BY ARIANNA NEELY
BAHAMAS JOURNAL WRITER

Every election cycle there are adjustments to constituencies but there is speculation that there
could be significant changes for the 2026 General Election. Boundary Commission members,
however remain mum on that. But Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper who is also the
country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and serves on the
Commission made comments on the process that support the Prime Minister and other
Progressive Liberal Party officials assertions that the election will be later than sooner.
“Let me just say that we are being proactive in completing our responsibility. We haven’t been
given any specific deadline or timeframe. There is no rush. This isn’t a signal of anything. The
Prime Minister in his sole discretion determines when election is but we are doing our part in
advance and we are going to fulfill our obligation so ultimately we make recommendations
collectively,” he said.
Cooper explained what the Commission had been deliberating during its preliminary meetings so
far.
“We gather information. The process is that we look at the number of voters in each
constituency. Our mission is really to balance the constituencies by number of voters, etc. And to
look at any peculiarities that might exist. For example, geography. In cases where there are large
constituencies by geography, but maybe small populations.”
Free National Movement Deputy Leader, Shanendon Cartwright, did not give specifics about
what changes could come but said he was pleased with the process.
“I mean, it’s been a very fulsome discussion, very broad based, making sure that the Bahamian
people, both in New Providence and across the Family Islands, have proper representation in
terms of the allocation of seats and how they’re distributed.”
He said, “I think it’s fair to say that the commission is earnestly looking at changes and
adjustments and the possibilities of the necessary possibility of changes to constituencies in
terms of its numbers in its entirety.”
Cartwright also noted that the Commission has been reviewing several broad concepts and areas
where they believe adjustments to constituency boundaries may be necessary to ensure fair and
effective representation.
Based on a report from 2021, several constituencies are being considered for boundary
adjustments due to either many registered voters or the extensive geographical size of the area.
Among these is Killarney, which has more than 7,000 registered voters, and Central Grand
Bahama, which has approximately 6,800 voters.

It has been suggested that there should be an average of 5,000 voters per constituency to ensure a
more balanced and equitable representation across the country. These proposed changes aim to
address disparities and improve the overall fairness of the electoral process.
There are currently 39 constituencies in The Bahamas. All of those constituencies are
represented by elected members in the House of Assembly. The members of the Boundaries Commission are Speaker of the House, Patricia Deveaux, Deputy Prime Minister, Chester Cooper, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Michael Darville, FNM Deputy Leader, Shanendon Cartwright and Justice
Gregory Hilton.
Mr. Cooper said they would meet again later in the month and could present their report in
August.