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Last Updated: Jan 20, 2012 - 1:48:24 PM |
 Dear Editor;
There has been a lot of fanfare and enthusiasm in Grand Bahama over the nomination of noted journalist Pakeisa Parker-Edgecombe for the Free National Movement (FNM) party.
Edgecombe will contest the West Grand Bahama and Bimini constituency, a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) stronghold.
The fact that the West End and Bimini constituency has traditionally been a PLP bastion could pose a difficult challenge for any candidate who is not a member of the Official Opposition, let alone a political novice, with all due respect to Edgecombe.
Moreover, Edgecombe will be going against Obediah Wilchcombe, a veteran politician. Wilchcombe has been in frontline politics since the early 1990s, I think.
I understand that he was a protege of the legendary Sir Lynden O. Pindling, the first Prime Minister of an independent Bahamas.
That should go a long way in helping Wilchcombe in a constituency that has stuck with the PLP through thick and thin.
It has often been said by political observers that ever since the formation of the FNM in the early 1970s, most Grand Bahamians have been loyal supporters of the FNM.
That is why keen observers of Bahamian politics have dubbed Grand Bahama "FNM Country."
In fact, that term has even been used derisively by opponents of the FNM.
Some have even gone as far as alleging that former PLP administrations had intentionally neglected Grand Bahama for its unwavering support for the FNM.
However, the one constituency on Grand Bahama that has perennially rejected the governing party is West End and Bimini.
Of course, the FNM won that constituency in the 1997 general election. But that election was not a typical one by any stretch of the imagination.
The PLP was clobbered at the polls. I don't think anyone was surprised to learn that the FNM had captured West End and Bimini.
The FNM has now given the nod to the inexperienced Edgecombe to run against a seasoned, indomitable candidate. To say that this will be a daunting task for the young FNM candidate would be putting it mildly.
Put bluntly, this would be considered a mismatch by most political observers. The people in West End love their Member of Parliament.
In fact, I understand that they had even paid his election deposit for either the 2002 general election or for the election in 2007.
Further, Wilchcombe is the PLP's shadow Minister of Tourism. He had served as the Minister of Tourism in the Christie administration.
It is very likely that he will be reappointed to that position if the PLP wins the general election. In addition to serving in the House of Assembly for nearly 10 years, Wilchcombe has also served as a senator and chairman of the opposition.
Clearly he has a wealth of experience. I think that it is safe to say that Wilchcombe is one of the more prominent MPs of the PLP.
In fact, a number of years ago there were rumors circulating through the press that the West End and Bimini MP was aspiring to become the leader of the opposition. I believe the PLP will use every legal means necessary to keep him in the House. The question, of course, that everyone might be asking is this: Is the FNM party willing to do the same thing for Edgecombe? I am not too certain that the answer would be yes.
Having said that, Edgecombe has at least one significant advantage to Wilchcombe. A few months ago the Boundaries Commission had proposed that the constituency of Eight Mile Rock be eliminated. The community of Eight Mile Rock has been joined to the West End and Bimini constituency. Historically, Eight Mile Rock has been an FNM stronghold. This large community could very well pose a problem for Wilchcombe and the PLP. In fact, if I were Wilchcombe, I would have been rigorously canvassing that community from the day it was announced that Eight Mile Rock would be amalgamated to West End and Bimini.
In this day and age, you really cannot take anything for granted. In the past, PLP representatives for West End and Bimini could have gotten away with neglecting that constituency. But now that Eight Mile Rock has been added to that constituency, there isn't much room for error. I hope Wilchcombe understands this. In any event, a lot of pressure will be on Wilchcombe to pull this thing off. Everyone expects him to win. On the other hand, Edgecombe has virtually nothing to lose. Few expect her to win. I also think that there is also going to be a curiosity factor in this electoral contest. Grand Bahamians, especially those who watch ZNS TV news, are going to be closely monitoring Edgecombe's campaign.
Perhaps, another thing that could work in Edgecombe's favor is her celebrity. Everybody who's anybody knows Pakeisa Parker-Edgecombe. She used to read the news for the Northern Service ZNS TV13 weekday evening newscasts. Also, Edgecombe is young, good-looking and more importantly, she is a woman. One only has to look at the the amount of enthusiasm that the former governor of Alaska Sarah Palin had generated after being selected to run with former Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Sarah Palin was treated like a rock star. I think Edgecombe will do well among female voters.
Nevertheless, the race for West Grand Bahama will be like a David and Goliath mismatch. It will be very interesting to see how the popular journalist does at the polls. I think the eyes of the nation are all on the contest for that constituency.
© Copyright 2012 by thebahamasweekly.com
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