Bahamians return former prime minister to power
The Free National Movement, led by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, won 23 seats in the Bahamas 41-seat legislature Tuesday, setting the stage for the return of the man who led the country in 1992-2002.
Officials involved in the U.S.-Bahamas shipping trade said the vote would likely be followed by an increase in freight volumes, because developers planning major projects in the Bahamas have been awaiting the outcome of the elections before seeking review of their projects by Bahamian planning and development authorities.
Ingraham's party ousted the Progressive Liberal Party of Prime Minister Perry Christie, who came to power in May 2002. Ingraham said Christie, the longest-serving member of the Bahamian parliament, had called him to concede the election, according to the Associated Press and the Broadcasting Corp. of the Bahamas.
Ingraham the FNM had challenged the PLP's handling of the tourist economy. The PLP was also hobbled by ethics accusations made against members of the government over the last five years.