By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER MP and Cabinet minister Shane Gibson has confirmed that he is seeking a return to frontline politics and is hoping to run for the MICAL constituency in the next general election.

In an interview with The Tribune on Friday, Mr Gibson said his decision to leave retirement and re-enter the political arena was heavily influenced by area residents who have been calling for him to represent them.

He also said he had deep ties to MICAL because of his family background, some of whom were from the islands of Acklins, Crooked Island and Inagua.

“My parents are from the (MICAL) area, and their grandparents are from that area so everyone knows me and so everybody knows my work ethics and everyone knows my commitment to building a constituency and The Bahamas and so, they know what they are getting when they get me,” he said

“So they are very excited and everyone is energised now so it looks very promising.”

Mr Gibson was contacted by this newspaper after a letter he wrote to Progressive Liberal Party Secretary General Barbara Cartwright, advising her of his plans to nominate himself for the area, was leaked to the media.

In the letter, dated October 5, Mr Gibson wrote: “In the months leading up to the 2021 general election, I was inundated with calls from frustrated voters who encouraged me to offer myself as a candidate.

“More than a year after the September 16 election, those calls continue. After prayerful consideration and deep discussions with my family, I would like to advise of my decision to offer myself as a candidate for the MICAL constituency in the 2026 general election.

“I have deep roots in the islands and cay that make up MICAL. My father, the late ‘King’ Eric Gibson was a son of Acklins soil, my late mother, Gerlene Glover, was a descendant of Crooked Island, my grandfather, the late T G Glover hailed from Inagua and so did my wife, Minister Jacqueline Gibson, who was born and raised on Inagua.

 “Additionally, during my time as union president, I was instrumental in the unionisation of Morton Salt on Inagua, which paved the way for better benefits and working conditions for employees. I wholeheartedly believe that in addition to my ability to connect with and fight for the ordinary Bahamian, these connections will be advantageous in securing the MICAL seat in the House of Assembly,” he added.

 Although Mr Gibson is already planning to canvas the MICAL constituency to gather support, he made it clear that he will not vie for the seat if Basil McIntosh, the sitting MP, decides to run again.

 Mr Gibson said he has already contacted Mr McIntosh to express his interest to contest as a candidate for the MICAL seat.

 The MICAL MP, he added, responded that he would brief him of his political plans “well in advance” ahead of the next general election.

 Mr McIntosh did not return this newspaper’s calls for comment up to press time.

 “Two things have to happen, number one – only if Basil will (not) run, I will continue to pursue it and number two, I would need the residents to show the support at the right time because I’m sure there will be other candidates vying for the constituency as well,” Mr Gibson said.

 He also dismissed criticisms about his plans to return to politics, saying no matter what he does, some people will always have something negative to say.

 “When I ran in the union election, those same people who talking now, you ever hear them say anything good about me so why listen to them? That’s their job,” he said.

 “So, what I’m saying is you can’t worry about those kinds of things. Those people who you hear talking, they don’t live in MICAL. They are people who if they see me cleaning on the side of the road, they will say why is he cleaning on the side of the road, they should allow someone else to do it.

 “No matter what I do, they will criticise it - but what I’m saying is you can’t live your life based on those who criticise everything you do or you won’t do anything.”

 Mr Gibson ran as the PLP’s candidate for the Golden Gates constituency in the 2002 general election, a seat he  represented until his defeat in the 2017 election.

 He served in various Cabinet positions under the Christie administration; his most recent ministerial post was Minister of Labour and National Insurance.

 However, after the Minnis administration won the 2017 general election, Mr Gibson was charged with crimes of bribery along with several other high-profile PLP figures.

 The former MP’s charges stemmed from allegations that he solicited and accepted thousands of dollars from contractor Jonathan Ash to expedite payments the government owed him for work done after Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

 He was acquitted of the charges in November 2019 and later reached a $2.5 million settlement with the government after making claims of malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.

 Prior to his tenure in politics, Mr Gibson was the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union’s (BPCOU) president and also served in other roles in the union.