标签： Bahamas

In a historic break with decades of Bahamian political tradition, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has been officially inaugurated for a second consecutive term, one day after his Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) secured a landslide victory in the country’s general election. The swearing-in ceremony, held at Government House, formalized Davis’ new mandate after the PLP captured 32 of 49 parliamentary seats? No, correct: PLP won 33 of 41 total seats in Tuesday’s vote, a dominant margin that ended a 30-year cycle where Bahamian voters ousted sitting administrations after just a single term.

Fresh off Tuesday’s general election in The Bahamas, unofficial vote counting reveals a mixed political landscape where long-serving and sitting parliamentarians have largely held onto their seats, while a rising third party has gained significant traction across multiple constituencies. According to preliminary data compiled and reviewed by The Tribune, many incumbent MPs from both the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the Free National Movement (FNM) not only retained their electoral districts but also grew their raw vote shares compared to the 2021 general election. At the same time, the Coalition of Independents (COI) has recorded substantial gains in nearly every constituency tracked, marking a notable shift in voter sentiment toward alternative political options.

One of the clearest examples of incumbent growth can be found in the Elizabeth constituency, where PLP incumbent JoBeth Coleby-Davis secured a decisive re-election victory. Across 14 polling divisions, Coleby-Davis captured 2,308 votes, a 22 percent increase from her 2021 total of 1,893 votes when she first ousted then-FNM incumbent Duane Sands. This cycle, she defeated FNM challenger Heather Hunt, who finished with 1,285 votes. Even in this solidly PLP-held seat, the COI saw its support more than double: candidate Donna Dorset Major took 544 votes, up from just 204 votes the party earned in Elizabeth in 2021.

In Bamboo Town, PLP incumbent Patricia Deveaux successfully defended her seat against FNM chairman Duane Sands, though her vote total dipped slightly to 1,716 from 1,790 in 2021. Deveaux defeated Sands, who earned 1,352 votes, in a high-profile contest that pitted the sitting MP against the FNM’s top party official. For the COI, candidate Maria Daxon — who ran in the constituency in 2021 — saw her support jump nearly 80 percent, rising from 378 votes to 677 this cycle.

Veteran PLP politician Glenys Hanna Martin secured a historic sixth consecutive term in Englerston, capturing 1,913 votes across 10 polling divisions. While her total was down from 2,249 in 2021, she still won by a wide margin over FNM candidate Heather McDonald (348 votes) and COI contender Faith Percentie (385 votes). The FNM’s vote share in Englerston fell from 498 in 2021, while the COI more than doubled its support, growing from 163 votes to 385 in this election.

Across multiple FNM-held constituencies, incumbents also grew their support, matching the trend seen in PLP-held seats. In St Anne’s, FNM incumbent Adrian White retained his seat with 2,346 votes, up from 2,007 in 2021. PLP challenger Keno Wong earned 1,402 votes, an increase from the 1,253 votes the PLP took in the district in 2021, while the COI’s Graham Weatherford earned 346 votes, nearly doubling the party’s 2021 total of 172. In Sea Breeze, PLP incumbent Leslia Miller-Brice boosted her vote total from 2,448 in 2021 to 2,911 this cycle, defeating FNM challenger Trevania Clarke-Hall, who earned 929 votes (down from the FNM’s 1,090 in 2021). The COI’s William Knowles took 565 votes, more than doubling the party’s 2021 total of 276 in the district.

This pattern of growing incumbent support and rising COI support also extends to Grand Bahama, the country’s second-most populous island. In East Grand Bahama, FNM incumbent Kwasi Thompson increased his vote total from 2,090 in 2021 to 2,342 this cycle, edging out PLP challenger Monique Pratt, who earned 1,912 votes — an increase from the PLP’s 1,686 votes in 2021. COI candidate Dexter Edwards earned 498 votes, up from 372 for the party in 2021. In Marco City, FNM leader Michael Pintard secured re-election with 2,534 votes, up from 2,340 in 2021. His PLP challenger Edward Fields II earned 1,399 votes, down from the PLP’s 2,021 in 2021, while COI candidate Jillian Bartlett increased the party’s vote total from 298 in 2021 to 365 this cycle.

As unofficial counting continues, the preliminary results highlight two key takeaways from the 2024 general election: sitting MPs from both major parties have largely retained their hold on their constituencies, even as the COI has emerged as a competitive alternative that has expanded its voter base across every region of the country.

One day after final votes were tallied in The Bahamas’ general election, former prime minister Hubert Minnis opened up about his unexpected loss of the Killarney constituency seat — a post he held for nearly 20 years — revealing that while disappointment lingers, his engagement with the community he represented is far from over.

Minnis’ defeat came after a historic and politically charged campaign that saw the former leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) split from the party he once headed, launching a rare independent bid for re-election following months of public friction with current FNM leader Michael Pintard and the party’s senior leadership. When the FNM leadership declined to renominate Minnis as its candidate for the 2026 general election, he opted to stay in the race, marking the first time any former Bahamian prime minister has run as an independent after leaving the party they once led. On election night, early results projected FNM nominee Michela Barnett-Ellis as the winner of the Killarney seat, ending Minnis’ decades-long hold on the constituency.

The former prime minister arrived at a mandatory vote recount at the New Providence Community Centre on Thursday morning clad in his signature campaign gear — a branded “Killarney Strong” shirt and matching hat — and remained outwardly calm throughout the process. Speaking to reporters after the recount confirmed his loss, Minnis acknowledged the letdown of the outcome, but framed defeat in an unexpectedly reflective light.

“Of course, I would have been somewhat disappointed that I lost in Killarney,” he told reporters outside the centre. “Sometimes defeat can be victory. In terms of feeling, I still feel good. I woke up this morning and did my usual thing and just came from coffee house with my lovely wife enjoying a nice morning of coffee.”

As a long-time resident of the Killarney constituency, Minnis made clear that he has no plans to step back from community work. He announced a new initiative to launch an Educational Trust Fund, designed to provide much-needed financial aid to local high school students facing economic barriers. The former prime minister confirmed he will seed the fund with $100,000 of his own personal capital, and he plans to solicit additional donations from outside sponsors to expand the fund’s reach.

For months leading up to election day, Minnis remained confident he would retain the Killarney seat, even as pundits questioned his odds as an independent candidate. When asked on election day what his future would hold if he lost, he dismissed the question and reaffirmed his belief in a victory.

When asked Thursday whether his defeat signals the end of his formal political career, Minnis said he has not yet held in-depth conversations with his family about his long-term plans, stressing that his loved ones will be central to any future decision he makes. When pressed on whether he would consider reconciling and rejoining the FNM, he ruled out that possibility, noting that he currently plans to shift his focus to supporting his children as they grow their own business ventures. When asked what factors led to his defeat, he simply replied, “Only God knows.”

The 2026 general election delivered a decisive victory for the incumbent Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), which secured a second consecutive term in office. Unofficial final results show the PLP winning 33 of the 41 available parliamentary seats, while the FNM only captured eight seats. When asked for comment on the FNM’s poor overall performance in the election, Minnis said he does not interfere in the internal affairs of his former party.

“To be honest with you, I can’t tell you my real belief or what I believe happened,” he said. “I will write that in my journals, you know, but that’s my belief, and it would be backed up with some facts, but it’s not for public consumption at this time, the public is not prepared to take that. They can’t devour it at this time.”

In the wake of Tuesday’s general election in the Bahamas, an alarming projected voter turnout of just 58 percent has sent shockwaves through the nation’s political landscape, with senior electoral officials warning the figure would mark an unprecedented collapse in civic participation if officially confirmed. Geoffrey McPhee, an election consultant with the country’s Parliamentary Registration Department, told reporters Wednesday that the unofficial estimate — which remains subject to confirmation as recounts proceed across 25 contested constituencies — points to voter turnout falling even lower than the 2021 snap election held at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

McPhee emphasized that the 58 percent figure is still preliminary, drawn from preliminary on-the-night assessments by election staff, but called the projected drop a devastating blow to the country’s democratic culture. “Our folks, we have gone south with respect to excitement about elections. That is really, really, that’s horrible,” he said, adding that the 2021 COVID-era turnout, already a historic low, outperforms the current projection. “That’s tragic, because with elections, once they miss the election, they don’t feel the urgency to reengage.”

The projected slump represents a staggering break from the Bahamas’ strong post-independence voting tradition. For decades after the nation gained independence, general election turnout routinely exceeded 88 percent, and regularly climbed above 90 percent through the first three decades of self-governance. The 1977 inaugural post-independence general election recorded an 88.6 percent turnout, with numbers rising to 90.4 percent in 1982 and holding above 90 percent through 1987. Turnout stayed consistently high even as power shifted between major parties: it hit 91 percent when the Free National Movement (FNM) ended the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) decades-long hold on government in 1992, and reached 93.2 percent when the FNM secured a landslide second term in 1997. Through 2002, 2007 and 2012, turnout remained firmly above 90 percent, and even in 2017, the first election to show a clear downward trend, participation still hit 88.4 percent.

The first historic rupture came in 2021, when turnout fell sharply to 64.9 percent. If the current 58 percent projection holds, Tuesday’s election will set a new post-independence low for voter engagement. The low turnout coincided with the PLP securing a commanding second consecutive term in office, with unofficial results showing the party winning 32 of 41 seats, nearly matching its 2021 landslide victory that ousted the FNM from power.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, leader of the PLP, acknowledged the unexpectedly low turnout, noting that weak participation is never healthy for a democratic society and that more work must be done to help all voters feel that their ballots carry meaningful weight. So far, the highest recorded local turnout is expected in the New Providence constituency of Fort Charlotte, where former Island Luck CEO Sebas Bastian defeated FNM candidate Travis Robinson by more than 2,300 votes on an estimated 72 percent turnout, according to local insiders.

Civil society leaders have joined electoral officials in sounding the alarm, stressing that the projected low turnout should concern all Bahamians regardless of partisan alignment. Matt Aubry, head of the nonpartisan Organisation for Responsible Governance (ORG), said that weak participation does not necessarily equal voter apathy. Instead, he argued, many disengage because they do not feel their concerns are being addressed or that voting will lead to tangible change in their daily lives.

During the organization’s voter education outreach across the election cycle, Aubry said, ORG teams heard repeated frustration, particularly from young and first-time voters, who criticized campaigns for focusing heavily on personality politics and sensationalized rhetoric instead of the bread-and-butter issues affecting most Bahamian households. These include persistent struggles with the cost of living, limited economic opportunity, rising crime, high energy costs, inadequate housing and eroding public trust in political leadership.

Voters also repeatedly raised concerns about longstanding gaps in governance transparency, accountability, public procurement, campaign finance reform and access to information, even as more residents recognize how directly policy choices impact their daily lives and opportunities. Beyond policy grievances, Aubry noted that issues during the advanced voting process — including reported gaps in preparedness and efficiency — combined with ongoing public anger over the violation of campaign laws around candidate treat-giving by multiple parties, may have further eroded motivation to participate. The delayed and partial rollout of new biometric voter identification cards, paired with widespread misinformation and speculation on social media, also created confusion that may have undermined public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process for some voters, he added.

A historic milestone for gender parity in Bahamian politics has emerged after this week’s general election, with nine women securing seats in the 41-member House of Assembly — a result former opposition leader Loretta Butler-Turner calls an unprecedented leap forward for women’s participation in frontline governance.

Butler-Turner, a former Long Island Member of Parliament representing the Free National Movement (FNM), told local media the outcome signals the long-standing political glass ceiling blocking women from national office is far more permeable than it was in previous election cycles. While she emphasized that systemic barriers still place disproportionate pressure on female candidates compared to their male counterparts, she framed the 202? election results as a clear sign of shifting attitudes among Bahamian voters.

“The Bahamian people have spoken, and with more women at the legislative table than ever before, I’m optimistic we’re building a Parliament that better reflects the country it serves,” Butler-Turner said.

Of the nine women elected this cycle, seven represent the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and two are members of the FNM. The full list of newly elected female MPs includes Glenys Hanna-Martin for Englerston, Michela Barnett-Ellis for Killarney, Frazette Gibson for Central Grand Bahama, Leslia Miller-Brice for Sea Breeze, Lisa Rahming for Marathon, JoBeth Coleby-Davis for Elizabeth, Ginger Moxey for Pineridge, Patricia Deveaux for Bamboo Town, and Pia Glover-Rolle for Golden Gates. Combined, women will now hold roughly 22 percent of all seats in the House of Assembly, a marked improvement from the 2021 general election, when only seven PLP women won seats and no female FNM candidates claimed victory.

Butler-Turner noted that the progress achieved this election cycle is just the first step toward meaningful gender equity in Bahamian politics. The next critical challenge, she argued, is to retain newly elected women in public service and build on the current momentum to recruit and support more female candidates in future races. She added that while Bahamian voters are increasingly open to electing women, female candidates still face structural disadvantages that their male peers do not encounter.

“There’s more openness now, but women still have to work harder to be seen as viable political candidates,” Butler-Turner said. “That’s changing as more of us run and win.”

She identified three persistent core barriers for women in Bahamian politics: limited access to the substantial campaign funding required to compete competitively, competing personal responsibilities that leave many women with less time to dedicate to full-time campaigning, and the disproportionate public scrutiny female candidates face over their personal and professional lives. Even so, she stressed that growing numbers of women are overcoming these hurdles, and voter attitudes continue to evolve in favor of female leadership.

Butler-Turner also highlighted the strong campaign run by outgoing PLP Senator Robyn Lynes, who ran for the Killarney seat and ultimately lost to Barnett-Ellis. She praised Lynes’ ability to connect quickly with voters and build cross-partisan support for her policy platform, noting her performance demonstrated how strategic messaging and energetic campaigning can shift electoral dynamics even in the final stages of a race.

“She connected with voters quickly, and her message gained traction across the political spectrum,” Butler-Turner said. “It’s a good example of how a clear message and strong delivery can shift momentum, even late in a race. Her high-energy campaign and messaging was commendable.”

Following the Free National Movement’s (FNM) humbling defeat in last Tuesday’s general election in the Bahamas, internal divisions have erupted over the future of party leader Michael Pintard, with a senior former party official calling for his immediate resignation in line with longstanding political tradition.

The election delivered a second consecutive consecutive term to the incumbent Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), while the FNM secured only eight out of 40 contested parliamentary seats – a result that nearly mirrored the party’s historic poor performance in the 2021 poll. While Pintard managed to hold onto his own Marco City constituency, he has so far declined to confirm whether he will step down, noting only that he will consult with his inner circle in the coming days to determine his next move.

Despite minor gains for the FNM, which flipped the Freetown and MICAL seats from the PLP, the party lost its hold on St Barnabas, leaving it badly outnumbered in the new parliament. The election also brought an unexpected shakeup: the upstart Coalition of Independents performed far stronger than predicted against FNM candidates, particularly across multiple constituencies in New Providence, signaling growing voter discontent with the established opposition party.

Opinions within the FNM’s senior ranks are deeply split on how to move forward. Some top officials have privately argued that Pintard should stay on in the interim to keep the party stable until a formal leadership convention can be called. Others, however, are pushing for an immediate exit, arguing that new leadership is required to rebuild the party’s base and reignite supporter enthusiasm.

Desmond Bannister, the country’s former deputy prime minister and a long-time FNM figure, is the most prominent voice calling for Pintard’s departure. “The tradition in politics is that if you lose an election, you resign,” Bannister explained in comments this week. “That doesn’t mean that you don’t have a chance to come back at some stage.” He pointed to former FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis, who stepped down after defeat and later launched a bid to retake the party leadership, as a well-known example of this precedent. Bannister added that stepping aside would not close the door on a potential future comeback for Pintard.

But FNM Secretary General Serfent Rolle pushed back against calls for an immediate resignation, arguing that it is far too early to pressure the leader out. He emphasized that the FNM has longstanding internal processes for addressing leadership questions, and party councils are already holding a series of meetings to assess the election result, review the party’s financial position and map out a path forward.

“We have to have a stable party, and that’s what I’m going to be fighting for,” Rolle said. “People want blood all the time because they like drama, and it’s all that. But nobody can die for that. It will happen. There will ultimately be a convention.”

As the party conducts its post-election internal review, key questions continue to swirl around why the FNM’s policy and campaign message failed to resonate with Bahamian voters. Carlyle Bethel, a former official with the FNM’s Torchbearers Youth Association, released a public statement calling for sweeping restructuring and generational renewal within the party, paired with an end to the infighting that has plagued internal operations. Bethel argued that the party’s long-time loyalists have been sidelined and treated as disposable for far too long, noting that a fundamental shift in party culture is non-negotiable.

Bannister echoed those criticisms, confirming that many long-time FNM supporters felt alienated by the current leadership team. “These are loyal FNM supporters who decided that they’d been alienated by the party,” he said. “Whether reasonable or not, they didn’t support the party in the election. These are people who campaigned for the FNM all their adult life. Many of them actually led the campaigns of PLP candidates who were successful.” Bannister stressed that the FNM must urgently develop a targeted strategy to rebuild trust and reconnect with supporters who have walked away from the party.

The former deputy prime minister also raised serious alarm over alleged widespread violations of electoral law during the campaign, including systemic vote buying and undue influence over voters. “I’m alarmed that almost every candidate I saw was breaking the law in terms of what benefits they give to voters,” he said, calling for the country to strengthen existing legislation banning voter inducements and improve enforcement of existing rules. Bannister specifically called on the FNM’s team of prominent lawyers to review whether legal challenges should be filed over irregularities in the Grand Cay and Moore’s Island constituencies, where the incumbent PLP government rolled out new benefits to voters just days before polling opened.

Bannister also gave credit to the PLP for running what he described as a masterful, well-resourced campaign, and urged the FNM to undertake a full review of how political parties structure their operations and prepare for national elections. He argued that leadership focused on policy development should not be tasked with managing election organization, adding that the FNM must become far more professional and efficient in its campaign operations to compete going forward.

He also noted that the relatively low voter turnout in the election suggests the PLP still holds only minority support among the overall electorate, with many voters choosing to stay home rather than back either the incumbent government or the FNM as a viable alternative.

With Pintard’s future uncertain, the FNM is widely expected to face a competitive leadership contest in the coming months. The eight FNM candidates who won their seats, in addition to Pintard, are J Leo Ferguson in MICAL, Lincoln Deal in Freetown, Kwasi Thompson in East Grand Bahama, Dr Andre Rollins in Long Island, Adrian White in St Anne’s, Frazette Gibson in Central Grand Bahama, and Michela Barnett-Ellis in Killarney. Bannister described the incoming group of FNM MPs as highly competent, noting that any of the newly elected lawmakers would be capable of serving as the party’s parliamentary leader.

The Bahamas has witnessed a seismic shift in its long-running political cycle, after Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis led the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to an unprecedented second consecutive general election victory — a feat not achieved by any ruling party in nearly three decades.

The outcome of the contest was nothing short of a landslide. Unofficial vote tallies confirmed the PLP secured 32 out of the 41 contested parliamentary seats, a result that nearly mirrored the party’s overwhelming 2021 win. In that election, the PLP took 32 of 39 seats and ousted the Free National Movement (FNM) from power after a single term in office. This year’s resounding win stands as a clear public endorsement of Davis’ first-term administration, and a decisive rejection of the FNM, which failed to convince Bahamian voters that it deserved to reclaim power after just one term as the parliamentary opposition.

The PLP’s dominance was most pronounced on New Providence, the country’s most populous island, where the party held all but two constituencies: Freetown and Killarney. Before Davis’ historic win, the last party leader to secure back-to-back election victories was former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who led his party to wins in both 1992 and 1997.

Despite the historic victory, the result comes alongside a notable observation: voter turnout hit an all-time low for general elections in the Bahamas, opening up public debate over whether the PLP’s overwhelming seat share stems from broad popular support, inherent weaknesses in the opposition FNM, widespread voter apathy, or a combination of all three factors. Davis himself acknowledged the lower-than-expected turnout, noting that low participation is never healthy for a democratic society, and emphasized the need for future action to ensure all eligible voters feel their ballot makes a meaningful difference.

Even with low turnout, the voters who cast ballots delivered an unambiguous result. The PLP ran a short but fiercely aggressive campaign centered on its first-term record, which the party framed around post-pandemic economic recovery, restored international confidence in the Bahamian economy, increased foreign direct investment, expanded economic opportunity for citizens, and a platform of unfinished work that required a second mandate to complete. Throughout the campaign, Davis and PLP candidates repeatedly urged voters to return the party to office to see their agenda through.

In his victory address to supporters, Davis framed the win as more than just a political victory for his party. “Tonight is a political victory, but this is truly a victory for the whole country,” he said. “For the first time in almost a generation, we have a historic opportunity. Let us make the most of it.” He added, “I will begin our second term as I began the first with a humble spirit and with a heart full of gratitude. Thank you for your trust and faith in me. I will not let you down.”

Even before unofficial results were finalized, Davis had privately expressed confidence that the PLP would secure its historic consecutive win. PLP insiders noted that reports from on-the-ground poll workers indicated strong enthusiasm among voters who turned out, even as overall participation lagged. As early results began to come in, supporters gathered at PLP headquarters broke into cheers, particularly when early counts showed the party leading in key battleground constituencies including Pinewood and Tall Pines.

As the night went on, the full scale of the PLP’s victory became clear. Incumbent PLP representatives celebrated at their constituency offices, thousands of supporters flooded Nassau’s Clifford Park, and celebratory motorcades crossed New Providence. Despite intermittent rain, crowds danced in the streets and honked car horns in celebration across the island.

Davis used his victory speech to reach out to opposition supporters, calling for national unity and emphasizing that he would serve all Bahamians regardless of their vote. “To the Bahamians who voted today but did not vote for us, I want you to know I’ve listened to you. I’ve heard you. I want you to know that I will continue to work hard for all Bahamians,” he said. He pledged to deliver on every campaign promise with unwavering commitment, saying, “I will deliver the party’s promises with every bone in my body and every beat in my heart.”

Davis emphasized that the election result sent an unambiguous message about the direction Bahamian voters want for their country. “You voted because you believe that together we can make some of the big changes that would fulfil our missions we share for our Bahamas,” he said. “We all want a country that has more opportunities, a country where safety and prosperity belong to all Bahamians. You want a country in which all of you and your children and grandchildren will thrive.”

The PLP’s renewed mandate comes as the Bahamas continues to grapple with pressing domestic challenges, including a high cost of living, strained public healthcare systems, and persistent inflation. Davis first took office in 2021 amid similarly severe economic headwinds, including mounting national debt, stagnant growth caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing recovery efforts from the devastating Hurricane Dorian that struck the country in 2019. For his second term, Davis has campaigned on a broad policy agenda that includes expanded worker protections, stricter immigration enforcement, a new migrant health insurance scheme, integration of artificial intelligence into public services, expanded vocational training opportunities for workers, expanded housing support, and a range of other social and economic programs.

The Bahamas’ general election delivered a devastating blow to the Free National Movement (FNM) on polling day, leaving the long-established political party grappling with significant internal upheaval and growing calls for party leader Michael Pintard to step down from his post.

In the final seat count, the FNM secured only eight parliamentary seats. While the party managed to flip the Freetown and MICAL constituencies from the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), it suffered high-profile losses that amplified the scale of its defeat. Notably, the FNM lost the St Barnabas seat; deputy party leader Shanendon Cartwright failed to win re-election in his St James constituency, and party chairman Dr. Duane Sands was defeated in his Bamboo Town race.

Pintard, who successfully retained his own Marco City seat, offered no clear confirmation that he would stay on as party leader when questioned about his political future shortly after the results were finalized. He stated that he would first hold internal consultations with the party’s senior team in the coming days before any announcement is made.

“I believe in party conventions,” Pintard told reporters. “I have always respected that process. Over my four and a half years as leader, we have held three conventions, two of which included leadership contests. I am fully committed to following the party’s constitutional process. First and foremost, though, I am committed to talking through our next steps with the party team, and in the next few days we will reach a decision and share it publicly.”

Pintard’s ambiguous remarks set the stage for what could become a competitive open leadership contest as the FNM begins the slow work of rebuilding after a second consecutive election failure where its policy platform failed to connect with Bahamian voters. The FNM’s winning candidates include J. Leo Ferguson in MICAL, Lincoln Deal in Freetown, Frazette Gibson in Central Grand Bahama, Kwasi Thompson in East Grand Bahama, Dr. Andre Rollins in Long Island, Adrian White in St Anne’s, and Michela Barnett-Ellis in Killarney, alongside Pintard in Marco City.

Shortly after the results became clear, Pintard called incumbent Prime Minister Philip Davis to congratulate him and the PLP on their election victory, formally conceding defeat. In his public concession address, Pintard paid tribute to the defeated Cartwright, calling him a close friend and brother in the party and praising his years of service to the FNM and Bahamian public.

The FNM leader emphasized that the Bahamian people had exercised their democratic right to choose their government, and the party fully accepted the outcome of the vote. “The people of the Bahamas have spoken, and we accept their decision,” he said. “That is how democracy works. We put forward our platform, we ask voters for their trust, we count every ballot, and we honor the final result. That has always been the Bahamian way, and tonight we honor that tradition once again.”

He thanked voters who cast their ballots for FNM candidates, noting that the party had grown its caucus size in Parliament compared to the previous term, adding that official final results would be confirmed the following day. Pintard framed the election loss as a temporary setback, not a rejection of the core values the FNM campaigned on.

“You believe in a different kind of government,” he said, addressing supporters. “You believed in honest, accountable government that acts fairly in all its dealings, fairly in awarding government contracts. You believed in a Bahamas that works for every one of our people. That belief did not lose tonight. That belief endures, and it will outlast every election that comes.”

Throughout the campaign, the FNM positioned itself as the standard-bearer for clean, transparent governance, but the 2024 defeat leaves the party grappling with urgent questions about its electoral strategy, leadership direction, and ability to build broad voter support following its 2021 general election loss. Even constituencies political observers had tipped as potential PLP losses, including seats in Abaco, were retained by the incumbent government. The Abaco race drew controversy before voting day, after revelations emerged that the PLP government had distributed more than $200,000 in gift cards funded by the Ministry of Finance to residents under the names of PLP candidates and officials, framed as Hurricane Dorian disaster relief – a move the opposition decried as blatant vote-buying.

In his address to supporters, Pintard urged all FNM backers not to lose heart, speaking directly to young party members, long-time loyalists, and unsuccessful candidates. He invoked the legacy of former FNM Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, reminding the crowd that the party’s founding mission to advance government accountability and transparency did not end with Ingraham’s retirement, nor would it end with this election defeat. He confirmed that the FNM would now step into its constitutional role as His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, where it would hold the new PLP government accountable and carefully scrutinize its legislative and policy agenda.

When asked whether the Coalition of Independents (COI) and unaffiliated independent candidates split the opposition vote and aided the PLP’s victory, Pintard confirmed that his pre-election warning had been borne out. “It was clear that not just the COI, but independents as well, helped the PLP,” he said. “We made this point repeatedly during the campaign: a vote for COI or a vote for an independent is a vote that ultimately helps the PLP. We see that very clearly now.”

That comment signals a likely line of internal debate that will emerge as FNM officials conduct their post-election review, with some expected to argue that third-party candidates contributed to the party’s poor performance.

Pintard closed his remarks by thanking the FNM’s extensive network of campaign workers, volunteers, financial donors, national headquarters staff, all candidates, and their families for their dedication and sacrifice throughout the election cycle. “To my wife and daughter, I want to say a special thank you, but the truth is, every one of our candidates has spouses and loved ones who stood with them,” he said. “To all of you who have stood beside and behind these candidates and workers, we extend a special thank you for the sacrifices you made, the price you paid right alongside them.”

He also offered a final note of gratitude to the voters of Marco City, who re-elected him to Parliament. “To the people of Marco City who have honored me with the privilege of representing you again, I want to say thank you,” he said. “I will continue to serve you with everything that I have. To every one of you in this room tonight, I recognize every day that I stand on your shoulders, that you have given me the rarest of opportunities to serve our community, and I will do so vigilantly.”