On Friday, April 17th, candidates representing the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Free National Movement (FNM), and Coalition of Independents (COI) were officially nominated in both North Eleuthera, as well as in Central and South Eleuthera.
The nomination process saw each candidate arrive at the designated local Administrative Complex (Harbour Island in North Eleuthera, and Rock Sound in South Eleuthera) at appointed times between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Friday morning, along with their necessary documentation and requisite number of official nominators. Candidates in both North Eleuthera and Central and South Eleuthera described the nomination process as fairly smooth, and without difficulties.
Family Island Administrator Bridgette Knowles, based in South Eleuthera, describing the day’s process, explained that each candidate was expected to arrive with their required documents – including: Form C, the Notice of Election – outlining five subscribers (nominators) whose names were on the current voter register; Form D, the Declaration of Qualification; and Form E, the candidate’s Declaration of Assets and Liabilities – all signed by a Justice of the Peace. After entering the nomination room, and producing their documents, the candidate’s five subscriber names provided, said Mrs. Knowles, were confirmed one by one to be on the current register, and the signatory Justice of the Peace was also confirmed as being valid or invalid. Following these steps, each candidate would then pay a $400 fee, and receive a receipt, and congratulations by the returning officers on their successful nomination for the upcoming general election slated for May 12th.
A final Form G, added Mrs. Knowles, listing all registered candidates and polling divisions within each constituency, was completed by the returning officers and sent into the Parliamentary Registration Department in New Providence, and also posted on township notice boards within Eleuthera, for the information of the public.
At the end of the nomination process, registered voters in Eleuthera have three candidates in North Eleuthera, and three candidates in Central and South Eleuthera on the ballot.
In the North Eleuthera constituency, representing the PLP is incumbent candidate Sylvanus C. E. Petty of Gregory Town; Howard Rickey Mackey from Harbour Island is the candidate for the FNM; and also hailing from Gregory Town is Natasha Doris Mitchell, the candidate for the COI.
In the Central and South Eleuthera constituency, Philippa Felecia Kelly from Savannah Sound is the candidate for the FNM; hailing from Gregory Town is Bekera E. Grant-Taylor, the candidate for the COI; and representing the PLP is incumbent candidate Clay Glennford Sweeting of Russell Island, Spanish Wells.
Amongst the candidates nominated in the Central and South Eleuthera District, incumbent M.P. Mr. Clay Sweeting, commented that he planned to continue the work being done, and thanked the people of Central and South for their confidence in him over the past five years, saying, “We look forward to giving the same type of energy, investment, time and effort to build upon what has been done.”
COI’s Bekera Grant-Taylor said that she was looking for Eleutherans to connect with the vision of the COI, which she described as one that was focused on people and their empowerment – highlighting issues of land empowerment and lessening taxation as examples of some of the COI’s priorities.
Philippa Kelly with the FNM pointed to her track record of local representation and community building, citing some of her key aspirations going forward as addressing youth needs and educational gaps, as well as economic development.
During his Statement on the Dissolution of Parliament and the 2026 General Election, on April 1, 2026, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis advised Bahamians of the key dates in “the next phase of our democratic process, our general election”.
“Pursuant to Article 66(2) of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I will advise the Governor General to dissolve Parliament on Wednesday, 8 April 2026,” he stated. “Pursuant to Article 67(1) of the Constitution, the Writs of Election will be issued on Thursday, 9 April 2026, and the General Election will be held on Tuesday, 12th May 2026.”
“As we move through this election season, I ask every Bahamian to remember one simple truth: wherever we may fall politically, we all love this country,” he added. “Long after the campaign is over, we will still be one people, sharing one home, with one future to build together… I encourage every eligible Bahamian to take part in this process with seriousness, respect, and faith in our democracy.”
