WEST END AND BIMINI

PLP: Obie Wilchcombe

FNM: David Wallace

While the PLP won this seat in 1972, the FNM was poised to win it back in ’77 when the BDP stupidly opposed them. This vote splitting allowed the PLP’s Moses Hall to win with less than 50% of the vote. In ’82 with the opposition reunited, many felt that the FNM’s Arlington Butler would capture the seat, but he fell short again. The FNM failed to win the seat in ’87 and ’92 despite optimistic predictions that all of Grand Bahama would finally be FNM. In the wave of ’97, the FNM’s David Wallace finally brought home the seat, which was expanded to include Bimini for the first time.

Mr. Wallace lost to current MP Mr. Wilchcombe in 2002 by 405 votes and is now seeking a rematch. Again, we hear optimistic talk from FNMs about this seat, but I’m not buying it yet. It’s true that the project on the western end of Grand Bahama has yet to produce much for the area, but the fact remains that West End is a PLP town. Also, Mr. Wilchcombe has to be considered a good MP and his actions during the recent hurricanes were considered by most to be heroic and he risked himself to help his constituents.

On the plus side for the FNM, Bimini seems to switch from one party to the other every election (the FNM won the old Bimini seat in ’87 only to lose it in ’92) and the fact that the PLP took a polling division from what was already the smallest Grand Bahama seat in terms of numbers shows they must have some concern. Without that fact, I’d have put this in the likely category, but clearly his own party thinks there is some risk to Mr. Wilchcombe.

Ranking: LEAN PLP