As PM faces by-election decision, Pintard urges: Go to the nation

By RASHAD ROLLE

and LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporters

FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard says Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis should call a general election rather than a by-election after Vaughn Miller’s death made the Golden Isles seat vacant - a view a former PLP attorney general cautioned against yesterday.

Under the Parliamentary Elections Act, a writ for a by-election must be issued within 21 to 30 days of a vacancy. Political observers believe such a vote could serve as an early test of the Davis administration’s support near the end of its term.

Some in the PLP have been weighing the pros and cons of having a by- election versus a general election, but sources told The Tribune there is no indication Mr Davis will call an early general election.

Mr Pintard argued that with Bahamians facing financial hardship, it would be wasteful for the government to spend millions on a single by-election when national issues remain unresolved.

“We’re discussing general election,” he said when asked yesterday whether the FNM had begun planning for a by-election.

“Given the financial challenges that the Bahamian people are facing, it would be interesting to see whether or not this government is prepared, to again, as they did in West Grand Bahama, spent over, we believe, $10 million on one seat.”

“Bahamians have real life bread and butter issues that the government needs to dedicate resources to. A general election will give one party or another a new mandate, and so he ought to go to a general election.”

Pressed on whether the FNM would not contest a by-election, Mr Pintard replied: “I did not say that. I said exactly what I meant. We ought to go to a general election.”

Meanwhile, former Attorney General Sean McWeeney, KC, told The Tribune last night that a snap election would disrupt the government’s agenda, adding that he would be very surprised if the prime minister goes that route.

He said shifting course because of Mr Miller’s death could create setbacks and political risk.

“Things are being rolled out by the government with the expectation that there won’t be general election let’s say July or August of next year,” he said. “To suddenly change that because of the death of Vaughn Miller and to say no we’re going to accelerate things means the things you were preparing to roll out can’t happen anymore that way and it’s clearly a political deficit attached to that.”

Mr McWeeney agreed that having a by-election can set the tone for the next general election and gauge public mood. But he cautioned the results can be misleading since it does not reflect the attitudes of the wider country.

“It gives politicians a good idea as to what they can expect if a general election is called but mind you it can also be deceptive because you have to remember that all of the resources of the government are concentrated in one single constituency so that can have a distorting effect too,” he said.

Last night, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis told The Tribune it is too early to be making political decisions.

“We are mourning at this time and I haven’t given consideration to that,” he said regarding a by-election. “The law requires me to call it within 60 days. I’m giving consideration to that.”

Golden Isles is regarded as a swing constituency. Mr Miller, who represented the seat for the Progressive Liberal Party and served as Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, died on September 28 at age 64 after two terms as the MP.


Comments

IslandWarrior says...

“The Progressive Liberal Party’s shortcomings are evident; however, the Free National Movement does not presently constitute a credible or attractive alternative.”

Posted 3 October 2025, 12:20 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

The colony's eligible voters' picture is not as clear as Mr. Pintard's **"go to voters' urge"** to be rushed into. ---- It's only the King's governing and official opposition parties who should govern the colony's 3000 out islands, cays, towns and settlements. --- Yes?

Posted 3 October 2025, 1:17 p.m. Suggest removal

truetruebahamian says...

Pintard is trying to show what corruption exists in the plp. He will try to bring our Bahamas on to a positive track if people would only depoliticized themselves and listen and learn.

Posted 3 October 2025, 2:15 p.m. Suggest removal

K4C says...

Lets go to the polls, lets change a dollar for 4 quarters, lets change back to the government we kicked out and elected the PLP, lets ....................

Posted 3 October 2025, 2:42 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

MR PINTARD CAN NOT TELL THE GOVERNMENT WHEN TO CALL AN ELECTION IT SEEMS HE is afraid. Corruption shall we talk about toggie and boggie OBAN. Barry Major etc.

Posted 3 October 2025, 4:13 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

It was a plp seat perhaps there should be.a law where another PLP can be appointed for the seat.

Posted 3 October 2025, 4:15 p.m. Suggest removal

ExposedU2C says...

You ChiCom bots are all alike and a dead giveaway. Of course you believe the ChiCom loving PLP should get to decide everything and the Bahamian people should get to decide nothing. That's called ChiCom democracy, better known as communism. And on this website we all know which trolling bots are fervent supporters of it. LMAO

Posted 4 October 2025, 1:33 p.m. Suggest removal

BahamaRed says...

Same thing I said, there needs to be a law or some kind of rule in place to govern these type of things in the event they do happen. It should be dependent on how much time is left in the term. Less than a year left on the term then the party who the seat belongs to should be able to appoint someone to hold the seat until an election is called, more than a year left then there should be a by-election in order to allow the constituents to vote for a new MP.
I feel we make these things too difficult in an effort to cover up corruption. Bahamians need to wake up and stop allowing these regular people who we appointed to lead take advantage of people.

Posted 4 October 2025, 3:12 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

@ComradeBahamaRed, aren't you missing. there's no better way "than a bypoll" to put visible live-time pressure not only on ruling party but opposition contenders'. --- It's "early time"  for  popoulaces' speak out and speak loudly, all forces all political players to pay closer attention. . --- Yes?

Posted 4 October 2025, 4:23 p.m. Suggest removal

IslandWarrior says...

Michael Pintard and the FNM aren’t offering a clear plan. Their message doesn’t connect, and there’s no vision to win back old voters or attract new ones. Calling for a general election now looks like a shortcut, not a fix. A by-election costs less than a nationwide vote, and the law sets the timeline. The PLP can hold the by-election, keep governing, and serve its full five-year term.

"Voters need results, not stunts."

Posted 4 October 2025, 9:25 p.m. Suggest removal

ExposedU2C says...

There is a well known saying in many parts of Africa:

*"The longer a jackal is allowed to remain in your chicken coop, the fewer chickens you will have."*

Pintard would be a weak PM to say the least, but at least he is no jackal like Davis. And its abundantly clear that the longer Davis remains PM (*in the coop*), the more financially destitute, hungry, and/or dead Bahamians (*chickens*) we are going to have.

Posted 5 October 2025, 9:06 a.m. Suggest removal

IslandWarrior says...

Ahh, so Davis is going around taking the “chickens”—no wonder I don’t see them running around the neighbourhood. But that Pintard “confidence” joke? Look around; no one is laughing.

Posted 5 October 2025, 9:25 p.m. Suggest removal

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