Thursday, June 17, 2010

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to announce three more general election candidates

PLP to announce three more general election candidates
By BRENT DEAN ~ NG Senior Reporter ~ brentldean@nasguard.com:



The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is moving closer to announcing its candidates for two Grand Bahama and one New Providence constituency for the next general election, The Nassau Guardian understands.

Sources have confirmed that attorney Greg Moss (former president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce) and Dr. Michael Darville (currently a senator) are the two front-runners for two Grand Bahama nominations, and attorney Arnold Forbes is leading the way for the Mt. Moriah nomination in New Providence.

The PLP's National General Council is scheduled to meet tonight. It is unclear if these potential candidates, or others, will be ratified at this meeting.

Jerome Fitzgerald (Marathon), Michael Halkitis (Golden Isles), Hope Strachan (Sea Breeze) and Dr. Kendal Major (Garden Hills) were the first candidates to be ratified by the party in March.

The PLP is active in its candidate selection process.

Last Thursday, during the budget debate a think tank within the party referred to as 'the caucus,' which supports PLP leader Perry Christie, held an informal rally at the party's Farrington Road headquarters that eventually was attended by party parliamentarians who walked out of the House of Assembly that night.

Main speakers at the rally were Fitzgerald, former senator Paulette Zonicle and Dr. Major.

MPs who walked out of the House also addressed the group of supporters.

Party sources have also confirmed that attorney Randol Dorsett is the front-runner for the Pinewood nomination, attorneys Keith Bell and Dion Smith for the Kennedy nomination and attorney Myles Laroda for the South Beach seat.

The party hierarchy is said to be interested in nominating candidates well ahead of the election, to give the PLP a better chance at winning seats that were close in the last general election.

Whether or not any candidates are ratified tonight, it is expected that the next wave of candidates would be announced within the next few weeks.

With the party's leadership and candidates committee having been interviewing candidates for some time, it is possible that a large number of candidates would be named within the next few months.


June 17, 2010

thenassauguardian