By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT - A total 17 candidates on Grand Bahama were officially nominated to contest five of the 38 seats in the 2012 general elections.

Many of the candidates and their supporters turned out early at the various nomination centres, which opened around 9am.

Marco City and East Grand Bahama were the only two constituencies that had independent candidates nominating, bringing the candidate count there to four each.

At the Jack Hayward High School, PLP candidate Gregory Moss was the first to nominate, arriving around 9am with about 100 supporters.

Mr Moss presented his documents and his $400 cash deposit to the returning officer Stephanie Rahming.

"I am very excited, it was an incredible experience," Mr Moss told The Tribune. "We received very substantial outpouring of support from people on the street as we marched to the Jack Hayward High School."

Mr Moss said he and his team were up at 7am and started the day with a prayer.

Asked how it felt to be officially nominated, he said: "It's been a long road; I have been on the campaign trail for a year and a half, and it is good to see this step toward the culmination of that."

Confident he will win, Mr Moss said it is good to see people are energised and hopeful again in the midst of the challenges facing the island.

"We have articulated a clear vision for Grand Bahama and we know how we will fix GB," he said.

Educator Norris Bain, the FNM candidate for Marco City, who also turned out with more than 100 supporters, was the second to nominate. He completed the process around 9.40am.

Mr Bain said he was very pleased with the support of so many people.

"I thank God who prepared me for this time; my wife and parents who have been there supporting me. And I want to thank the Prime Minister for giving me the opportunity to represent the people of Marco City, who I believe with all my heart will send me to Parliament as their next MP," Mr Bain said.

"Coach Bain", as he is known, said he is very grateful, excited, and ready to work for the people of Marco City.

"I want be a representative that the people can hear, feel and touch; someone who can truly make a difference. I pledge to work for them," he said.

Both Mr Bain and Mr Moss, along with their supporters, arrived at the nomination centre around the same time, but there was no hostility.

A senior officer and three other policemen were stationed at each nomination centre to maintain order.

Mr Bain said that out of respect, he allowed Mr Moss and his supporters to go first.

"It is politics and I hope all of us understand that, and we realise we are all Bahamians and we have to live here and not be hateful.

"Our election should be one the rest of the world should look at as a model, without bloodshed or injury to our citizens," he said.

Also nominating were DNA candidate Tonolus Sands and independent candidate Leslie Minus.

Mr Minus, who arrived shortly after 11.40am, said he was very excited about his nomination.

"Every five years we have the opportunity to stand up for constitutional rights," he said. "Anyone can offer once they qualify."

Mr Minus, an educator and principal, has run in Marco City as an independent before.

"I am familiar with residents in the area, and there are some serious issues that have not been addressed at the rallies.

"People are facing mortgage foreclosure and there needs to be land reform and serious financial empowerment of people - which can bring a decline in crime and other anti-social activities," he said.

Administrator Stephanie Rahming, the presiding officer at Jack Hayward High School, reported that nomination went smoothly for all candidates in Marco City.

At the Administrators Office in High Rock, DNA candidate for East Grand Bahama Ferlene Bridgewater-Thomas was the first to nominate.

Mrs Thomas is the sister of former PLP MP Pleasant Bridgewater, and the sister-in-law of former FNM MP Kenneth Russell. Her relatives and a few supporters accompanied her.

Second to nominate was FNM candidate Peter Turnquest, who arrived with his wife and a junkanoo ensemble and supporters in tow.

Former High Rock MP Maurice Moore was also there to show support.

Next came independent candidate Philip Thomas.

Mr Thomas had initially sought nomination for DNA, but later left the party to run as an independent.

PLP candidate Tanisha Tynes was the last to nominate, arriving with a large number of supporters and a marching band. Her parents, lawyers Harvey and Ingrid Tynes, and sisters were there to support her.

In Pineridge, FNM candidate Kwasi Thompson turned up at the Foster Pestina Centre with his wife and a team of supporters just after 9am.

After returning officer Cecil Thompson officially declared Mr Thompson nominated, FNM supporters erupted into cheers.

"I am giving all thanks to God," Mr Thompson said. "I feel good and I want to say that our work is not over, we still have much more work to be done."

Mr Thompson said he wants to continue to serve the people of Pineridge.

"It is for them that I have nominated today. It is for them I continue to fight and serve. I am so thankful."

He is confident that he will be returned based on his work and achievements in Pineridge in the last five years.

PLP candidate Dr Michael Darville marched from his headquarters not far away to the nomination centre with a large number of supporters.

"I feel very excited because for the last two years I have been on the road campaigning and waiting for Mr Ingraham to ring the bell.

"We have about 400 to 500 people - actual registered voters of Pineridge - that came out with me and it was exciting. The support is there and we are serious, we are campaigning aggressively in Pineridge and we certainly will win it for the PLP," he said.

DNA candidate Osman Johnson was nominated around 10am.

"I am honoured and privileged that my party has chosen me as their candidate and that the people in Pineridge have shown their support for me to represent them in the next general election," said Mr Johnson, who was accompanied by a small number of supporters.

He said he was not concerned about the large number of persons brought out by the PLP and FNM.

"Some of Mr Thompson's supporters were wearing Norris Bain and Neko Grant T-shirts," he said.

"This election is not about appearances, it is about the issues and trying to address the needs of the people - ie lower the cost of living, electricity bills and food, and lower costs of doing business in Freeport."

Nominating in Central Grand Bahama was FNM candidate Neko Grant, PLP candidate Julian Russell, and DNA candidate Howard Grant Jr.

In West Grand Bahama and Bimini, FNM candidate Pakesia Edgecombe, PLP candidate Obie Wilchcombe and DNA candidate Roger Rolle were nominated.

Scores of supporters accompanied Mr Wilchcombe to the Administrator's Office in West Grand Bahama.

Mr Wilchcombe said: "I love my people and my people love me. They know I will die for them."

Pakesia Edgecombe described the moment as surreal.

She and her entourage of supporters arrived shortly after 9am.

"I am so happy my community is here supporting me in this big step in our lives. I want to thank West Grand Bahama and Bimini for the expressed confidence and I look forward to serving the community," she said.

DNA candidate Roger Rolle was also nominated.

Police on Grand Bahama reported that there were no incidents at any of the nomination centres on the island.