In recent weeks, developments related to the governing Free National Movement have made the FNM appear unstable and chaotic, but it was the announcement by Mangrove Cay and South Andros MP Picewell Forbes in Parliament on Monday that he is no longer seeking a nomination from the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) that attracted interest.

While what he said in the House of Assembly was interesting enough, it’s what he said outside the chamber that was most telling about his relationship with the leadership of the PLP and events that led to his decision.

A visibly emotional Forbes — who is into his third consecutive term as an MP — said in the House that he was taking his “last political breath”.

“My name would never arise again in political cycles,” he said. “My work is done, politically.”

Afterwards, Forbes, speaking with reporters, indicated that he was undermined on the ground in his constituency by his own party and that the leadership failed to provide him the kind of support he needed, and failed to express any confidence in him and his political future.

“…Every other house you go to the questions are being asked, ‘Are you running? How many more persons are the PLP going to put on the ground against you? When is this issue going to be cleared up?’” he said.

Forbes said he was giving it his best with meager resources, but the questions kept coming up in his constituency.

We do not know whether PLP Leader Philip Brave Davis had been aware that such an announcement was coming, but he claimed yesterday that Forbes’ nomination was “never in doubt”.

In a statement on Monday, PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell said, “We are saddened by the statement today that Picewell Forbes MP will not offer for the House of Assembly again. We had hoped to see him serve in Cabinet one day.”

It was an odd statement given Forbes’ public revelation that the party leadership had not given him the support he needed.

Last November, after Monique Pindling, daughter of former Prime Minister the late Sir Lynden Pindling, who represented South Andros between 1967 and 1997, expressed an interest in that nomination, Davis said something egregious would have to happen to prevent incumbent parliamentarians from being renominated.

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