The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage yesterday said that the highly anticipated North Abaco by-election will be held on October 15, two days before the House reconvenes.

Dr Nottage, who is also the Minister responsible for Parliamentary Registration and Elections, made the announcement by a press statement after Prime Minister Perry Christie told reporters outside of the Cabinet office earlier in the day that the public would be informed of the date within hours.

The statement further said that the nomination of candidates will take place one week from today, on Wednesday, September 26.

As it stands, three hopefuls, the FNM’s Greg Gomez, PLP Renardo Curry, and Ali McIntosh of the Bahamas Constitution Party (BCP) have offered themselves to run for the seat.

The North Abaco seat became officially vacant almost three weeks ago when former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s resignation took effect on August 31, despite widespread reports that he planned to backtrack on that decision.

Mr Ingraham, who represented the constituency for his entire 35-year political career won the seat in the May 7 general elections although his party was not successful in regaining the majority in the House of Assembly.

He announced almost two weeks later that his resignation would take effect on July 19. The decision to resign on that date, which was also the anniversary of his first election to Parliament, was delayed in a bid to gain time for a potential by-election candidate and more informed public opinion on the proposed gambling referendum, Mr Ingraham said.

On July 19, Mr Ingraham tendered his resignation letter to House Speaker Kendal Major, shortly after 9.30am although deceased party Chairman Charles Maynard confirmed that the former nation’s chief had been denied a special sitting of the House to announce his resignation. Parliamentarians were not due to meet until July 25. It was later announced that Mr Ingraham would be allowed to give his farewell address to the House on that day. It was understood that his address would be the first on the agenda.

However, when the House did reconvene on July 25, Mr Ingraham’s address was not the first on the agenda. He was informed that he would have to wait until the end of the day to address his fellow MPs. On hearing the decision, Mr Ingraham quietly gathered his papers, bowed to the Speaker, and, for the last time left the floor of the House.

Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis defended Mr Ingraham’s decision claiming an agreement to allow him to speak at the start of the session was broken. Several FNM MPs later paid tribute to Mr Ingraham.