Philip Davis and Progressive Liberal Party Win General Election in Bahamas

The Election Outcome

Philip Davis will hold onto his seat as prime minister of the Bahamas after the Progressive Liberal Party scored a victory in early elections.

The results were announced late on Tuesday, and Davis celebrated the outcome with a speech to supporters in the capital, Nassau.

Davis' Address to Supporters

“To Bahamians who voted today but did not vote for us, I want you to know I’ve listened to you, I’ve heard you, and I want you to know that I will continue to work hard for all Bahamians,” Davis said.

Historical Significance of the Win

The win marks the first time since 1997 that a political party in the Bahamas has won a general election twice in a row.

Early tallies show that the Progressive Liberal Party is slated to win more than 30 of the 41 seats in the Bahamian Parliament. Official results have yet to be released.

Implications for Davis and the Opposition

Davis is therefore on track to become the first prime minister to retain his post for a consecutive term in nearly three decades. Hubert Ingraham of the Free National Movement (FNM) was the last prime minister to pull off the feat.

It is unclear, however, if the current opposition leader, Michael Pintard of the Free National Movement, will step down after his loss on Tuesday. Pintard conceded his party’s defeat in a phone call to Davis.

Key Issues in the Election

The election was dominated by issues like the cost of living, housing access, crime, immigration and healthcare access.

As the vote neared, Davis, for example, moved to lift the value-added tax on food in grocery stores, despite criticism that the policy would do little to alleviate the strain on Bahamians’ bank accounts.