In a significant political realignment, Karen Shepherd, a longstanding Free National Movement (FNM) figure, has publicly severed ties with her party of 33 years to pledge allegiance to Prime Minister Philip Davis and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). The formal induction ceremony occurred at PLP headquarters on Farrington Road, where she received her membership credentials alongside senior officials including party chairman Fred Mitchell.
Shepherd, who previously held multiple leadership roles including three terms as president of the FNM’s Women’s Association and party trustee, attributed her defection to fundamental philosophical disagreements. She asserted the FNM has deviated from its foundational principles, noting a disconnect between the party’s rhetoric and its operational conduct. “Their words are saying one thing, yet their actions show another,” she observed, referencing the erosion of the FNM’s traditional ‘all together’ motto.
The former Englerston candidate revealed that FNM leader Michael Pintard failed to initiate contact following her resignation announcement. She described a party experiencing substantial grassroots erosion while focusing disproportionately on visible leadership positions, metaphorically noting that while “the party was filling their spaces from the front, the back is hemorrhaging.”
Shepherd detailed how her decision crystallized during constituency canvassing, where she repeatedly encountered dissatisfied supporters whose concerns were systematically ignored by party leadership. She framed her move as ethically motivated rather than opportunistic, emphasizing her commitment to national interest through “holy courage” and clear conscience.
Citing her political heritage as the daughter of late PLP MP James Shepherd, she invoked historical continuity by referencing her father’s advocacy for price controls, housing initiatives, urban renewal, and labor reforms during the transformative 1967 general election. She specifically highlighted his role as the first House of Assembly Whip and his association with former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling.
Shepherd concluded with an explicit endorsement of Prime Minister Davis’s reelection bid, urging undecided voters to “join me on the winning team” committed to Bahamian service. PLP leadership welcomed her as a valuable organizational asset, with Women’s Branch chairwoman Calverna Small recognizing her as a formidable campaign operative.
