“Low support for PLP, FNM – Survey shows huge appetite for change” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article; “A recent nationwide poll has revealed what many have long suspected: There is deep dissatisfaction with the current administration and the direction the country is headed in, but people are also unhappy with their options for change.

The Public Domain Poll conducted between August 8 and August 16 found only 14 percent of respondents said they would vote for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) if an election were held tomorrow.

This might sound like good news for the Official Opposition, but according to the poll, the Free National Movement (FNM) has no cause for celebration.

Among those who responded, only 18 percent said that they would vote for the FNM if an election were held tomorrow.

Fifteen percent said they would vote for the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), one percent said they would vote for the Gatekeepers and two percent would vote independent.

It is unclear when the election will be called, but among those responding to the question 16 percent said they are undecided.

Thirty-six percent said they would not vote if the election were held tomorrow and another nine percent preferred not to say.”

The upcoming elections are proving to be very interesting but one thing that can be seen from these numbers, a lot of people are just not interested in voting for one reason or the other; voter confidence is at an all time low.

I was once of the opinion that Bahamians were very resistant to change but if one were to look at these numbers, they are looking for change and the possibility for change is on the horizon.

Within the Free National Movement, there has been a four year ‘birth’ to change and while some in the party do not accept it, the party is slowly picking up quality candidates to represent the people of the country if elected.

While the Democratic National Alliance has offered itself as a party of change, people have been resistant to this change; this is what led to me to once believe that the Bahamian people are resistant to change in the first place, well one of the reasons, but why are these number suggesting that the people want and need change?

I feel that a main indicator of just how much the people want and/or need change will be just how people advocate for change at the Progressive Liberal Party’s national convention in November. 

As Dr. Hubert Minnis represents a change in the style of leadership within the FNM, Alfred Sears speaks to a change in style of leadership within the PLP, much like Perry Christie did when he first ran as the leader of that party; nothing much changed and I feel that this is a major factor that has affected voter confidence, but what about the DNA?

The Democratic National Alliance will indeed draw many younger voters but the question still lingers about this political organization’s ability to govern, having only one person within its ranks to have served as a member of parliament.  There are those that will be point to Sir. Lynden and the way in which he and an all Bahamian government came to govern the affairs if its people but times have changed drastically, so the question not is, as it pertains to the DNA, is the electorate willing to take that change?

Indeed, there is the possibility for change, especially within the two major political organizations.  The FNM has already made a change and is now working through its ‘growing pains’, is the PLP willing to make that change that the people are seeking?

END