By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FORMER member of Parliament for Exuma George Smith has officially requested to be the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for a proposed North Exuma seat in the upcoming general election, The Tribune has learned.

In a letter dated August 24, 2016 addressed to Prime Minister Perry Christie, Mr Smith said after being “encouraged” by Exuma residents he is prepared to offer himself for a “portion of a single term” in order to build a “cordial” relationship between the government and the people of Exuma.

Mr Christie is chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party’s Candidates Committee.

The former Cabinet minister has been hinting for some time that he would return to front line politics before the next general election.

In May, Mr Smith told this newspaper that his mind, body and heart were all in agreement that he “can again serve the will of the people.”

He added that successive politicians representing Exuma have failed in their attempts to end the social and financial “upheaval” that has crippled the once great community.

Anthony Moss is the current representative for Exuma. He has not yet been ratified by the PLP and has shied away from directly answering if he intends to offer himself for a fourth time.

“Mindful of the issues affecting the well being of the people of Exuma and the neglect which they have endured, I wish to contest the proposed North Exuma seat in a two constituency Exuma and the Jumento Cays as the party’s standard bearer in the next general election,” the Mr Smith said in the letter, which The Tribune has obtained.

On Monday, during an appearance on “Darold Miller Live,” Mr Christie suggested that Exuma and Andros are two islands for which the establishment of additional House of Assembly seats should be considered.

However he said this would be something for the Constituencies Commission to decide.

“I respectfully offer at this time, encouraged by suggestions from Exumians who wish to restore the high quality of pride in the representation of the people those beautiful isles so deserve,” Mr Smith’s letter continued. “The people of Exuma have earned the right to be treated with great respect. My candidacy will signal the party’s concurrence of this sentiment.

“I am committed to serving a portion of a single term, during which time I shall work to encourage and empower Exumians to realise their potential through innovative entrepreneurial endeavours. I would work to build a cordial relationship between the government, the people of Exuma and foreign investors for the benefit of the communities throughout Exuma.

“I believe that with a combined and focused campaign with defined objectives as well as a plan for further infrastructural improvements, we can secure both seats.”

In April, nearly 60 Exuma residents expressed “overwhelming support” for a new PLP candidate in the 2017 general election.

According to official minutes of a meeting of leaders of the PLP Exuma constituency obtained by The Tribune, 56 PLPs expressed the desire to have a new candidate, one person did not vote and another failed to indicate clearly whether they would still support the three-time current MP.

Questions were also raised during the meeting over whether the branch could soon begin the groundwork to gather support for Chester Cooper, a banking executive, as a potential candidate.

In response, Mr Moss has said the outcry to replace him is a road he has travelled many times before, insisting that for the last 14 years he has worked to the best of his ability on behalf of all constituents.

He admitted earlier this year that there are people in Exuma who “never wanted me” since the election in 2002 and others who simply want him to do things he did not think he should be doing as an MP.

Mr Smith, a native of Exuma, was first elected to Parliament in 1968 and served in the Pindling Cabinet.

The Tribune understands that BAF Financial Bahamas CEO Chester Cooper has also launched a campaign in Exuma.