Jubilant Free National Movement supporters celebrate outside St Columbus Primary School on Friday morning as Reece Chipman's defeat of Perry Christie in the Centreville constituency after an all-night recount is confirmed. Photo: Ava Turnquest/Tribune Staff
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@trbunemedia.net
DESPITE eight consecutive terms as Centreville’s member of Parliament, former Prime Minister Perry Christie’s loss of the seat became official on Friday after an all-night recount revealed that he lost to Free National Movement (FNM) newcomer Reece Chipman.
After the count was completed yesterday morning, after 24 hours of re-checking the votes, Mr Chipman received 1,909 to Mr Christie’s 1,905 and others receiving 197.
However, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) trustee Valentine Grimes told The Tribune that with the one protest ballot factored into the count, Mr Christie’s net loss was by three votes.
Asked whether the matter was likely to be queried in election court, Mr Grimes said it was a personal decision to be made by the former Prime Minister.
“I have advised the Prime Minister of my thinking with respect to the matter, but at the end of the day it is really up to him,” Mr Grimes told The Tribune. He was one of many officials involved in the overnight recount.
“We are satisfied that there are additional votes that ought to be counted for him.
But in saying that I commend the work of the returning officer and all the presiding officers.
“But, at the end of the day, he only lost by three votes net and there are additional votes that we think ought to be counted in his favour. At the end of the day he has to make his personal decision over what he intends to do.
“At the end of the day the people have spoken.”
Mr Grimes said the stunning loss for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) was devastating and took its toll on not only Mr Christie but thousands of supporters throughout the country.
Meanwhile, new Centreville MP Mr Chipman questioned the purpose of election court after the gruelling overnight count.
He said: “Anything is possible. Both sides had four attorneys so I don’t know how much more of a court that we would need.”
Speaking on the recount process, Mr Chipman said: “I think it was a good show of maturity in the room (and) a good show of democracy. It was just over 24 hours
“We started at about 9.30am yesterday (Thursday) morning and so the process is what it is.”
He continued: “We can’t rule anything out if election court is where the other side believes they need to go to exercise their democratic right. The people have made a choice and chose the FNM and myself to represent the area. In the last election Mr Christie won by 1,000 votes, so it speaks volumes to what the community wants.”
Mr Christie had represented Centreville for 40 years, but was swept out of power with his government in the general election on Wednesday as the FNM won 35 seats to four.
Comments
TalRussell 7 years, 6 months ago
Comrades! On May 10, 2017, the voters proved that they were ready grow Bahamaland's democracy. Former law partner Perry - it shouldn’t be taking you three days to find out who has won the Centerville constituency. Time take a page out the resignation instructional manual of that other law partner Papa Hubert!
banker 7 years, 6 months ago
Amen and Amen.
MassExodus 7 years, 6 months ago
As Bahamians say. Carry ya ass.
Emac 7 years, 6 months ago
I don't care if he had lost by one vote! As long as he has lost his seat, that's a good thing for the Bahamas. Now Christie, your legacy should be aligned with those of baby Doc and other leaders who rob their countries til the very last moment, when they were no longer able to hold on to power. Carry your sad ass. You do not deserve any thanks or gratitude from the Bahamian people. I just wish they lock your delusional tail up for all the wrong you have done. Good riddance!!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 6 months ago
Amen. But we the people should have no intention of letting him and his family ride off into the sunset with their ill-gotten unjust riches. It sickens me to think he will be drawing very handsome pension and other benefits from our Public Treasury and National Insurance Fund for the rest of his life if Minnis shows no back bone and walks away from properly constituting a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the mega-millions of dollars stolen from the Bahamian people. It would be a travesty and betrayal for Minnis to let Christie getaway scot-free while he (Minnis) tries to heave on to the backs of Bahamian taxpayers huge increases in government taxes and fees because of the mega-millions of dollars stolen over the last five years by the corrupt Christie-led PLP government.
MassExodus 7 years, 6 months ago
Who suggested that? Investigate, and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
DDK 7 years, 6 months ago
Mostly Mudda suggested that. Welcome back Mudda. Glad you did not take sick lol!
Clamshell 7 years, 6 months ago
Maybe, with a little luck, his next 5-year term will be at a certain Fox Hill constitutency ... one that comes with two buckets.
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 6 months ago
Fitting. His career should end exactly as it existed. In total failure.
Took a long time for Centerville to grow up. 43 years. Hope it sticks.
hj 7 years, 6 months ago
"God can't stop me now" This is what you get for be an arrogant .... Why don't you join your family in Atlanta. I understand they are already there,or am I wrong?
lazybor 7 years, 6 months ago
This was'nt unexpected
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TalRussell 7 years, 6 months ago
Comrades! Shouldn't there also be a discussion if two of only 4 PLP's elected - Philip "Brave" Davis in Cat Island, Rum Cay, and Glenys Hanna-Martin in Englerston - might not also consider resigning and never taking their seats in the People's Honourable House of Assembly?
banker 7 years, 6 months ago
I have a story about Glenys. I knew that I was going to a Canadian university (I worked my butt off landscaping around PI to get the money). However due to some confusion on my part, I missed the enrollment deadline for the more prestigious university that I really wanted to go for. So a lesser university was still open to me (cheaper and its credits were totally transferable in the second year where I eventually went).
Anyway I was talking to an English prof and he detected my slight Bahamian accent. He asked me where I was from. I told him The Bahamas. He said that when he started teaching some 10-15 years ago, he had another Bahamian student. It was Glenys. She is the daughter of A.D., and my grandfather had a lot of respect for A.D. when he resigned from Swindling's cabinet, because Swindling was criminal.
So I said to the prof that he must have a good opinion of Bahamian students. He said that he couldn't remember much about her class work. I said that was memorable in itself. Little did I know that the prof was predicting her legacy --little would be remembered about her. Now A.D., that's a different story.
Sickened 7 years, 6 months ago
We need to start an official investigation on Perry and the rest of them. Once started we can notify other countries of this investigation and any and all assets held abroad in their or their family's members name should be frozen until the investigation is concluded.
BaronInvest 7 years, 6 months ago
Hah, I paid 100$ to 3 people for not voting for him. Who was the 4th? Foreign Interest!!!
banker 7 years, 6 months ago
.........................
self - censored.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 6 months ago
The last four voters in Centreville who voted for Reece Chipman should be declared anonymous national heros for their outstanding service to our country.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 6 months ago
Mr: Christie has stolen nothing, I am happy he lost, he can go on now and enjoy his bonous time that God has allotted to him. He fought the good fight. He may have lost the battle, but he will win the war. Man look on the outside but God sees the heart, They can rejoice as much as they like. but it will not last.
The USA has their Donald Trump and the Bahamas has their :Roc with doc"
Clamshell 7 years, 6 months ago
The old jackal lacked the simple grace and courage even to speak to his people in defeat. But he'll cry and sob like a baby when they drag his rotting carcass to prison. Just watch ...
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 6 months ago
"Man look on the outside but God sees the heart,"
That's why God removed him, by their fruits ye shall know them
licks2 7 years, 6 months ago
The very words of LOP. . .exactly 1992 after he got his tail handed to him for making such a mess of the nation. . .the people never give him back that power. . .he then also said that papa will only last for one term. . .he will be back!! Yall bring back Mr. Perry Christie and yinna will remain a lost and broken party that nobody want around for ever!!! May I suggest that you carry ya tail too. . .your day has past. . .the whole bunch of yinna!
OMG 7 years, 6 months ago
All I can assume Birdie is that you are one of the favoured who has had handouts, jobs or other benefits from the PLP. Can't you get it through your more than thick skull that the past government not only increased taxes dramatically and not only spent it but borrowed more. In simple English there is a recent warning by educated financial experts that very soon without action the national debt paytments will equal the entire national GDP. That means zero cash for infrastructure, investment, etc etc etc. We have got rid of the old guard PLP who have run this country like their own club, just throwing a few crumbs out to people like you knowing you would be happy. Minnis has one hell of a job treading the fine line between economic recovery and taxation, but it is now or never and whatever you might think he inherited the financial mess created by your hero.
DEDDIE 7 years, 6 months ago
It was good that he lost. If he would have won he most likely would have done what his predecessors did. We can't afford a bye-election.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 6 months ago
Yes indeed You all papa had lots of money to spend in 2007, the PLP left the treasury flush. even he had to admit this after he had use the cookie jar to win the election the PLP did right by putting forth their projects. the defense force boats is one. doc has seen the budget. he knows what promises he can keep and the ones he can not.
What kind of mind always believes that people are stealing or looking for hand out. it is good to elevate the mind,
Honestman 7 years, 6 months ago
Birdiebrain - you are completely delusional, just like the entire PLP administration. I mean Bradley Roberts was surprised by the result? What sort of parallel universe do you all live in?
concernedcitizen 7 years, 6 months ago
What is wrong w/ you ..you don,t know your facts .Ingraham comissioned the new defense force boats in late 2010 /2011 ..and put the down payment .The total cost was 210 million .As soon as the PLP came to power in 2012 before the boats started arriving the PLP added 24 more million to the price w a special committee made up of cronies to manage the fleet ..Birdie check your facts , or do you just make up stuff
concernedcitizen 7 years, 6 months ago
@Birdie are you drinking ,how could Ingraham in opposition leading up to the election in 2007 use the cookie jar, the treasury , to win the election ..
John 7 years, 6 months ago
When it was becoming apparent that Perry Christie and Bernard Nottage would both lose their seats, it was also clear that the PLP loss would be greater than usual and so putting it mildly I declared that the PLP was about to get the biggest spanking in its history of its existence. And as was evident in the polling results, the Bahamian electorate was not about to let neither the DNA, nor the independent candidates or the other fringe parties interfere with their decision to kick Perry Chrisite and the PLP to the curb. The decision was a clear and decisive one. The Victory for Hubert Minnis and the FNM was resounding and the loss for the PLP was crippling, humilating even deadly. (yes deadly, many who lost in this election are now politically dead and will never contest another political election, ever!) And Leslie Miller is more than hopeful when he says the PLP will rebound in a few days. Not so. He must remember that thousands of supporters flew the nest before disaster struck and they are now celebrating victory. And happily so. Those who are left are severely injured, emotionally they have been humiliated. . They are mentally crushed and physically exhausted. So there is going to be a disbanding of the PLP. they will be in the wilderness for a few years, struggling to regroup, struggling to find a leader with vision, direction and the power of cohesion to draw the party back together. The old guard will fall off. And if they don't regroup, and the DNA holds its course and Branville McCartney releases the strangle hold he has on that party, then the DNA can rise up and become the second force in this country..And of course the PLP may just fade away, because Bahamians do nottake too kindly to third parties or independent candidates. Perry Chrisite caused that, just as Lynden Pindling caused it before him.
pablojay 7 years, 6 months ago
As one who was born in Grant's Town, i get great satisfaction from the fact that Perry lost because that area has had fifty years of continuous PLP representation, until Wednesday.
Baha10 7 years, 6 months ago
When the Blood Bath is finally drained, we may well go down in Commonwealth History as being the first Member utilizing the Westminster System of Parliamentary Government to "democratically" elect what amounts to a Dictatorship, which one can only assume our English Forefathers never dreamed remotely possible, albeit leave it to us to realize the unforeseeable!
ohdrap4 7 years, 6 months ago
We already did that. In 2012.
1voice 7 years, 6 months ago
God has a hand in everything and He shouted it loud and clear to former Prime Minister Perry Gladstone Christie. After it was all said and done, PGC lost by exactly four (4) votes and his now lost party is left with exactly four (4) seats in the House. All of this occurred on a day that should have been honoring the courage and memory of four (4) brave lost souls of the RBDF on the HMBS Flamingo on 10th May 1980. But no, PGC decided to disrespect them by putting election on the same day; what was one more day?. Well PGC found out that God does not sleep, for He heard you that fateful night when you uttered "God can't stop us now". God did stop you all and he did it in a truly momentous fashion. Never sleep on the Almighty.
alfalfa 7 years, 6 months ago
Not to worry Baha10, the Bahamian people have had enough of Perry's dictatorship for the past five years. We have democratically elected a new government, who just happened to win by an overwhelming majority. That was the wish of the people. As with Perry, should our new leaders not perform in the best interest of the country, which I feel certain they will, we will replace them too. No more dictatorship. Lets now all give our new government a chance to govern, and hopefully repair our "almost" destroyed country. PM Minnis has promised us the ability to recall non-performing representatives. That is a step in the right direction.
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 6 months ago
Too bad we can't just erase his entire career. Useless man...
sheeprunner12 7 years, 6 months ago
Not too many American Presidents are deified ........ In time, the same will happen to Perry ......... He will not be on the Mount Rushmore list
sheeprunner12 7 years, 6 months ago
Bernie's playful "alleluia" on Nomination Day spoke volumes on how the PLP elite must have reacted to Perry's announcement that it would be his final run ....... Now that Perry is no longer in the Parliament, he faces a hard decision of who to pass the leadership mantle to ....... He does not care for Brave ........ nor GHM ........ So, he may anoint Picewell and Chester to do so
happyfly 7 years, 6 months ago
Perry Christie. A PM devoted to to extorting developers, selling out his nations fishing rights to a foreign government, dedicated to helping his cronies exploit the poor, intoxicated with ill gotten cash....... there is a special place in hell for you
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