Boundaries Report Calls For Creation of Two New Constituencies

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – House Speaker Patricia Deveaux announced the creation of two new seats according to the Boundaries Commission report tabled Monday morning.

The document recommends the creation of two new seats, one called the Bimini and Berry Islands seat, and the other, the St. James seat in Western New Providence.

The report was compiled by the Constituencies Commission, chaired by the house speaker and deputy chaired by Justice Gregory Hilton.

It also included MP’s Chester Cooper, Dr. Michael Darville, and Shanendon Cartwright.

The five-member commission said in its conclusion that they debated the option of redistributing electoral boundaries across the country.

In the end, they noted that the majority of commission members recommended the increase of the number of electoral constituencies from 39 to 41.

The report stated: “The two new seats shall be “St. James” on the Island of New Providence and “Bimini & Berry Islands,” which was previously a part of the West Grand Bahama and Bimini constituency and North Andros and Berry Islands, respectively.”

When it comes to the new Bimini and Berry Islands constituency, it will absorb four polling divisions from West Grand Bahama and Bimini, with the Berry Islands no longer attached to North Andros.

As for the new St. James seat, it will absorb several polling divisions from the Killarney, Golden Isles, Tall Pines, and Southern Shores constituencies.

Current Killarney MP and former prime minister Dr. Hubert Minnis reacting this morning, saying he doesn’t think it will hinder his re-election plans.

Dr. Hubert Minnis – Member of Parliament, Killarney

“I’m not a runner. I’m not a runner all right, I’ve been in Killarney throughout, and I intend to stay in Killarney , but I will review and see what the changes are and see whether I’ve gotten some new poll and division. Which meant that if that’s the case, then I have to aggressively approach those areas immediately.”

West End and Bimini MP, Kinglsey Smith, also weighing in, telling reporters that the split in the Northern Bahamas is good news for the people of Bimini.

Kingsley Smith – Member of Parliament, West End and Bimini

“I’m happy for the people of Bimini, this is something that they’ve wanted for quite some years now, and if you look at Bimini, it’s not a regular island anymore, it’s almost like a city. They have everything that they need for them to strive economically.”

Splitting constituencies wasn’t the only change, there were also slight name changes for two family island constituencies.

The “S” was dropped from Exumas, making it the Exuma and Ragged Island constituency, while the word central was added to the Mangrove Cay & South Andros constituency.