NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The leader of the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM), Michael Pintard, is calling on Prime Minister Philip to announce a date for the general election rather than hold a by-election to replace the Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Vaughn Miller, who died last weekend.
Miller, who served as parliamentary representative for the Golden Isles constituency, was found unresponsive last Sunday and pronounced dead at the hospital.
General elections are scheduled to be held in The Bahamas by September 2026 to elect all 38 members of the House of Assembly. Under the Parliamentary Elections Act, a writ for a by-election must be issued within 21 to 30 days of a vacancy.
Pintard said that with Bahamians facing financial hardship, it would be wasteful for the government to spend millions on a single by-election when national issues remain unresolved.
“We’re discussing the general election,” he said, adding, “given the financial challenges that the Bahamian people are facing, it would be interesting to see whether or not this government is prepared, to again, as they did in West Grand Bahama, spend over, we believe, US$10 million on one seat.”
Pintard said Bahamians have real-life bread-and-butter issues that the government needs to dedicate resources to, and that a “general election will give one party or another a new mandate, and so he ought to go to a general election”.
However, when asked by reporters whether the FNM would not contest a by-election, Pintard responded by saying, “I did not say that. I said exactly what I meant. We ought to go to a general election.”
Prime Minister Davis told The Tribune newspaper that it is too early to be making political decisions.
“We are mourning at this time, and I haven’t given consideration to that,” he said, regarding a by-election.
“The law requires me to call it within 60 days. I’m considering that.”
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has sidestepped questions about whether he will join the opposition Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and contest the Killarney constituency, which he currently represents in Parliament.
“I’m wearing pink,” Minnis said, adding,” This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I advise the entire Bahamas to wear pink this month. In Killarney, we’re organizing a pink walk for Killarney residents at the end of this month. To show our respect for the women.
“Men also have breasts, and men get breast cancer. Not as common, but it does happen. I will be representing the people. Whatever the people want. I will represent Killarney, and I will run in Killarney,” said the medical practitioner.
Minnis, who served as prime minister between May 2017 and 16 September.
“I’m running in Killarney. However it’s done, you will know, because you will see Minnis’ name on the ballot. And I’ve told my people as I go through, when you go to that poll, look for Minnis,” the 70-year-old former FNM leader said.
The DNA was formed in 2011 by former FNM government minister Branville McCartney. It contested three general elections – 2012, 2017, and 2021–but lost ground with each election and failed to win a seat in Parliament.
Its leader, Arinthia Komalafe, resigned in December 2021 and has since joined the FNM, being recently ratified as that party’s candidate for Carmichael.
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