The Tribune

NORTH ABACO - Renardo Curry, PLP North Abaco by-election hopeful, believes that a victory for the party would signal an “incredible longing” by constituents to see the island progress.

And it’s because of that that desire, he told The Tribune in Treasure Cay yesterday, residents of the constituency will turn out to the polls on October 15, and elect him as the next Member of Parliament for North Abaco.

His prediction comes on the heels of nominations that will take place today. Mr Curry, FNM hopeful Greg Gomez and Ali McIntosh, of the Bahamas Constitution Party (BPC), are expected to turn up at the Coopers Town Post Office to submit the necessary documents that will officially seal their stake in the by-election.

Mr Curry said: “I feel confident that we will win the seat. Having lived among Abaconians for a while, I know that they are a people who would very much like to see progress.

“This is the beginning of something special and new.

“This campaign has showed me that the people of North Abaco want to see great educational upgrades, especially with regards vocational facilities and fuel costs. They have also expressed interests in the government investing more into North Abaco. People want opportunities and they want to know that the government is looking into boosting foreign investments.”

North Abaco, Mr Curry said, is also not Free National Movement territory as it has been perceived for decades. Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham held the seat for his entire political career, which spanned 35 years.

“This place is not so much an FNM territory, but it is filled with people who were purely the supporters of Mr Ingraham. I don’t know if everyone here is FNM. Now that Mr Ingraham is gone, I know that people will support me.”

The once held FNM seat became officially vacant on August 31, with Mr Ingraham’s resignation. He had announced months prior on May 7, just moments after the FNM lost in a landslide general election defeat to the PLP, that he would no longer hold the post of party leader.

Mr Ingraham said two weeks later that his resignation from his Abaco seat would become official on July 19. The decision was later delayed to buy time for a by-election candidate to be selected. The FNM later ratified Greg Gomez as their candidate.