The Bahamian people have changed. They relate differently now to politicians and political parties as compared to the majority rule (1967) period. A young Lynden Pindling and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) won government that year, breaking the line of rule of people of European descent over the territory that spanned from the late 15th century.
Pindling and his PLP ran the country for 25 years uninterrupted. Like many post-colonial leaders - Bahamian independence came in 1973 - he won favor with his people repeatedly.
After winning six consecutive elections, Sir Lynden lost to Hubert Ingraham in 1992. Ingraham won a second term in 1997 in the context of strong economic growth and across-the-board reforms. That 1997 election was the last time a party was reelected in The Bahamas.
By the next general election, likely in 2017, 20 years would have passed since a party was asked to stay on. The pattern established over our first 35 years has changed, it seems.
It is unclear why we are trending away from reelections. It is also unclear how long this trend will last. The new circumstance means that parties have to work harder if they want to be brought back for another term. Ad hoc governance, no communications strategy and waiting for the last minute to call a general election with no coherent campaign theme all help ensure the trend of one-term governments continues.
For opposition parties it means that no matter how bleak things were on the night of the general election, with the taste of defeat so present, there is hope. Five years later you can be back in the seat of power.
In our context it is, obviously, too early to predict if the current party in power, the Progressive Liberal Party, has a chance at another opportunity to govern. The party does look shaky, though, and directionless. On major issues it seems as if ministers wake up every morning and wonder what comment they will see in the newspapers from the prime minister announcing new plans or policies they knew nothing about.
The opposition is just as mixed up. The Free National Movement (FNM) has three people who speak as leader: Dr. Hubert Minnis, leader; Loretta Butler-Turner, deputy leader, and Dr. Duane Sands, deputy chairman. They clearly do not like each other, but they expect us to believe they do. They weaken the FNM brand by keeping up this charade of party unity.
These changes in government may in part relate to the times. When the economy takes a big dip and unemployment rises significantly it is hard for a party in power to win if the lives of many people are worse than they were five years ago. The changes, however, may also relate to there being a disconnect between the way our leaders govern and the aspirations of modern Bahamians. Many Bahamians are tired of watching the same old cronies get contracts and government posts. At times it seems as if more focus is placed on which party insider will get what goodies than on national policy development.
The people have the ultimate power in our democracy, and they have been using it of late to move on when dissatisfied. The current leaders in power should keep this in mind as they govern. They should assume the mood is more against them than in favor and do their best to act in the best interest of the people, and not just friends and supporters, if they want a chance to serve again after the people vote.

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