By BRENT DEAN ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ brentldean@nasguard.com:
The Elizabeth by-election, the first in the country since 1997, will be held in February, The Nassau Guardian has learned.
There is speculation that Dr. Duane Sands will be the Free National Movement (FNM) candidate in the by-election. When contacted yesterday, Dr. Sands did not disclose if he would be in the race.
"There is a sitting, or incumbent, member of Parliament for Elizabeth and I think it is unreasonable for us to comment in any other way unless such didn't apply," he said.
When asked specifically if he will be the FNM candidate in the by-election, Dr. Sands replied:
"Let's just say I am a Bahamian. I believe very strongly in my country and whatever I can do to further advance my country, I'd be prepared to do."
PLP sources have confirmed that a faction in the party is urging PLP leader Perry Christie not to run a candidate in the Elizabeth constituency. They suggest the FNM is using the by-election, in part, to test its strength halfway through this mandate.
The front-runner for the PLP's nomination for Elizabeth is reportedly attorney and party Vice-chairman Ryan Pinder.
Pinder is the son of former PLP MP Marvin Pinder, who represented the area when it was the Malcolm Creek constituency.
Elizabeth MP Malcolm Adderley resigned his seat in Parliament on Saturday, by way of a letter to Speaker of the House of Assembly Alvin Smith. Adderley also resigned as a member of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) on Saturday in a separate letter to party chairman Bradley Roberts.
His resignation from the House will take effect at the end of the day on Wednesday.
The Parliamentary Elections Act says that the House Speaker shall send a message to the governor general requesting the issue of a writ of election once the speaker is made aware of a seat vacancy.
Upon receipt of the speaker's message, the governor general issues a writ of election for the constituency where there is a vacancy. The act states that there should be no less than 21, or no more than 30 days, between the issue of the writ of election and the return of that writ.
The returning officer to whom a writ of election is directed has up to two days after receiving a writ of election to give public notice of the election.
National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest told The Guardian yesterday he is "extremely confident" that the governing party will win the Elizabeth seat.
"It is not currently our seat but it's a seat that we would like to win and that we intend to win," said Turnquest, who is a former FNM leader.
Adderley is serving his second term as the Elizabeth MP, having won the seat for the first time in 2002. In the 2007 general election, Adderley won the seat by 45 votes over now Ambassador to China Elma Campbell.
The Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) candidate Bernard Rolle received 72 votes; there were 32 rejected ballots; and about 300 registered voters did not vote on election day.
thenassauguardian
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
