Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis addresses the nation on Thursday morning.
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has announced that he has advised Governor General Sir C A Smith to issue the writs of election, which will be held on Thursday, September 16.
Dr Minnis’ announcement came in a national address shortly after Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle, in his capacity as Provost Marshall, read a proclamation from Sir Cornelius dissolving Parliament.
Speaking from the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday morning, Dr Minnis said it is now time for the Bahamian people to choose who they want to lead them.
He also spoke about his administration’s programme to ramp up COVID-19 vaccinations, allowing every Bahamian who wants the shot to get vaccinated.
The Bahamas has been able to secure more than 550,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including doses already received and those arriving in the coming weeks and months, he said.
Dr Minnis said the next government will have key decisions to make in enacting post-pandemic public health legislation, continued economic growth and rebuilding and renewing a post-COVID-19 Bahamas.
“A new mandate is needed to ensure that a government is in place to do this difficult work over the long term as we are reaching a critical turning point in the pandemic,” he said.
Dr Minnis urged all political parties to conduct their campaigns in keeping with public health guidelines.
“We have a long tradition of peaceful elections,” he said. “Let us continue that proud tradition.”
Dr Minnis will address the nation again on Sunday at 8pm on matters related to the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the arrival of more vaccines and more on the vaccine rollout in the Family Islands.
The new election date had been leaked early Thursday morning as a letter purporting to be from Dr Minnis to Sir Cornelius circulated on social media with the information.
Comments
DonAnthony 3 years, 3 months ago
God help us if Brave wins… would be worse than the pandemic.
FrustratedBusinessman 3 years, 3 months ago
Still waiting on that Freedom of Information Act. Still waiting on term limits. Still waiting on the recall system. Still waiting on VAT not to be raised. Still waiting on the Spy Bill to be scrapped. I can literally turn to any page of the 2017 FNM manifesto and point to something that did not get accomplished, or even worse, was a bold faced lie.
Everyone thought that Minnis was going to be the second coming of Ingraham, but instead we ended up with Christie 2.0. I hope the coming blowout brings the FNM back to the "its a matter of trust" days, instead of the current gravy train operation that they have going on.
ohdrap4 3 years, 3 months ago
You forgot the domes.
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
@DonAnthony, I suspect even you know deep down that Minnis as a failed leader has all but destroyed our country, blaming anything and everything but himself. Minnis has proven time and time again that he's not only corrupt to the core, but he exudes the kind of ideology and evil that are antithetical to the rights and freedoms valued so greatly by the Bahamian people.
DonAnthony 3 years, 3 months ago
I agree with everything all of you have said but I ask is brave a better alternative? I think not. We have worse and worser to choose from🙁
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
Minnis is the absolute worst of all possible outcomes my friend.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
There is no good outcome to this election. It's going to be business as usual whoever wins.
What we need is an independent (who isn't a lawyer or Doctor) with deep pockets, a loud voice, and a different way of thinking. Being a bit arrogant and a controversialist would also help them get plenty of media exposure. Target the younger generations, but not the older ones as they tend to be die hard PLP or FNM.
Topdude 3 years, 3 months ago
As per usual, you are prattling filth, bile and excrement.
When our beloved Prime Minister and his party are re-elected I am wondering what you will say? As we all know this Prime Minister is a God send. Long live Dr. Hubert Minnis.
ohdrap4 3 years, 3 months ago
You ain't gon be on top much longer dude. People will walk past you in the food store.
Cobalt 3 years, 3 months ago
Bullshit. You’re always talking shit. You’re one of the typical, dumb, irrational, non-thinking, fools plaguing our country. Our world is in peril. There is a global crisis going on, and while he may not be perfect, Dr. Minnis has done a fair job as PM. Brave Davis is proven failure decades long! Don’t compare Minnis to him!
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
ZZZZZZzzzzzzz........
licks2 3 years, 3 months ago
The next speaker will be interesting!!!!
thephoenix562 3 years, 3 months ago
Thank God it wont be that pompous idiot Moultrie
licks2 3 years, 3 months ago
Absolutly not him. . .he will not be re-elected! But the next speaker will have a big pile of mess to ferret through!!
Proguing 3 years, 3 months ago
With the campaign super-spreaders and elections we are more likely of being one of the world's most infected small island developing countries.
newcitizen 3 years, 3 months ago
Haha, we're not developing!
M0J0 3 years, 3 months ago
minnis dem duck out, all those contracts all the money now no responsibility no transparency no accountability.
Twocent 3 years, 3 months ago
Democracy is about majority consent, correct? It’s about respect for differing points of view, and taking them into consideration, right? Yet here we have the PM urging something which the people themselves seem reluctant about. Why? Why are they reluctant? Why does he feel the need to urge? Why vaccine reluctance in this country? They are not educated? So why are we not educating, why the increasing use of leverage instead of open discussion from BOTH points of view? They are fearful? Why the use of fear and leverage which makes people even more fearful? Marketing is not working? Why would there be a need to employ marketing propaganda? Aka lies/spin. Did you notice that at the beginning of this we had facts, open questions, and a sense of being helped to understand what we faced. As time unfolded there was less information and more insistent silence from anyone other than those who are following the program. WHY? In contrast to his earlier addresses in this pandemic….. It’s as if he stood there and said, I’ll let you choose but we have to reach being the most vaccinated small island nation. Or you will get a government which makes other choices which deny you the choice (?) This coming from someone who’s tried and tested public health policies took us to COVID FREE STATUS last year. A policy that he could have urged other nations to follow and the bubble could have grown. Surely a free and democratic people urge their leaders and their leaders urge other nations on their behalf. Are independence and democracy a myth? We are about to find out!
thephoenix562 3 years, 3 months ago
What are you talking about?
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
@Twocent is talking about the very thing all of us should fear most and that's the very real possibility of our country being transformed into an authoritarian police state if Minnis remains PM.
TigerB 3 years, 3 months ago
Well it will all be over by September, if there is a new gov't they will have their hands full for Christmas ahaha
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
Yes indeed, the next government will certainly have its hands full because of the abysmal state of affairs the very corrupt, incompetent, arrogant, nasty, and vindictive Minnis will have left behind for it.
Cobalt 3 years, 3 months ago
And what did the PLP leave behind 4 years ago for Dr. Minnis? You don’t make any objective sense. You’re just a disgruntled PLP who has a personal vendetta against Minnis and the FNM. And that leads you to talk bias bullshit.
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz.........
Emilio26 3 years, 3 months ago
Tribanon it seems like you are a PLP troll.
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
ZZZZZZzzzzzzz........
DDK 3 years, 3 months ago
Right smack in the middle of peek hurricane season??
John 3 years, 3 months ago
If Minnis throws in the towel with the country in its current situation and commands the voting populace to continue me out in the middle of a pandemic to come out and vote, is he deserving of another term. Has the FNM bandwagon ran out of gas? Some people may not want to vote for Brave Davis and the PLP but feels Minnis abandon them almost a year before his term was about to end. Then throw your ballot to the wind and vote for one of the other candidates. Then whom ever gets elected will not be by your vote. Thas my 10 cents.
Chucky 3 years, 3 months ago
The plp might not seem great, corrupt and plenty crony capitalism.
But fnm under Minnis is equally corrupt and plenty crony capitalism; but the scary part is the modern left and their new control and great reset agenda.
If we give Minnis another term, then we had better be prepared to give up our freedoms and transfer our National sovereignty to the international institutions. It’s the new leftist that wants to transform all nations to the “post nationalist “ form, ie don’t govern with our nations best interests, but rather let the world be governed as one. Not to mention debt enslavement via excess borrowing to “save us”, and of course we will get the related “new and necessary taxes” , and likely a bunch of new laws ramming alphabet soup rules down our throats, dumbing down our education even further. Etc etc etc.
The left is very dangerous, and disguised as the good, I’d settle for good old fashioned plp corruption any day rather than have us end up like Canada.
M0J0 3 years, 3 months ago
lol sad but so true
licks2 3 years, 3 months ago
You do know that is a bunch of nonsense? The PLP cannot "make a case for Davis". . .he is damage goods!!
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
And Minnis has demonstrated over the past 4+ years that he is pure Kryptonite of the most destructive kind. He has proven himself to be a grossly incompetent failed leader who is hell-bent as an arrogant tyrant on transforming our nation into an authoritarian police state in which the vast majority of us would be stripped of the rights and freedoms that we hold so dear.
Whatever you do, don't make the unforgivable mistake of voting for a FNM candidate on September 16. If you can, vote for an independent candidate who has no baggage. But above all else, never lose sight of the fact that another Minnis led FNM administration would be by far the absolute worst of all possible outcomes for our nation.
JokeyJack 3 years, 3 months ago
The sensible response to this is simple. VOTE. Why Bahamians think "staying home" does anything? Govt dont care if only 10 people vote in a constituency. If the vote counts are Minnis 3, Brave 2, Komolafe 2, Lincoln 1, Cassius 1, and an independent 1 then Minnis wins with only 3 out of 10 votes. Thats how our system works. So the question must be asked, why havent all these independents and 3rd parties come together and divided up the seats? Agree to ask their supporters to support other candidates in their constituency in exchange for senate appointments or ambassadorship or other comfy position? Komolafe et al ought to ask their people in Pinewood to vote for Lincoln. Lincoln er al ought to ask their supporters to vote for Komolafe in Carmichael And so on down the list. Agree to let a few of Stone McEwan's people get a couple uncontested seats. And yes, even let PLP get a few seats, but very few LOL and dare i say even a few FNMs. Everyone can have a voice but we can't survive another FNM or PLP PM.
Then a coalition government can be formed when the dust settles.
Verily i say unto thee, that unless these players come together and form such a plan then the VERY split opposition vote will be split and FNM will win 22 seats and PLP will win 17 seats and NONE of these divided, fighting against each other candidates will win jack squat.
Yall think Carl Culmer don't know what i just said? You think they would call election if they thought yall could work together in harmony to form a true united opposition coalition? Of course not. They know the divided always fall and aided by the idiots who "stay home" the FNM will ensure a win. I always say, keep doing fool and see if it leads to sense. Yall bess come together or we all gah drown. Arinthia how much times the DNA gah try get 39 seats and get zero? Try hatd talm to the other leaders and yall try get some seats instead of none. This game getting old and embarrassing man. Muddo.
birdiestrachan 3 years, 3 months ago
The PM is taking the coward way out. there were so much he needed to answer. Corruption at
a high level . how money was spent. The Wells situation. The Our Lucaya hotel and the GB Airport how money was spent so much borrowed and nothing to show. The unresolved Union situation. so the little baby boy has sucked his thumb and gone into the corner to cry his little heart out..
There may also be other matters we know nothing about. He has not been good for the Bahamas and the FNM party should ask him to resign.
DDK 3 years, 3 months ago
Couldave, shouldave .......
thephoenix562 3 years, 3 months ago
Because like it or not the Independents don't have any real support and everybody wants to be leader.1000 years from now it will still be PLP/FNM.
JokeyJack 3 years, 3 months ago
So you sayinh we should like it and pass the vaseline instead of trying? The ball is in the DNA's court to step up and form a united front with the rest. There is not time or ability to campaign atvthis late date. It can only be handled within each constituency with the candidates doing a joint news conference and announcing who amoung them they want voters to support. Otherwise they can hear that dry dead news reporter saying "Mr Smith, one vote. Mr Smith, one vote." LOL. What a stupid waste of time and energy.
birdiestrachan 3 years, 3 months ago
Loudproudfnm educate me. Why did the Commissioner of Police make two announcements in one day? then early the next morning the PM makes another, It seems like no sense. Help me out here
JokeyJack 3 years, 3 months ago
An interesting question Birdie, but one we dont even have time to concern with. The 16th coming soon. Stay focused. You will see all kind of fool in the news to distract us in the coming days. This announcement thing is only the first of many. Minnis wants you to worry about fool, while he worry about counting votes with social distancing.
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 3 months ago
it doesnt seem to make sense. its just been one bungled move after the next since 2017
John 3 years, 3 months ago
It may have something to do with the vaccines. As it was explained to me, the vaccines may not cause a country to reach herd immunity, but persons who have taken the vaccines may have to continue taking them into impetuously
licks2 3 years, 3 months ago
What planet you live on?? Do you read the daily dashboard about covid19 cases?? Fully vacined persons are not dying or cluttering up our hospitals. . .the world over!!
TalRussell 3 years, 3 months ago
Comrade Constituents — this is but day two into the 2021 general election!
— When your mind is either blank or decides goes blank on you — is when you cannot remember a particular very important thing — or you just cannot remember much of anything. — The first appearance by the Commish Royal Constabulary at the front entrance House of Assembly, came yesterday morning. — But em's — couldn't remember if what he was supposed to have read was exactly as the office prime minister opm, had so scripted — so the OPM - ordered the Commish to hastily make his way back to — restage em's position at the House's entrance for a rescripted second photo re-reading which came, precisely at the 2:00 pm hour. — Comrades, you just can't make this funny as hell red shi# up. — Yes?
Bonefishpete 3 years, 3 months ago
Where's Bran when you need him?
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 3 months ago
In the cereal aisle where he normally is
whogothere 3 years, 3 months ago
Can anyone remind of what the other options are? I really don't fancy either red or gold this time...
Honestly please tell me there are other options...we have to break the cycle of corruption and incompetence..
DonAnthony 3 years, 3 months ago
Green and then all the colors of the rainbow with the independents.
JokeyJack 3 years, 3 months ago
https://www.coalitionofindependents.com…
https://www.coalitionofindependents.com…
https://www.mydnaparty.org/
https://youtu.be/PVJhD6l0oVM. Cassius Stuart
And we should keep Reece Chipman, Moultrie, and Hannah-Martin
Also get Graham Weatherford into Freetown.
DDK 3 years, 3 months ago
Wish Bran WOULD step up to the extremely messy plate. Someone's got to do it soon or we are finished! For God's sake, no more egomaniacal doctors or lawyers!
B_I_D___ 3 years, 3 months ago
Egomaniacal Lawyers…and Bran being promoted …now THAT’s funny!
ohdrap4 3 years, 3 months ago
Renward was literally saved by the election bell.
KapunkleUp 3 years, 3 months ago
Everyone vote for me! I promise I will only tief half as much, give only 5 contracts a year to my family members, partially privatize BPL & WSC, only raise VAT by another 1% and make no speeches for my entire term...
John 3 years, 3 months ago
The highlights of Bahamian Elections are the rallies and the big truck motorcades and campaigning. So Minnis preempted most of that hoping it will work in his favor. Of course he’s still going about his plans to ‘paint the town and country red with FNM posters and other paraphernalia. Snd it seems like the Gold Rush train had also left the station. But how many older and persons with pre-existing conditions will risk their lives of health to stand in lines to vote. Wilt permanent register being in effect for the first time, will this election be fair and valid? Does Minnis utterances that ‘only vaccinated persons can campaign’ throw questions of denying Bahamians their inalienable rights to free and fair Elections?
Honestman 3 years, 3 months ago
Neither the FNM nor the PLP deserve another term. Both govern for the purpose of self interest. With every election, it's the hope that kills us. Promises of how better they'll be if we give them another chance. This last one was a sore one for they promised so much, that they would be different: transparent and honest, a government for the people. Remember the pledges? As I say , it's the hope that kills us.
John 3 years, 3 months ago
Now that Minnis made the vaccines a part of the Election Campaign, one must now look at his credibility. The science does not support what he is trying to sell the Bahamian people about the vaccines. So whose agenda are these mass vaccines a part of?
carltonr61 3 years, 3 months ago
The Canadians are pushing hard for minnis The global new normal pass for everything in France has crashed the computer then the French learnt that their health server was microsoft. Who benefits from knowing each gate you walk through.
Emilio26 3 years, 3 months ago
carltonr61 the elites in old fort bay and lyford cay are the ones that support Dr. Minnis
licks2 3 years, 3 months ago
Canadians? The Americans gave us enough vacines to cover the entire Bahamas!!! No other country in the world can say that the Americans did that for them!! Bieden supports Doc. . .that says little for the PLP!! Uncle Sam do NOT trust Brave either!! DIS GER BE LONG!!!
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
As a reminder, Minnis has demonstrated over the past 4+ years that he is pure Kryptonite of the most destructive kind. He has proven himself to be a grossly incompetent failed leader who is hell-bent as an arrogant tyrant on transforming our nation into an authoritarian police state in which the vast majority of us would be stripped of the rights and freedoms that we hold so dear.
Whatever you do, don't make the unforgivable mistake of voting for a FNM candidate on September 16. If you can, vote for an independent candidate who has no known serious 'baggage'. But above all else, never lose sight of the fact that another Minnis led FNM administration would be by far the absolute worst of all possible outcomes for our nation.
tribanon 3 years, 3 months ago
P.S.: Already it seems corrupt foreign investors, like the cruise ship companies, and the tourists that come to our shores enjoy more rights and freedoms in our country than we do. This madness must stop.
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