Rick Lowe

Well another 24 hours has past and the FNM have prevailed in the recount with a razor thin, two vote margin.

Following are my spreadsheets of the unofficial count from election night and the recount results as reported in the press:

Who would have predicted all the events surrounding this by-election. It's eerie.

The PLP would have us believe that this election meant little or nothing to the PLP and the FNM had more to loose.

The governing FNM would have us believe the opposite.

Lets review a couple of the events for a minute:

• The registered voter turn out was the lowest in election history.
• Independent (smaller Party) candidates gained over 200 votes.
• The Deputy Prime Minister gets slapped by a PLP supporter.
• Bradley Roberts of the PLP is accusing the FNM of intimidation in the recount room.
• A recount lasted two full days. Longer than it takes to certify an entire General Election.
• To top things off, according to press reports, Police warned they expected trouble from some elements in Elizabeth and asked supporters relocate. Thank goodness nothing occurred.

So in spite of what we're told, winning seems most important, as reports are the PLP are headed for Election Court. Losing the battle with dignity or humility to fight in the war another day is fast becoming a thing of the past.

Hopefully the PLP will reconsider as the outcome really has no impact on the Government of the day and it only serves to incite Bahamians against each other, while the party officials "break bread" together.

The election is over in my view. Let all sides take their marbles and peacefully go home. Our Bahamas deserves no less.

Oh, one great thing was The Tribune news teams updates on their web site thought out the election and recount. What a fabulous addition to news and election coverage. Thanks to The Tribune and their hard working team! 

So much of this seems stranger than fiction.