Dear Editor,

In her column of May 17, Arinthia Komolafe observes: "The DNA's showing was historic and impressive as it garnered approximately eight percent of the electoral vote, the highest by far for a third party."
Really?
Actually, no. In the 1977 elections (which I recall well, being seven years old at the time) the newly-formed Bahamas Democratic Party (BDP) garnered 27 percent of the national vote and secured six parliamentary seats. In doing so it easily surpassed the existing opposition Free National Movement (FNM), which still nonetheless did far better than the DNA in 2012, garnering 15 percent of the national vote and securing two seats.
I am not sure whether Komolafe was living to recall that election, or whether she has experienced any more than the last few election cycles in The Bahamas, but none of this excuses her presenting sweeping statements without either analysis or research.
Sadly, the level of public discussion in The Bahamas has become so generally ignorant that I have heard the DNA's showing described similarly by many pundits and observers.
Whatever one's opinion of the DNA (and mine is no secret), here is the fact: the DNA fizzled like a damp squib. It got no seats and under 10 percent of the national vote (and far fewer if you discount the votes for an incumbent ex-minister). It lost many deposits. It is now sure to fold, as its more promising candidates abandon ship for one or the other of the traditional parties.
Whatever her bias or agenda, Komolafe should do better research so as to avoid repeating falsehoods in her column.

- Andrew Allen

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian