1967 was a tough year to be a political third party. The United Bahamian Party had old money at their disposal; they sprinkled it liberally where necessary. On the other hand, the Progressive Liberal Party carried that fragrant perfume of new possibilities wafting around them. It was the kind of perfume that made you dream of bigger and better things.
In 1967, all third party candidate deposits, save just one, became good change for the public treasury.
And only one Independent candidate, Alvin Braynen, got his deposit back.
Labour Party’s disappointing offerings – 1967
Considering the significance of the labour movement to the expanding tourism industry workers, the party which stood to represent grassroots interests, could only pull together a handful of candidates.
Only 5 Labour candidates were offered for a 31 constituency race.
The Labour Party headed by Randol Fawkes ran just 5 candidates. Maxwell Taylor in Coconut Grove; Edgar Outten in West End and Bimini; Ambrose Gibson, Englerston; Bertis Harry Gray, Grand Bahama; and Randol Fawkes in St. Barnabas.
Only Fawkes got his deposit back.
National Democratic Party 1967
Cambridge educated lawyer and publisher of the Bahamas Observer newspaper, Paul L. Adderley, had broken away from Lynden Pindling and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) two years prior. It was said that a disagreement with Pindling over the Party’s actions regarding the events of Black Tuesday in 1965, led to the schism.
Paul Adderley, along with another lawyer, Orville Turnquest formed their own National Democratic Party, the NDP.
1967 – Paul Adderley’s National Democratic Party Candidates Are Trounced At The Polls
Grassroots Bahamian voters dominated the constituency rolls in a number of key areas. Third parties – Labour nor the National Democrats – were not able to connect with this important voter block. Borge were soundly rejected.
Adderley rolled out 13 candidates including himself. After it was all over…the local newspapers were particularly vicious. The reason for this is probably stems from Adderley’s family history.
Paul Adderley occupied the high rung of the Bahamian social register. He was a second generation Cambridge educated barrister. His father, A. F. Adderley, also a barrister, preceded him at Cambridge. So, if there was such a thing as black Bahamian blue bloods, Adderley was it.
His family’s lineage, unbroken, could be traced back to slavery and liberated Africans in the Bahamas. Adderley, educated to the tips of his hair follicles, and beyond, some would say, should have been political gold.
Quite a few expected Adderley to do the trouncing at the polls. Alas, it was not so.
Mr Paul Adderley, whose National Democratic Party was hammered into oblivion during Tuesdays general election, last night refused to discuss the party’s future. For the second time, since it became clear that the NDP, a PLP splinter group, had been firmly rejected by the Bahamas electorate, Mr. Adderley preferred to keep quiet. He was emphatic in refusing to comment when asked if anything had been decided about the prospects of the party after its humiliating defeat at the polls.
On Tuesday night he kept tightlipped when asked for his reaction to the election results. “I am relying on figures for any information and the figures speak for themselves,” was his only positive statement. Each of the 12 NDP candidates suffered crushing defeats and not one of them retained his deposit.
Orville Turnquest, Grants Town;
Paul Adderley, Fort Charlotte. Adderley ran against UBP candidate Vincent D’Aguilar and PLP candidate Dr. Curtis McMillan. The PLP won.
Lloyd Burnside, St. Barnabas; Spurgeon Bethell, Coconut Grove; Nigel Bowe, Exuma; Herbert Minnis, Fort Fincastle; Lochinvar Lockhart, St. Agnes; Urban Cargill, Mangrove Cay; Artis Neeley, Grand Bahama; Cyril Smith Fountain, West End & Bimini; John Purkiss, Shirlea; C. A. Dorsett, Englerston; Holland Smith, Killarney.
Then, the press decided to ask the obvious, ‘So Mr. Adderley how do you feel about losing…’
“That’s a damn fool question.” he replied.
