Is Rick Fox making the right political move?

Rick Fox has announced that he will run in St. James, the new constituency, in the next general election. But it does not appear he is running under either major political parties, nor a third party.

With parties already having their preferred candidates—Owen Well for the PLP and supposed Shanendon Cartwright for the FNM, Fox appears to be entering the race as an independent.

Is this the right political move?

Fox says his campaign is about “responsibility” and “transparency,” not “politics as usual.” He argues in a social media post, “St. James is where my family lives, where I work, and where I have chosen to plant my life permanently. I didn’t choose St. James because it is easy. I chose it because it sits at the crossroads of capital, infrastructure, and national decision making, and because when policy works here, it works better for the entire country,” Fox said.

But politics is more than about ideas; it is also about power and influence.

By running independently, Fox separates himself from party politics. That is only attractive to voters who are tired of partisanship and want something different. And he presents himself as transparent, issue-driven, and free from political baggage.

However, there are real risks to his decision.

In the Bahamas, political parties provide the machinery that wins the elections, which includes voter databases, canvassing teams, funding (which he has lots of), election-day organization, etc.

An independent candidate would have to build all of that alone.

Even if Fox is elected, an independent parliamentarian could struggle to help shape national policy and conversation without the backing of a party.

Should Rick Fox pick a side?

Joining a party would give him access to legislative power and a better chance to push the energy reform he suggested, from the inside. A party’s backing would also strengthen his campaign.

There is also the “outsider” factor. Fox lived much of his life in Canada and is now settling in the Bahamas. For some, that could look like fresh thinking. For others, it raises questions about his roots and connection to the Bahamas.

Fox is making a bold bet that voters in St. James will choose his ideas over a party label.