Copyright thenassauguardian
Dear Editor, Prime Minister Philip Davis has rolled the dice. Last week, he announced that a by-election will be held on November 24 in the Golden Isles constituency. The Free National Movement (FNM) has not announced whether it will contest that election. FNM Leader Michael Pintard knows fully well that if the FNM contests the by-election and loses, the party would suffer a gut punch and his members and party sympathizers would be demoralized. A win for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would provide it with political fodder and momentum, and would give the PLP bragging rights heading into the next general election. If the FNM contests the by-election and wins, then the situation would be reversed. Some political big wigs within the FNM want the party to contest the by-election, while others are saying “not so fast”. Those against the by-election reason that if the FNM contests the seat and wins, the PLP would still be the government on November 25. Nothing would change. If the FNM wins, it would be little more than a moral victory, but Pintard might see it as a sign of greater things to come, which would not really be a guarantee, but would be a good political strategy nonetheless, and a chance to toot his own horn. I am old enough to remember when Sir Orville Turnquest gave up his Montagu seat some years ago, a by-election was held in Montague which the PLP did not contest. In that by-election, Sir William Allen was elected unopposed for the FNM. So the PLP cannot hold up the “chicken-out” placard this time around. So far, Mr. Pintard has not committed one way or another, other than to say that his party’s standard-bearer for Golden Isles is on the ground and is working feverishly. So Pintard has a decision to make. Would he become the face of courage, contest, and lose, or would he pull off an upset against a formidable PLP machinery if he decides to contest? Pintard knows that there are certain rogue elements of division and deceit within his party with their own narrow political agenda waiting in the wings to ridicule him if the FNM loses another by-election under his stewardship. Therein lies Pintard’s dilemma. Uneasy is the head that wears the crown. – Zephaniah Burrows
