General Election Upset in The Bahamas

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, New York

06 May 2002

In a major political upset, the Bahamas' General Election last week saw Progressive Liberal Party led by Perry Gladstone Christie oust the incumbent Free National Movement after a 10-year reign, winning 28 seats out of 40 in the House of Assembly.

PLP Leader Perry Christie, 58, became the third Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas at his swearing-in on Saturday. In a victory speech he said:

"This is a great triumph for the Progressive Liberal Party but it is an infinitely greater victory for the Bahamian people. Far more than for my Party or for me, this day belongs to the people. Their voice rang clearly and magnificently throughout the land today and, lest we forget, the voice of the people is the voice of God."

Free National Movement Leader Tommy Turnquest lost his seat: he had been expected to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who said that he does not aspire to be leader again for the FNM.

Political analysts said that never before had so many Cabinet Ministers lost their Parliamentary seats, making it the "biggest landslide in the history of Bahamian politics. The last time the FNM was in opposition, it held 11 seats in a 43-seat House of Assembly. Now it will have 8 seats, with 4 Independents.

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