Dear Editor,
The leader of the fringe political organization the Bahamas Constitution Party, Ali McIntosh, was nominated on September 26 to run in the North Abaco by-election. She will be going up against the Progressive Liberal Party's (PLP) Renardo Curry and the Free National Movement's (FNM) Greg Gomez. Judging from the groundswell of support that Curry received on Nomination Day from hundreds of excited PLP supporters, it seems as if he is the clear cut favorite to win North Abaco. But, then again, if North Abaco is an FNM stronghold as many FNMs believe, then maybe the outcome of that contest can go either way. In any event, the race for North Abaco is between the standard-bearers of the PLP and the FNM. McIntosh will not be a factor in this contest. She wasn't a factor in the May 7 election.
McIntosh contested the Englerston seat and was only able to gain 18, or 0.37 percent of the 4,806 votes that were cast. As in the case with the Democratic National Alliance's (DNA) Nicholas Jacques and independent candidates Paul Rolle, C. Rashard Amahad and Alex Morley, McIntosh lost her election deposit. The one burning question that I would like to ask McIntosh is this: Why are you, madame, running in another constituency on another island? Englerston is in New Providence. North Abaco is in the Family Island of Abaco.
What connections does she have with Englerston and North Abaco? I am somewhat puzzled that an individual would contest a seat in the capital in one election, and then turn around and run for a seat in a Family Island in another election. Independent candidates and fringe political organizations rarely have any meaningful impact on our elections. The pathetic performance of the candidates of the DNA and independent candidates in the 2012 general election has only reinforced my believe that there is no room in Bahamian politics for fringe political parties.
Why do you think that the DNA has chosen not to field a candidate in this by-election contest? The leadership of the DNA knows full well that it doesn't stand a snow ball's chance in hell of even placing second in that race. Why waste energy and money fighting a battle you have no realistic chance of winning. The DNA learned its lesson after its North Abaco standard-bearer Sonith Lockhart was crushed in the May 7 general election. He was only able to get 39 or 0.94 percent of the 4,130 votes cast on May 7.
The electorate is split right down the middle between the governing PLP and the official opposition FNM. Any Bahamian who does not get this is living in la-la land. The Bahamas is FNM/PLP country. To argue otherwise would portray a mind that is utterly bereft of knowledge in Bahamian politics. I think the law requires that a nominee pay an election deposit of $400 on Nomination Day. According to the press, McIntosh paid hers. This would have been the second time in 2012 that the Bahamas Constitution Party candidate has paid the fee.
September 26 is approximately five months since Election Day on May 7. This means that McIntosh has paid $800 in election fees in a five-month period. If history has taught us anything, it has taught us that McIntosh has squandered another $400. Seems some Bahamians have money to throw away. When McIntosh handed her $400 fee to the commissioner, that was the last time she would see that money.
She will not get enough votes to get back her deposit. Still, if she manages to get four percent of the votes on October 15, she should consider that as an improvement over her dismal performance of just 0.37 percent on May 7. I guess it is too late now for McIntosh to turn back and get back her election deposit. She has made up her bed and must now lie in it. Individuals like McIntosh cause the government of The Bahamas to go laughing all the way to the bank. Fifty-four candidates lost their deposits on May 7. This means that the government made some $21,600 in lost election deposits. After the October 15 contest in North Abaco, the government will make an additional $400, thanks to McIntosh. - Kevin Evans
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