Above: Former Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Bahamas has set Oct. 15 as the date of the by-election for the North Abaco seat, the constituency of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who is retiring from politics.

The election was announced through a statement from the Minister with responsibility for Parliamentary Registration and Elections has advised Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes to issue a writ of election for the seat.

The nomination of candidates for the seat will occur on Sept. 26.

Although Ingraham won the election for North Abaco in May, he announced his plan to vacate the seat after his then-ruling Free National Movement party lost the Bahamas’ May 7 elections to the Progressive Liberal Party and current Prime Minister Perry Christie.

He was first elected to the Bahamas’ House of Assembly in 1977, and served three times as the country’s Prime Minister.