By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Progressive Liberal Party Chairman George Smith yesterday suggested that the Boundaries Commission could move to establish at least three new seats in the Family Islands ahead of the next general election.
Mr Smith underscored that consistent growth in population size and economic activity in Exuma and Abaco made the islands likely candidates for an additional constituency, while Bimini should get its own seat in Parliament.
“There’s been growth on some islands and on others there’s been a decrease,” he said. “They may decide that Abaco needs another seat, which I fully expect. They will decide Exuma needs an additional seat.”
Mr Smith pointed out that Exuma held only one seat, combined with Ragged Island, despite the fact that its population in 2010 was greater than the combined population of Long Island (3,024), Cat Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador (2,532), and MICAL (2,094).
“Outside of New Providence and Grand Bahama,” he said, “Exuma probably rivals Abaco today in terms of money that it puts in the Treasury. So not only is the population larger than that of all those islands, it’s also larger than Andros that has two seats. In addition to its growth and population, it is a major revenue earner for the Treasury in terms of real property tax and stamp tax, it either rivals Abaco or it’s just behind Abaco.”
He said the decision to grant Abaco another seat will rest on whether its population growth represented Bahamians rather than foreign nationals, referring to the large number of non-nationals living in the Mud and Pigeon Pea areas.
Bimini is currently represented in a combined seat with West End, Grand Bahama.
Mr Smith said: “The commission has got to look at the economic activity taking place on Bimini and decide that Bimini with a growing population and significantly growing economy should get a seat. This would free up that MP to concentrate on that part of Grand Bahama.”
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” he added.
Ahead of the last general election, the Boundaries Commission cut the number of constituencies from 41 to 38.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 3 months ago
Can you believe the chutzpah of this fella! Smith, a disgraced former MP and well known lover of drug dealer gifts, wants a new seat created for himself in Exuma!! Seems Smith knows that Christie wants all of the crooks back in the fold!!!
Reality_Check 9 years, 3 months ago
Here's what one well-known Bahamian journalist had to say about George Smith's role in the history of the Bahamas as far back as 1982: ".....the Bahamas was in the throes of a criminal takeover by South American drug cartels. The Colombian flag was raised over Norman's Cay in George Smith's Exuma constituency by the notorious gangster Carlos Lehder, who drove ordinary visitors away at gunpoint and orchestrated hourly cocaine flights to the US. The 1984 Commission of Inquiry found that Smith had accepted gifts and hospitality from Lehder, who is now serving a long sentence in an American jail. In fact, one parliamentarian said at the time that 'Pindling and his crew make the Bay Street Boys look like schoolchildren.'" Smith will tell you he has since welcomed the Good Lord into his life and sought, found and received forgiveness and redemption for all of his earlier transgressions.....WHAT A BUNCH OF POPPY COCK FOR ANYONE WHO REALLY KNOWS THIS SCOUNDREL!
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