The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance leader Branville McCartney yesterday said the party will not offer a candidate for the forthcoming North Abaco by-election.

Mr McCartney told The Tribune that although the DNA would not be vying for the seat, the party’s political presence would remain a mainstay in the country.

“Our position of agitation for change in this country will remain. We, however, didn’t think it prudent at this time to run a person for the seat. It would only be one seat. Even if we were successful in winning the seat that would not allow us to win the government.

“We are at this time garnering all of our resources for the next general election,” Mr McCartney said.

Mr Ingraham, who represented that constituency for more than 20 years, won the seat in the May 7 general elections although his party was not successful in regaining the majority in the House of Assembly.

A short time later, Mr Ingraham announced that he would retire from front line politics. The North Abaco seat will be officially vacant with his resignation tomorrow.

Mr Ingraham is expected to present a letter of resignation to House Speaker Dr Kendal Major as the house does not reconvene until July 25.

The FNM has for the last few weeks courted four potential candidates to run for the seat. Up to press time, party leader Dr Hubert Minnis said a final decision had yet to be made. 

The hopefuls are: Perry Thomas, Greg Gomez, Jackson McKintosh and Cay Mills. All are said to be from North Abaco.

Controversy has surrounded the eligibility of Mr Gomez who is said to have possible residency issues according to the Bahamas’ Constitution.

The Constitution states that anyone desiring election to the House of Assembly must have been an ordinary resident in the Bahamas for a period of not less than one year immediately before the nomination date of the election.

The FNM has since confirmed that Mr Gomez moved back to the Bahamas on August 11, 2011.

When asked if the party would still support Mr Gomez, Dr Minnis said they were still in the midst of making a decision. FNM supporters have been waiting on an official announcement since last week.