Bimini and Berry Islands
| Bimini and Berry Islands | |
|---|---|
| Constituency | |
| District | Bimini and the Berry Islands |
| Electorate | 2,253 (2025)[1][2] |
| Major settlements | Alice Town, Bailey Town, Great Harbour Cay |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 2026 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Member | Vacant |
Bimini and Berry Islands is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Assembly of the Bahamas. It will elect one member of parliament (MP) using the first-past-the-post voting system.[3]
The constituency was created in 2026 after the Constituency Boundaries Commission recommended two new seats as part of a redistribution intended to address population shifts and voter parity.[1]
History
In October 2025, the Boundaries Commission was considering creating new constituencies by dividing the existing West Grand Bahama and Bimini seat, citing the size of the electorate and Bimini's population growth.[4] The combined West Grand Bahama and Bimini constituency had been criticised by residents for pairing islands with different priorities.[5]
In its report dated 29 December 2025, the Constituencies Commission said the new seat was formed from areas that had previously been part of the West Grand Bahama and Bimini constituency and the North Andros and Berry Islands constituency.[2] The report also said that no public consultations or meetings were held during the commission's work.[2]
Ahead of the 2026 election, the commission was also reported to be considering combining Bimini with the Berry Islands into a new constituency as part of a broader review aimed at a fairer distribution of voters, with reference to constitutional requirements on population-based boundaries.[6] On 8 January 2026, the commission's report was tabled in Parliament, confirming the creation of a separate Bimini and Berry Islands seat and increasing the number of constituencies from 39 to 41.[1][7]
The report's annexes specified that the Berry Islands would be transferred from the North Andros and the Berry Islands constituency and that Polling Divisions 8, 9, 10 and 11 would be moved from the West Grand Bahama and Bimini constituency into the new seat.[2]
Residents in Bimini welcomed the creation of a separate seat, saying the island had often felt overlooked within the former combined constituency.[8]
The new boundaries were formalised in the House of Assembly Revision of Boundaries and Re-distribution of Seats Order, 2026 (S.I. No. 5 of 2026), which came into force on 16 January 2026 and applies from the next general election.[3] The order also provides that it does not affect any election until a proclamation is made appointing the date for the next general election.[3]
Geography
Under the 2026 boundaries order, the constituency includes North and South Bimini (including Alice Town and Bailey Town) and surrounding rocks and cays (including Alec Cay, Gun Cay, North Cat Cay, South Cat Cay and Ocean Cay), as well as the Berry Islands group of cays (including Great Harbour Cay, Chub Cay and Great Stirrup Cay) and other surrounding rocks and cays within a fifteen-mile radius of Great Harbour Cay.[3]
Demographics
The constituency combines two Bahamian districts. At the 2022 census, Bimini had a population of 2,361 and the Berry Islands had a population of 1,002.[9]
The proposed constituency was reported to have 2,253 registered voters.[1] The commission's summary tables listed 2,057 registered voters for the area in 2021 and 2,253 in 2025, across five polling divisions.[2]
Elections
The constituency will be contested for the first time at the 2026 general election.[1]
In February 2026, the Progressive Liberal Party ratified senator Randy Rolle as its candidate for the constituency.[10] The Free National Movement listed Carlton Bowleg as its candidate.[11][12]
In February 2026, the Coalition of Independents said it had ratified Hyram Rolle as its candidate for the constituency.[13]
References
- ^ a b c d e "St James and Bimini seats created in boundaries report". The Tribune. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d e "Report of Constituencies Commission, House of Assembly, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas" (PDF). 29 December 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d "House of Assembly Revision of Boundaries and Re-distribution of Seats Order, 2026 (S.I. No. 5 of 2026)" (PDF). Laws of The Bahamas. Office of the Governor-General. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Two new constituencies proposed - with splits in Killarney and West GB and Bimini". The Tribune. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Residents back plan to split constituency in West GB and Bimini". The Tribune. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Boundaries commission expected to propose splitting two constituencies". The Tribune. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ^ "HOA Constituencies Commission Report Tabled". ZNS Bahamas. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Bimini Residents: This Is Great News, We Often Get Left Behind". Our News. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "2022 Census of Population and Housing: Final results" (PDF). Bahamas National Statistical Institute. October 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "PLP Ratification Exercise". ZNS Bahamas. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Candidates". The Free National Movement. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "FNM to ratify eight candidates as election race heats up". The Tribune. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Statement by Charlotte Green, National Chairman, Coalition of Independents". Facebook. Coalition of Independents. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.