Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis on Friday night warned that the Free National Movement (FNM) is too divided to lead the country.
“They are too divided,” said Davis, speaking at a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) rally in Exuma. “They are too full of ‘politricks’. They couldn’t work together to load a mailboat, let alone take on our country’s toughest problems.”
While Bahamian voters have a history of voting incumbent parties out, Davis and the PLP are fighting for a second term in office.
The Free National Movement (FNM) overwhelmingly lost the 2021 election, retaining just seven seats in Parliament.
Interpreting the loss as an indictment on the performance of former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, the party hosted a special convention in the weeks that followed to replace him as leader.
Michael Pintard, the member of Parliament for Marco City, emerged victorious and came out on top once again in the FNM’s 2024 leadership race.
However, signs of tension within the party have remained, with reports of frustration and disagreements surrounding the choice of candidates in several constituencies.
Minnis, who has represented Killarney in Parliament since 2017, is running as an independent after being denied the FNM’s nomination.
The FNM won the 2017 election after years of infighting.
No party has won a consecutive election since the Ingraham-led FNM in 1997.
Davis warned Friday night that “it matters who’s in charge” and accused the FNM in opposition of attacking progressive moves.
“The decisions a government makes really matter,” he said.
“We raised the minimum wage; they attacked us. We started the school breakfast program; they attacked it.
“We are carrying out the country’s first nationwide, comprehensive energy reforms to put solar up across our islands, to bring your bills down, to make electricity more reliable — they’re attacking all that, too.
“This is the same FNM who doesn’t agree about anything. They only agree on one thing — ending everything we start.”
Davis claimed the FNM has a “stop, review and cancel” culture that is “even worse now”.
“They aren’t going to end our programs because they’re bad. It’s the opposite — they’re going to end them because they’re good. … It’s petty, but it’s serious.”
He added, “If they are allowed to stop all the new investment in our islands, in our people, that’s as serious as it gets.
“… They are just going to stop all that progress outright. They are going to break up progress like they broke up their own party. That means there’s a lot at stake in this election. It’s an election about direction, and only one party can take you forward.”
