Dissident politicians have had their fair share of success in Bahamian politics. Many however, have also withered on the thorny vine of false hope and glory.
If we are objectively reviewing our political history, dissident politicians have made significant contributions to the shaping of the modern Bahamas. In fact, we would not have a bipartisan political history without them.
The tradition of political dissent has been essential to Bahamian democracy, with today’s establishment often beginning as yesterday’s dissidents. This pattern has helped ensure political renewal and prevented the ossification of power structures in the small island nation.
The latest dissident figure to attempt a new emergence is Iram Lewis.
On April 2, 2025, Iram Lewis, a member of parliament for the opposition Free National Movement (FNM), announced his decision to defect to the Coalition of Independents, a third-party contender. This announcement caused shockwaves within the political landscape.
Lewis, who previously served as Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture in the Hubert Minnis administration (2017-2021), made his declaration in the House of Assembly, stating that he had come to the decision after careful consideration.
“From this day forward, I no longer remain where I’m tolerated, but where I believe I am appreciated,” he said.
Iram Lewis’s unexpected announcement garnered a range of responses within the House of Assembly and the broader Bahamian community.
Nevertheless, the historical trajectory of dissident figures in Bahamian politics has been marked by both successes and many defeats.
Dissident Politicians: Shaping and Directing the course of Bahamian History
The modern Bahamas has been significantly shaped by several key dissident politicians, who challenged the status quo, and helped transform the nation from a British colony to an independent country with its own distinct political identity.
In the decades following Majority Rule in 1967, a new cadre, a mixed bag if you will, of dissident politicians continue to attempt to chart new trajectories within the sociopolitical landscape, propounding their ideas and political discourses. Failures and successes litter the Bahamian political battlefield.
Early Dissidents Against Colonial Rule
Sir Etienne Dupuch – As editor of The Tribune newspaper, he fought against racial discrimination and was instrumental in breaking down segregation laws in the 1950s.
Sir Randol Fawkes – Labor leader who advocated for workers’ rights and later played a crucial role in establishing majority rule by aligning with the PLP in 1967.
The PLP as Dissidents
Before becoming the establishment, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) began as a dissident movement:
Henry Milton Taylor – As a dissident politician, Taylor challenged the political establishment and advocated for alternative approaches to governance in the Bahamas. He challenged British colonial rule, the Bay Street hegemony and as the vagaries of politics would have it, challenged his own founded Progressive Liberal Party by running against it in 1967.
Sir Lynden Pindling – The most influential dissident politician in Bahamian history was undoubtedly Sir Lynden Pindling, called the “Father of the Nation.”
As leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Pindling: Led opposition against the white-minority Bay Street regime, eventually becoming Prime Minister from 1967-1992.
– Led the fight against the white-minority rule of the United Bahamian Party (UBP) known as the “Bay Street Boys”
– Orchestrated the dramatic “Black Tuesday” in 1965, when he threw the Speaker’s mace out of the House of Assembly window as a protest against gerrymandering.
– Achieved majority rule in 1967, becoming the Bahamas’ first Black Premier.
– Guided the country to independence from Britain in 1973
Arthur Hanna – Radical nationalist who pushed for aggressive “Bahamianization” policies and sometimes took more hardline positions than Pindling.
Sir Milo Butler – An early civil rights advocate who fought against racial discrimination and later became the first Bahamian Governor-General.
Opposition to PLP Dominance
Peaceful transfer of power to opposition parties in subsequent decades demonstrated the resilience of the democratic institutions these dissent politicians helped establish.
The formation of the Free Progressive Liberal Party (Free PLP) represents an important chapter in Bahamian political history that emerged from internal dissent within the ruling Progressive Liberal Party.
In 1970-1971, a significant split occurred within the PLP when eight dissident members broke away from Prime Minister Lynden Pindling’s government. These members, often referred to as the “Dissident Eight,” formed the Free Progressive Liberal Party (Free PLP).
The Free PLP didn’t remain independent for long. In 1971, they merged with the remnants of the United Bahamian Party (the former ruling party of the white minority) to form the Free National Movement (FNM). This new party would become the main opposition to the PLP and eventually an enduring part of the Bahamian two-party system.
Key figures in this breakaway movement included:
– Cecil Wallace-Whitfield (former Minister of Education) – Former PLP member who broke with Pindling to form the Free National Movement (FNM) in 1971, creating the foundation for future opposition, establishing a viable opposition party.
– Arthur Foulkes
– Maurice Moore
– Warren Levarity
– Dr. Curtis McMillan
– James Shephard
– George Thompson
– Elwood Donaldson
Their departure stemmed from various concerns:
1. Growing allegations of corruption within the Pindling administration.
2. Disagreements over the direction of economic policy.
3. Concerns about increasing centralization of power by Pindling.
4. Different visions for Bahamian independence and governance.
The FNM would later go on to win elections and govern the Bahamas, with its first electoral victory coming in 1992 when Hubert Ingraham (himself a former PLP minister who was dismissed in 1984) led the party to end the PLP’s 25-year rule.
This political realignment helped establish the modern political landscape of the Bahamas, with the PLP and FNM as the two dominant parties that have alternated in government since independence.
Dissidents within the PLP
After the PLP gained power, new dissidents emerged to challenge them:
Hubert Ingraham – Expelled from the PLP cabinet in 1984 for questioning corruption; later joined the FNM and defeated Pindling in 1992. Ingraham ended Pindling’s 25-year rule and demonstrating the country’s democratic maturity.
Perry Christie’s Remarkable Political Journey from Expulsion to Leader
Perry Christie was indeed expelled from the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) earlier in his political career, which is one of the more remarkable chapters in Bahamian political history considering he later went on to lead the same party and become Prime Minister.
The Expulsion (1984): In 1984, Christie and three other PLP MPs (Hubert Ingraham, Arthur Hanna, and Clifford Darling) were expelled from the Progressive Liberal Party. This came after they took positions critical of then-Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling’s government, particularly regarding allegations of corruption and connections to drug trafficking.
Background Context: This occurred during a turbulent period when the Bahamas was dealing with significant issues related to drug trafficking. The Commission of Inquiry (1983-1984), also known as the “Drug Commission,” investigated these matters and led to questions about government officials’ potential involvement.
The “Dissident Four”: Christie, Ingraham, Hanna, and Darling were sometimes referred to as the “Dissident Four” for their willingness to break with party discipline and raise concerns about corruption.
Different Paths: After the expulsion:
- Hubert Ingraham eventually joined the Free National Movement (FNM) and became Prime Minister.
- Perry Christie remained politically independent for a period before being welcomed back into the PLP in 1990.
- Arthur Hanna also returned to the PLP and later served as Governor-General of the Bahamas.
Return and Rise to Leadership: Christie’s return to the PLP in 1990 marked the beginning of his rehabilitation within the party. After Pindling’s defeat in 1992, the party gradually shifted leadership, and Christie eventually became party leader in 1997, leading the PLP back to power in 2002.
This episode illustrates the sometimes fluid nature of Bahamian political loyalties and the possibility of political rehabilitation that exists in the system. It’s particularly ironic that Christie, once expelled for dissidence, later faced significant challenges from dissidents within his own government during his time as Prime Minister, especially in his 2012-2017 term.
Christie’s journey from expelled dissident to party leader and Prime Minister represents one of the most remarkable political comebacks in Bahamian history.
Dissidents within the FNM
Bahamas Democratic Party – Prior to the 1977 general elections, the Free National Movement (FNM) experienced a significant internal division primarily due to dissatisfaction with the leadership of Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield. This discontent extended to certain decisions regarding candidates whom Sir Cecil intended to nominate for the 1977 elections. Consequently, a faction of FNM members seceded and established the Bahamas Democratic Party (BDP), under the leadership of J. Henry Bostwick.
The resulting schism had a profound impact on the FNM’s performance in the 1977 general elections. The party secured only two seats, namely Maurice Moore and Warren Levarity, both representing Grand Bahama.
Notably, neither of these candidates faced opposition from the BDP.
In contrast, the BDP achieved success with a slate of candidates, including Sir Roland Symonette, J. Henry Bostwick, Norman Solomon, James Knowles, Keith Duncombe, and Michael Lightbourne.
Dissidents to the Dissidents in Opposition to Governing Party
Norman Solomon and his Social Democratic Party – Going into the General Elections of 1982, there were not one, not two but three opposition factions sitting in the House of Assembly.
Norman Solomon advised the Bahamas Democratic Party (BDP) that he would established the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and that his majority in the Opposition would support him as Leader of the Opposition. This left the Free National Movement (FNM) with only two MPs in Parliament.
Basil Nichols and Arthur Foulkes reconciled the BDP and FNM, allowing them to contest the 1982 general elections as a unified opposition party. The FNM won 11 of the 43 seats in Parliament.
Contemporary Dissidents
Dr. Andre Rollins – Rollins has had a particularly controversial political career in the Bahamas, being one of the few Bahamian politicians to have been affiliated with at least three different political parties (DNA, PLP, and FNM). His career has been summed up by many as more opportunistic nomad than purposefully political.
Dr. Rollins first entered the political arena as a member of the National Development Party (NDP), a minor party in Bahamian politics. He later joined the newly formed Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Branville McCartney around 2011. Shortly before the 2012 general election, Rollins made his first major party switch, leaving the DNA to join the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). He won the Fort Charlotte constituency for the PLP in the 2012 election.
Around 2014-2015, Rollins began publicly criticizing the Christie administration while still serving as a PLP MP. He was eventually stripped of his Gaming Board chairmanship due to his criticism of the government. Despite calls for his resignation, he refused to give up his seat in Parliament.
After his relationship with the PLP completely deteriorated, Rollins crossed the floor to join the opposition Free National Movement (FNM). He served briefly as an FNM MP until the 2017 general election. Despite his profile as an outspoken MP, he lost his seat in the 2017 election.
Branville McCartney, The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) – Left the FNM to form the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) as a third-party alternative.
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) formed in 2011 after Branville McCartney left the then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s cabinet due to perceived flawed policies and limited dissent opportunities.
In the 2012 general election, the DNA received 8.5% of the vote but lost their seat to Renward Wells, a newly-converted PLP candidate and former NDP leader.
Loretta Butler-Turner, first woman to be appointed Leader of the Opposition albeit briefly – Led an unsuccessful internal rebellion against the Hubert Minnis’s FNM leadership in 2016, challenging party orthodoxy.
Butler-Turner is the granddaughter of Sir Milo Butler, the first Bahamian Governor-General after independence, giving her a connection to one of the Bahamas’ most important political families. She entered politics as a member of the Free National Movement (FNM). She served as the Member of Parliament for Long Island from 2012 to 2017. Before that, she represented the Montagu constituency from 2007 to 2012.
In 2016, Butler-Turner made her most dramatic political move when she challenged Dr. Hubert Minnis for leadership of the FNM.
After failing to unseat Minnis at a party convention, she led an unprecedented parliamentary maneuver:
In December 2016, she convinced six other FNM MPs to join her in writing to the Governor-General to remove Minnis as Leader of the Opposition.
Butler-Turner was subsequently appointed Leader of the Opposition, the first woman to hold this position in Bahamian history.
The splinter group she led became known as the “FNM Six” or “Rebel Seven.”
However, this division within the FNM was short-lived. In the 2017 general election, Butler-Turner ran as an independent candidate for Long Island after being effectively sidelined by the FNM. She lost her seat in that election, which saw the FNM under Minnis win a landslide victory.
Gregory Moss – the former PLP Member of Parliament for Marco City, resigned in November 2015 to announce the formation of a new political party, the United Democratic Party (UDP) in The Bahamas. He is the leader of that new party. Miss resigned as leader of the UDP in 2017.
Dr. Bernard “BJ” Nottage and the Coalition for Democratic Reform (CDR) – A significant figure in Bahamian politics and is remembered particularly for his role as a dissident and party-switcher in Bahamian political history.
Dr. Nottage began his political career with the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), serving in various capacities including as a cabinet minister. However, in the late 1990s, he became dissatisfied with the leadership of then-FNM Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and the direction that his PLP party was taking as an opposition party.
In 2000, Dr. Nottage broke away from the PLP and formed the Coalition for Democratic Reform (CDR), becoming one of the most prominent political dissidents in modern Bahamian politics. The CDR was a short-lived third party that attempted to present an alternative to both the PLP and the Free National Movement (FNM).
The CDR contested the 2002 general election but failed to win any seats in parliament. After this electoral disappointment, Dr. Nottage eventually returned to the PLP in 2005 under the leadership of Perry Christie.
Upon his return to the PLP, Dr. Nottage was rehabilitated politically and went on to serve in several important cabinet positions, including as Minister of National Security and Minister of Health.
Dr. Nottage’s journey as a political dissident highlights the challenges faced by third parties and political movements in the Bahamas’ traditionally two-party system, where even prominent political figures struggle to build viable alternatives outside the established PLP and FNM structure.
Legacy and Impact of Dissident Politics
Successful or not, undeniably, dissident politicians fundamentally transformed the Bahamas in several ways;
1. Dismantling colonial structures and racial hierarchies
2. Establishing a functioning two-party democracy
3. Creating economic policies that supported Bahamianization of key industries
4. Developing a distinct national identity that balanced tourism needs with local cultural preservation
The modern Bahamas continues to reflect the vision of both the early and contemporary dissidents.
Early dissidents contributed to transforming the country from a colony ruled by a white merchant class to a sovereign nation with its own political, economic, and cultural identity.
Contemporary political dissidents, successful or not, have played a significant role in shaping The Bahamas’s democratic development, especially in the post-independence era, by establishing political alternatives, adding to the voice for government accountability, as well as, offering everyman Bahamian an opportunity for active participation in political discussion and debate.
