Monday, May 29, 2017
EDITOR, The Tribune.
IN 2012, amid much excitement and fanfare, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Branville McCartney entered the race to become the government of The Bahamas. They neither won the government nor any seats but many say that their presence played a pivotal role in the election's outcome.
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), led by Perry Christie, won the government by a slim margin, albeit they won 29 of the 38 seats. By closely analysing the number of votes cast, we can infer that the DNA changed the outcome of many of the constituency races. There are a lot of upset Bahamians even today who believe that the DNA inadvertently helped the PLP to win the 2012 general elections.
Fast forward to the 2017 general elections and the results paint a totally different picture. Free National Movement (FNM) candidates obliterated their incumbent PLP adversaries and all the other candidates combined. It was a total beat down. In 2012, if you combined the FNM and DNA votes, in many constituencies you would have totalled more votes than the PLP. In 2017, if you added the PLP and DNA votes, the outcome of the election would still be the same.
The DNA received about 50 per cent less votes in 2017 than in 2012. They had a perfect opportunity to gain more supporters. The then governing PLP was riddled with scandals and the FNM was in a long, bitter and bloody public battle to secure the party's leadership.
A costly mistake the DNA made was for McCartney to accept a Senate post from Loretta Butler-Turner, who had recently wrestled the title of Official Opposition Leader from Dr Hubert Minnis. This caused many Bahamians to look at the DNA differently and I felt that this would cost them a lot of votes in the general elections. It probably did.
Dr Minnis and the FNM have essentially forced Christie into retirement. But there should be others. McCartney should also do the honourable thing and resign as DNA leader. He has been rejected in two consecutive general elections.
The people have placed overwhelming confidence in the FNM to govern this country, but we still need effective opposing forces.
The DNA played no significant role in the 2017 general elections. If they are to return to relevancy, they must start the rebuilding process quickly.
DEHAVILLAND
MOSS
Nassau
May 28, 2017
Comments
bahamalove says...
Agreed! If the DNA is to survive, they must immediately consider electing such rising stars as Arinthia Komolafe to leadership positions in the party. As long as Branville McCartney and Chris Mortimer are leaders of the DNA, Bahamians will continue to think of the party as a fringe organization with no real chance of garnering any support in our elections. The quality of candidates did improve this election cycle and the party can survive if its image can move past that of 'Branville's party' to continue to attract intelligent, progressive individuals with a common vision.
Posted 29 May 2017, 7:32 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
Bran can now go and contest the PLP leadership race at the upcoming election ....... and take Komolafe with him for insurance (no pun intended)
Posted 29 May 2017, 8:51 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
Doc Minnis made promises on Christie Park No VAT on electricity, water or medicine . Bains town tax free zone. at another time he promised to pop necks. and some of those FNMs who went to doors promised an increase in the retirement benefits. some must have believed these
things. but the speech from the throne tells a different story. Is it all right to lie to the Bahamian people??. The DNA nor the PLP had Doc mo jo.
No VAT on education
Posted 30 May 2017, 3:51 p.m. Suggest removal
Honestman says...
It is time for Bran to disband the DNA. He had five years to develop his party into a third force after its promising showing in 2012 but was unable to attract enough credible candidates to stand any chance this time around. When guys like Lloyd, Dames and D'Aguillar chose the FNM over the DNA it was clear that the DNA was going nowhere. Bran gave it a good shot and well done to him for trying. Time now to end the project and get behind the FNM as they try and undo the enormous damage perpetrated on the Nation by the calamitous PLP.
Posted 30 May 2017, 4:38 p.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
The DNA needs to stay; after all they will be the official opposition after the 2022 election. PLP - no votes!
Posted 31 May 2017, 1:26 p.m. Suggest removal
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