mayaguana

The race for Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay (MICAL) is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing races in the Bahamas because there is no incumbent.

With Basil McIntosh stepping aside, the Progressive Liberal Party is effectively resetting in a constituency it won convincingly in 2021. McIntosh secured an estimated 630 votes, about 63 per cent of the votes cast — defeating Miriam Emmanuel of the Free National Movement, who received 335.

Those numbers suggest a strong PLP seat, but MICAL’s election history shows a more fluid story.

Emmanuel captured the constituency for the FNM in 2017, unseating PLP veteran Alfred Gray, who had held the seat for three terms. That shift, followed by the PLP’s reclaiming of the seat in 2021, highlights a reality that MICAL can shift politically.

Now, the PLP has nominated Ronnell Armbrister, a new standard bearer, who must establish name recognition and trust without the advantage of incumbency. The question is whether voters were backing McIntosh the individual, or the PLP party he represented.

Meanwhile, the FNM is positioning itself for a comeback with James Leo Ferguson on its 2026 ticket. Ferguson retired as an assistant superintendent and the officer responsible for Inagua, his candidacy represents an opportunity for the opposition to rebuild support in a seat it has won before.

The dynamics heading into this election are clear: The PLP is defending without an incumbent. The FNM is attempting to reclaim lost ground. And voters are being asked to reassess the PLP and the FNM.

What was once a relatively comfortable PLP victory will now become a more competitive race, one that could hinge more on candidate connection and grassroots campaign strength.

The question is, who is best positioned to take the seat?

Opposition Senator Michael Darville is calling on MICAL MP Miriam Emmanuel to stand up and say something on the issue involving the amalgamation of the school system in Mayaguana.

“It is interesting that in the face of all of this, the duly elected member for MICAL has not made a public intervention and remains silent to date.”

Darville said combining the primary and secondary public schools in Mayaguana is “a regressive education policy and a move backwards to the outdated ‘all age school’ education system.”

He said Education Minister Jeff Lloyd is ignoring the cries of the community, but he awaits Emmanuel’s response to the plight of her constituents.

What happened to the school system in Mayaguana?

Education officials closed the public schools, Abraham’s Bay High School and Pirates Well Primary school to combine the education system on the southern island.

Lloyd said this was the best move and Education Director Marcellus Taylor agreed, saying it allows for all teachers to teach on one site instead of leaving to teach at the other building.

Taylor said this new move will improve teaching and learning on the island as enrollment decreases.

Abraham’s Bay High School would become the administration building.

Where would the schools be relocated?

The schools will be relocated to the proposed refurbished site in Pirate’s Well which is the Lodge Hall building.

Teachers Union Leader Belinda Wilson said the government should pause the move until all parties come to an agreement. She described the lodge building as “dilapidated.”

Darville said the building is inadequate, not COVID-19 compliant and believes the refurbishment cannot be completed in time for school opening.

What do parents want?

On August 7^th, parents and students held a protest, demanding that the schools remain as is, saying it allows for social distancing in an era of COVID-19.

One mother said the settlement of Betsy Bay was crippled by the closure.