Former PM Minnis loses $400 deposit after Killarney defeat

Former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has suffered another setback following his unsuccessful independent bid in the May 12 general election, forfeiting his $400 election deposit after failing to secure the minimum share of votes required under the law.

While the loss of the deposit is unlikely to have any financial impact on the millionaire former prime minister, it represents a blow to his massive ego after his decisive defeat at the polls.

Minnis, who contested the Killarney constituency as an independent candidate, received just 11 percent of the votes—well below the 16.67 percent threshold required for candidates to have their deposits returned.

Under Section 37(1)(5)(b) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, a candidate who fails to poll more than one-sixth of the votes cast forfeits the $400 deposit to the Public Treasury.

The result marked a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Minnis, who comfortably won Killarney as the Free National Movement's candidate in the 2017 general election with 73 percent of the vote and retained the seat in 2021 with 51 percent.

Minnis served one term as prime minister before leading the FNM to defeat in the 2021 general election. He subsequently resigned as party leader and later attempted to regain the leadership but was defeated by Michael Pintard.

Ahead of the May 12 election, Pintard declined to nominate Minnis as the FNM's standard-bearer for Killarney, as he believed the former leader was not a team player and was seeking to undermine his leadership.

Minnis then launched an independent campaign in the constituency he had represented for years but finished third, ending both his parliamentary career and his bid for a political comeback.