St Barnabas shrinks to a showdown

The race in St Barnabas has narrowed.

After Coalition of Independents hopeful Valentino McKenzie announced he is stepping aside, the contest, at least for now, appears to be between Michael Halkitis of the Progressive Liberal Party and Jamal Moss, the Free National Movement’s standard bearer.

McKenzie said it was an honour to walk the journey with the residents, but confirmed he would no longer be contesting the seat. It remains unclear whether the COI will ratify a replacement candidate.

St Barnabas is no stranger to tight races.

In 2021, Halkitis contested the constituency but lost to FNM candidate Shanendon Cartwright by just 111 votes — one of the narrowest margins in that election. Cartwright has since been ratified to contest St James, leaving St Barnabas without its incumbent MP.

For Halkitis, this is another chapter in a political career marked by both wins and losses. He won Golden Isles in 2012, lost it in 2017, and then fell short again in St Barnabas in 2021. Now, he remains in the constituency seeking redemption.

Moss, a former FNM senator, enters the race as a frontline candidate for the first time in this seat. While not new to politics, he is new to campaigning in St Barnabas as the party’s standard bearer.

The constituency itself faces persistent social and economic challenges.

With the third-party candidate out, for now, the dynamics could shift. If it remains a straight PLP-FNM contest, St Barnabas may once again come down to turnout and ground campaign.

And if 2021 is any guide, every vote will matter.