BY DESTINY JOHNSON
Journal Staff Writer

As political parties prepare their candidates for the upcoming by-election of the West Grand
Bahama and Bimini Member of Parliament seat, Free National Movement leader Michael
Pintard said a candidate for the FNM should be ratified by this week.
There has been speculation that pastor of Community Holiness Church in Eight Mile Rock and
Universal Household of Faith Ricardo Grant will be the forerunner to be the FNM’s candidate in
the West Grand Bahama and Bimini constituency.
Although Mr. Pintard did not confirm or deny those claims, he told reporters on Wednesday that
the FNM is confident that they will win the seat.
“We are, we are confident. We understand that traditionally it’s been a Progressive Liberal Party
seat, but we intend tooth and nail to challenge this government on its performance nationally and
its performance in Grand Bahama. And so, no surrender, no retreat.”
It is still unclear when the by-elections will be held.
Mr. Pintard went on to criticize the government’s handling of Grand Bahamians, especially after
the devastation of Hurricane Dorian.
“When we left office, some 2, 600 homes were impacted at various levels in Grand Bahama.
This government would be hard pressed to find a couple of hundreds, so they have failed in
terms of Dorian relief,” the FNM leader said.
“The hotel, they’ve had a chance for two years to sell the hotel or reduce the monthly expenses
that they used to criticize us for. In two years, they’ve oversell and underdelivered. So, the hotel
is not sold.
“And then, of course, the airport, they have spent millions of the people’s money. The
consortium, the Bahamian consortium with the Manchester group has spent millions. And yet the
government is not communicating with the Bahamian consortium or with the attorneys in
London around the airport. So that deal appears to be dead.
“And of course, they’ve picked a fight with the Grand Bahama Port Authority, which is
unhelpful. It’s created uncertainty in Grand Bahama. And so ahead of this election, these are the
issues the government has to address.”