North Andros and Berry Islands
| North Andros and Berry Islands | |
|---|---|
| Constituency | |
North Andros and Berry Islands on a map of the 2021 election | |
| District | North Andros and the Berry Islands |
| Electorate | 1,980 (2011)[1] 2,726 (2021)[2] |
| Current constituency | |
| Seats | 1 |
| Party | Progressive Liberal Party |
| Member | Leonardo Lightbourne |
North Andros and Berry Islands is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Assembly of The Bahamas. It elects one member of parliament (MP) using the first past the post electoral system. It has been represented by Leonardo Lightbourne from the Progressive Liberal Party since 2021.[3]
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.[6] The report also said that no public consultations or meetings were held during the commission's work.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8] The constituency will be replaced by North Andros.[9]
Geography
The constituency comprises the districts of North Andros and the Berry Islands.[10]
Members of Parliament
| Election | Parliament | Candidate | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 10th Bahamian Parliament | Vincent Peet[11] | Progressive Liberal Party |
| 2007 | 11th Bahamian Parliament | ||
| 2012 | 12th Bahamian Parliament | Perry Gomez | Progressive Liberal Party |
| 2017 | 13th Bahamian Parliament | Carlton Bowleg Jr. | Free National Movement |
| 2021 | 14th Bahamian Parliament | Leonardo Lightbourne | Progressive Liberal Party |
Elections
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLP | Perry Gomez | 1,192 | 48.75 | −4.92 | |
| FNM | Desmond Bannister | 1,168 | 47.77 | +1.44 | |
| Democratic National Alliance | Randy Butler | 85 | 3.48 | +3.48 | |
| Majority | 24 | 0.98 | −6.37 | ||
| Turnout | 2,445 | 93.53 | |||
| PLP hold | Swing | -6.37 | |||
See also
References
- ^ https://www.bahamaslocal.com/newsitem/35730/Final_Boundaries_Report_Revealed.html/
- ^ https://ewnews.com/voter-disparity-seven-constituencies-have-well-over-6000-registered-voters/
- ^ Brown, Krystel (2023-07-11). "Family Island development in an independent Bahamas". The Nassau Guardian. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Report of Constituencies Commission, House of Assembly, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas" (PDF). 29 December 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Boundaries commission expected to propose splitting two constituencies". The Tribune. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ^ "St James and Bimini seats created in boundaries report". The Tribune. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "HOA Constituencies Commission Report Tabled". ZNS Bahamas. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Bahamas General Election 2017 - Nassau". www.bahamaslocal.com. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ "Vincent Peet to run as independent". www.tribune242.com. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ "North Andros & Berry Islands" (PDF). Election 2012. Nassau Guardian. 7 May 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.