A closer look at the DNA's impact on the 2012 general election

Wed, May 9th 2012, 09:26 AM

The Democratic National Alliance's (DNA) true impact on the 2012 general election will not be known until there is an analysis of the official returns and the party's percentage of the popular vote, political pundits said yesterday.
Although none of the DNA's candidates won a seat in the House of Assembly, the third party performed better than others that have tried to run against the country's two party system in the past, the pundits added.
The DNA won more than 10,000 votes collectively in the 38 constituencies, according to Nassau Guardian calculations.
In several key constituencies, the one-year-old party took votes away from the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Free National Movement (FNM), pundits say. Some observers believe that if the DNA was not a factor in the 2012 election, the outcome could have been different.
"I believe in Bamboo Town, in a straight up race between the PLP and FNM, the FNM probably would have held that seat, so in Bamboo Town the PLP benefitted from the DNA," said former PLP Cabinet minister George Smith.
"I believe that in Nassau Village the FNM suffered again because of the DNA. I believe in Montagu most of the people that voted DNA were anti-FNM and the PLP in that case suffered in Montagu.
"When you look at where they got the votes from in Montagu, those were people disgruntled with the FNM but decided not to vote PLP so the DNA had a different effect in different locations, but the reality of the DNA is this: when the popular vote is added up if they don't have a combined vote representing about 10 percent of the electorate, I don't believe they have a lasting future."
In Bamboo Town, DNA leader and incumbent MP Branville McCartney got just over 1,000 votes, but lost his seat.
In Nassau Village, DNA candidate Chris Mortimer came in third with just over 800 votes. He lost to the PLP's Dion Smith who had 2,301 votes and the FNM's Basil Moss who had just over 1,500 votes.
Political analysts said even though the party was soundly defeated at the polls the DNA's future depends on how committed its current leader and other members are to its cause.
"The test will be, will they be able to survive the next four years where they don't have a presence in the House or Senate, when it will be hard to get their voice heard," said College of The Bahamas lecturer Dr. Ian Strachan.
"If history is to be respected they ought not expect to win in 2017. It's not easy to break in there but I believe in my lifetime the DNA can be the government of this country but they have to be determined that they will be DNAs for life."
Former Senator Philip Galanis said the party should feel proud of its accomplishments.
"I think the DNA should be commended for the kind of performance they mounted against the two major parties," he said.
"They did well in some constituencies, most notably in Fort Charlotte and Nassau Village. Bran McCartney also did well in comparison to some of the other seats.
"On balance they represented a constituency that was not pleased with either the PLP or FNM. On balance the DNA actually took votes from the PLP.
"They were people who were not happy with the FNM and I think they were the protest votes. They were anti-government votes and I think they would have gone to the PLP if the DNA did not exist."

McCartney has vowed to remain leader of the DNA if the party wants him to remain at the helm. He said the group will now focus on keeping the government on its toes and contesting the next election.

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