By-election expected to be in September

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, yesterday predicted that the Christie administration could call the forthcoming North Abaco by-election as early as September 2.

If Mr Ingraham’s guess proves correct, the announcement would come just two days after his resignation takes effect on August 31.

With just one week until the North Abaco seat becomes officially vacant, Mr Ingraham also set the record straight, insisting that he will resign as planned, despite widespread reports that he planned to backtrack on that decision.

“It’s a done deal, it’s finished, the battle is over and Jesus is Lord,” Mr Ingraham said. “I am going to be in Abaco on the second of September, the day that I expect they will call the by-election.”

He added that while he was grateful for the opportunity to have served as the country’s leader and a Member of Parliament for years, he was relieved.

“I am thankful and relieved of that burden. I thank the Bahamian people very much,” Mr Ingraham said.

Mr Ingraham conceded defeat and resigned as leader of the FNM just hours after the PLP was voted in as the new government of the Bahamas on May 7. He did, however, win his constituency’s seat, one that he held for his entire political career.

He announced almost two weeks later that his resignation would take effect on July 19. The decision to resign on that date, which was also the anniversary of his first election to Parliament, was delayed in a bid to gain time for a potential by-election candidate and more informed public opinion on the proposed gambling referendum, Mr Ingraham said.

On July 19, Mr Ingraham tendered his resignation letter to House Speaker Kendal Major, shortly after 9.30am although deceased party Chairman Charles Maynard confirmed that the former nation’s chief would not receive a special sitting of the House to announce his resignation. Parliamentarians were not slated to meet until July 25. It was later announced that he would be allowed a farewell speech on that day.

However, when the House did reconvene on July 25, Mr Ingraham was not allowed to make his farewell address at the beginning of the agenda. He was instead informed that he would have to wait until the end of the day to address his fellow MPs. On hearing the decision, Mr Ingraham quietly gathered his papers, bowed to the Speaker, and, for the final time left the floor of the House.

Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis defended Mr Ingraham’s decision claiming an agreement to allow him to speak at the start of the session was broken.

Comments

TalRussell says...

How much is it going cost Bahamaland's taxpayers to drive and financially support the lawyer/fisherman from Cooper's Town?

Didn't he snatch PM Pindling's car and pension from him?

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…

Posted 24 August 2012, 12:26 p.m. Suggest removal

Guy says...

Oh SHUT UP already!!

Posted 24 August 2012, 6:08 p.m. Suggest removal

242352 says...

I hear that Hubert now owns the land next door to Tal Russell and plays recordings in the night and it driving Tal nuts!!
Simply the best - all night long is making Tal Crazy....

Tal needs to start thinking of what the PLP are doing or not doing - Hubert is gone. He done say it..

Posted 24 August 2012, 3 p.m. Suggest removal

concernedcitizen says...

we won,t see one like him for awhile ,thanks HAI

Posted 24 August 2012, 3:40 p.m. Suggest removal

Lockhart says...

Thank God we wont

Posted 25 August 2012, 9:03 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

How in the hell can you be proud of a record which left behind over 60,0000 natives without paychecks, families afraid of murderous thugs doing them in on the streets, in their businesses, on even inside their homes ?

The red shirts are responsible 'for the very first time in Bahamaland's history' of actually sending thousands of middle class natives down to the poverty level, all along while they giggled away with their abuse of power as they made their friends, many UBP's in their hearts, richer and richer.

Comrades these are truths, best you learn to hand them.

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2012…

Posted 25 August 2012, 4:14 p.m. Suggest removal

concernedcitizen says...

the truth be told tal russel ,b/c of our sexual habits and schools that can,t teach we have been turning out unemployable youth for decades .We have overcome this by grossly overstaffing the civil services and funded it with ever higher taxes and fees and borrowing ..When 2/3 of our budget ,600 million , goes to the uncivil ,civil service you have to borrow to do anything ..It is a house of cards that will crumble ,like greece etc ,its just when will it crumble ....

Posted 26 August 2012, 12:09 p.m. Suggest removal

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