elections

As the Bahamas moves closer to the May 12 general election, voters’ attention is firmly fixed on party leaders—Philip Davis, Michael Pintard and Lincoln Bain. But there is another layer of leadership that receives far less scrutiny, the deputy leader.

Philip Davis is paired with Chester Cooper for the Progressive Liberal Party, Michael Pintard with Shanendon Cartwright for the Free National Movement, and Lincoln Bain with Veronica McIver for the Coalition of Independents.

Elections in the Bahamas have traditionally centred on the leaders.

Voters often make decisions based on the party, the performance of the prime minister or leader of the party, or the strength of their candidate running in their constituency.

In that equation, deputy leaders can feel distant. But that does not mean the role is insignificant. Deputies often play important functions behind the scenes, like managing party operations, shaping policy direction, and reinforcing the leader’s message.

In government, they may carry major ministerial portfolios or serve as second-in-command in decision-making.

The average voter is more likely to judge what they can see and feel like the cost of living, infrastructure, constituency performance, than the dynamics of a leadership team. Unless a deputy leader is particularly prominent, controversial, or directly connected to a voter’s daily life, their influence may seem limited.

However, a strong deputy can help balance the party by energizing the base, and appealing to a specific demographic of voters.

Deputy leaders rarely decide elections on their own. Instead, they operate in the background and contribute to the party structure.

Eleven cabinet ministers were sworn in on Wednesday, totalling 21 Cabinet members to be a part of Prime Minister Philip Davis’ administration.

• Obie Wilchcombe: Social Services and Urban Development
• Keith Bell: Labor and Immigration
• Vaughn Miller: Environment and Natural Resources
• Jobeth Colby-Davis: Transport and Housing
• Ginger Moxey: Grand Bahama
• Mario Moxey: Youth, Sports and Culture
• Basil McIntosh: State for the Environment
• Myles Laroda: State in the Office of the Prime Minister
• Pia Glover: State for Public Service
• Lisa Rahming: State for Social Services
• Zane Lightbourne: State for Education and Technical and Vocational Training

Executive members of the Democratic National Alliance scrambled on Monday to contain the fallout from reports that a physical altercation occurred at its latest internal meeting.

In a series of social media posts, the party members sought to quiet the tensions and praise Komolafe’s leadership as it seeks to defend the DNA’s run for the next General Election.

President of the DNA’s Women’s Alliance, Marsha Thompson said, “It is disappointing to see those persons going out there and trying to bring down our leader, a leader who would have embraced them, a leader who went beyond the call of duty in trying to encourage them… I know within my heart, that God has called this leader for such a time as this,” she said.

The party’s Vice Chairman Jeffery Deleveaux said conflict within political parties should be expected.

“…as with any party, you will have expressions of pain, hurt [and] resentment, but we also have love, understanding, and unity. The DNA party stands committed in unity behind the capable leadership of Mrs. Komolafe….

“…The party is still a young party. Growing pains [are] inevitable,” he said.

The party’s newly elected Deputy Leader Stephen Nesbitt who took the post after Buscheme Armbrister stepped down for ‘personal reasons’ stated, “ I would like to endorse Mrs. Arinthia Komolafe as the next prime minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. She will make the Bahamian people proud. She will be the envy of the region, and ultimately, the envy of this world.

“I have seen under her leadership, the party grow from strength to strength.”

What happened

A former lawyer and advisor to the party Fayne Thompson and DNA’s candidate for Garden Hills Boyd Smith appeared on Beyond the Headlines hosted by Clint Watson on Friday evening, to tell their side of the story after the alleged physical assault was made public.

Both men stated that they were grieved with the party’s electoral process that saw the election of Nesbitt and Derek Smith as deputy leader and chairman, respectively.

Smith said, “There were major issues with the election process. It was not transparent and in violations of the resolutions passed in a meeting on July 1^st. I wanted to bring that to the essential body and that was struck to be addressed.”

Thompson said he defended Smith’s position and was subsequently attacked by the party’s Communication Director Dietrich Carroll, “who literally, physically drove me into the wall because that was his means by which he displayed his displeasure taking issue in which the meeting was going on.”

Thompson said he then told Komolafe, “Control this body.”

Smith said he began recording the physical assault with his cell phone and was asked to stop by Komolafe’s husband, Emmanuel.

Mrs Komolafe then asked for his phone which he resisted. Smith said she took it out of his pocket and threw it to the ground, destroying the device.

“I tried to escape away from her in the corner where I was by the podium. Mrs Komolafe’s right hand, Armbrister charged toward me and pushed me into a chair. I got up and was protected by the security officer in the room.

“I really believe I was not going to survive if folks weren’t there to protect me,” Smith said.

The Associated Press and CNN have announced Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States as he surpassed the 270 electoral votes, the number required to win.

Why it matters

The 78-year-old will be the oldest president of the United States, but President Donald Trump says the election is far from over as he challenges the election in court amid allegations of election fraud.

What Joe Biden says

• Biden in a press statement on Saturday stated, “I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris.”
• He has campaigned as a unifier as the USA appears divided over race and the handling of the coronavirus. He said, “The voters made it clear, they want the country to come together and not pull apart.”

What Donald Trump says

• Trump indicated that he will not concede as he issued a statement saying, “The simple fact is this election is far from over.”

Key Points

• Kamala Harris as vice president is expected to be the first black woman in that role.
• Donald Trump was at a golf club when the news broke that Biden was the projected winner.
• Biden is expected to give a victory speech tonight at 8 pm, as president-elect.
• Biden is coming in as president during COVID-19 and economic challenges.
• Election results are recorded as close as Trump challenges votes in Wisconsin, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
• Trump is arguing discrepancies in vote counts, access to votes and fraud.

Featured image: thenation.com