With the Golden Isles by-election set for Monday, the race has taken on a highly personal tone, as former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has injected himself directly into the fray.
On Friday night, the former Free National Movement leader made a rare public appearance to endorse Brian Brown.
Known throughout the country as “Papa,” Ingraham revealed that he had originally advised the FNM not to contest the by-election, suggesting the party should instead wait for the general election.
But Brown refused to wait, insisting Golden Isles deserved representation now. It was that decision, Ingraham said, that earned his full support.
Ahead of the rally, the FNM announced his arrival in two words: “Papa reach.”
The phrase was widely interpreted as a direct response to Prime Minister Philip Davis saying he is often referred to by supporters as “Daddy”, which is a label that recently intensified after the returning officer, Neil Campbell, compared his relationship with Davis to that of a father and son.
Taking the stage, Ingraham leaned into the moment: “Fellow FNM’s, I hear Daddy been there. Well, Papa reach.
“Just a word of advice to Brave (Davis) my friend, Fox and Sebas (businessmen in the number business) does call Perry Christie (PLP Former Prime Minister) daddy.
“A word of advice is enough.”
Ingraham later praised Brown’s loyalty to the community, noting he kept his constituency office open even after losing in 2021, and compared Brown’s future to that of the late Frank Watson.
But by Saturday night, a third person entered the debate. Coalition of Independents leader, Lincoln Bain, held a rally of his own, rejecting both political labels.
Bain addressed the crowd saying:
“Philip Davis, catch yourself. Hubert Ingraham, catch yourself…Time to stop worshipping these people. They are not your father. It’s time to take our country back.”
His message reframed the conversation as the Bahamian people versus worship of political figures.
As voters prepare to head to the polls on Monday, this by-election has become a national conversation about loyalty and leadership.