The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THERE is no better time than now for a change in government, a fringe political party official told The Tribune yesterday.

Aaron Cox, administrative chairman of the Bahamas Constitution Party (BCP) and prospective candidate for Nassau Village, claimed that the successive administrations of the two major political parties have not put the interests of Bahamians first.

“I supported the (third party) Democratic National Alliance (in the) last election because I wanted to see a change in the country coming from a different political party other than the Free National Movement (FNM) or the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP),” said Mr Cox, a former DNA member.

“They had fresh ideas, they had the young people backing them and I thought their winning could’ve been one of the greatest things that could’ve happened for this country at the time.”

However, Mr Cox said, he was recently introduced to BCP after receiving no reply from the DNA on becoming a candidate for the party in his community.

“I was introduced to Bahamas Constitution Party and its leader Ali McIntosh and I like her sales pitch in that she’s fighting for the soul of the nation,” he said. “I like the fact that she wants to bring good governance to the Bahamian people. She is well grounded in the Christian principles as well.”

“We all have our faults but we need good governance. We need leaders who are going to put the people’s interest to the forefront,” Mr Cox added.

He admits the chances of a fledgling, third party winning an election is not great, “but we need to win some seats to give the people hope for change,” he said.

In the 2002 general election, the tour driver failed in his bid to win the Golden Isles constituency for the now disbanded Bahamas Democratic Movement, which won only 414 of 130,000 votes cast that election year.

At the time, the BCP received 12 votes and would not contest a general election for another decade until 2012 when it won 96 votes.

The DNA, in contrast, captured 13,225 votes or eight per cent of the electorate, but was not able to regain a seat in the House of Assembly. However, many observers have said the party, which was formed in 2011 by former FNM Cabinet minister Branville McCartney, was a spoiler in the last general election.

Meanwhile, Mr Cox added: “I do not want to see the FNM or the PLP run this country for another 48 years.”

“The same individuals of the 1960s and 1970s are running this country and they’re not giving young people a chance,” he said. “How many of our young people come out of school without jobs? How many young people out there with qualifications that are being overlooked? What are the crime levels in the country? I don’t necessarily put all of the blame on them but there is more that can be done by the people with the power given to them by the electorate.”

“I want to give people hope and make Nassau Village more like a gated community where it’s safe to walk around and you could borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbour like how it used to be,” Mr Cox added.

The next general election is expected in 2017.