thrust him onto the political stage in 2007.
"I am part of the DNA, the DNA is the future for this country, I maintain that. This is the beginning of a long road and we look forward to contesting the next election."
Earlier in the day, McCartney said he was confident of a win in Bamboo Town and a "historic" win for the DNA.
Although many of the party's respective candidates siphoned away hundreds of votes from the two major parties in several constituencies, not one of them managed to capture a seat in the House of Assembly.
In 2010, McCartney resigned from Cabinet and the FNM amid reported power struggles with the outgoing prime minister.
He formed the DNA a year later. He campaigned strongly against the Ingraham administration from the DNA's platform since launching his bid to become prime minister. However, last night he had kind words for his former party leader.
"Ingraham has done good for the country," McCartney said. "We cannot take that away from him. It comes at a time when everyone's career [in] politics comes to an end and I wish him well."

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