An Election 2002 Overview
By Anita Rolle

According to official election results presented by the Parliamentary Registration Department, the Progressive Liberal Party will control 72 percent of the 40 seats in the House of Assembly. The Free National Movement will control 18 percent while the remaining 10 percent will be controlled by independent representatives.

The Progressive Liberal Party swept a massive victory capturing 29 of 40 seats in the House of Assembly. The Free National Movement managed to hang on to seven seats, while Independents captured four seats. The FNM previously held 35 seats and the PLP four with one independent.

Of the 144,705 registered voters, 129,194 cast their votes on May 2, meaning that 89 percent of registered voters exercised their right to vote. The PLP received approximately 51.7 percent of the votes while the FNM received approximately 40.8 percent with the other parties and independents receiving about 7.3 percent.

The Free National Movement is now in the process of conducting a complete analysis of the election results to determine why they were defeated. FNM party leader Mr. Tommy Turnquest believes that once the party has determined the reasons for the loss and addresses them, they will be able to regain control in then next general election. MP for North Eleuthera Alvin Smith has been elected Opposition Leader in the House of Assembly.

However, Mr. Turnquest will continue as the party"s official leader. The FNM will be allowed four Senate Appointment.

On Grand Bahama, formerly a FNM stronghold, the FNM lost three of the six seats there. In the rest of the Family Islands the PLP gained

The Free National Movement is now in the process of conducting a complete analysis of the election results to determine why they were defeated. FNM leader Tommy Turnquest believes that once the party has determined the reasons for the loss and addresses them, they will be back.

MP for North Eleuthera Alvin Smith has been elected Opposition Leader in the House of Assembly, however Mr. Tommy Turnquest will stay on as the party"s official leader. The FNM will be allowed four Senate appointments.

The surprising defeat of Marathon incumbent Algernon Allen to youngster Ron Pinder of the PLP was slim [was a slim victory?].

Another surprise was the defeat of the party"s leader and deputy leader designate - Tommy Turnquest and Dion Foulkes. In Mt. Moriah, Turnquest lost to Keod Smith; in Blue Hills, Foulkes lost to businessman Leslie Miller - both of the PLP. In South Abaco, FNM Robert Sweeting narrowly defeated Edison Key. In MICAL, following the standard recount, Alfred Gray of the PLP won by four votes over Johnley Ferguson of the FNM.

Over in Grand Bahama, formerly an FNM stronghold, the Free National Movement lost three of the six seats there, including veteran politician C. A. Smith in Pineridge. That constituency is now represented by Ann Percentie of the PLP. Others now representing Grand Bahama are Pleasant Bridgewater and Obie Wilchcombe of the Progressive Liberal Party; and Kenneth Russell, Lindy Russell and Neko Grant of the Free National Movement.