OPINION: My Assessment of the By-Elections of St. Phillip’s North on March 16, 2026

Over the last eight months or so, since Randy Baltimore secured victory in the primary, I have taken a keen interest in understanding more about who he is.

The response from the community has been astonishing; his connection to the people has earned him high endorsement regarding his integrity and credibility.

In fact, while I was on the ground in the constituency last week, some staunch opposition supporters have mentioned that they would likely vote for him in a general election based solely on their knowledge of his character.

His involvement and commitment to sports and community efforts reflect positively on the person he has become, showcasing his strong standing within the community.

Additionally, Randy has been a mentee of Sir Robin Yearword, Sr for many years, positioning him favorably for electability should he become the candidate. Sir Robin was known as a man of the people, keeping his doors open to any constituent at any time, understanding their immediate needs, and fighting hard for them.

Although this era presents different challenges, with people’s expectations now aligned with advancements, there are still invaluable lessons to be learned from Sir Robin’s 50-year tenure. The new leader can build on that legacy, as local politics is a tactile endeavor that deserves respect.

It was clear that the opposition expected a different outcome, operating under the belief that since Alex Browne came so close to matching Sir Robin’s final vote count in 2023—falling short by less than 90 votes—he stood a good chance of overcoming that hurdle. However, that’s not how elections work. 

Sir Robin’s declining health and compromised mental faculties led some, though not enough voters, to consider Alex as a possible replacement. Could the last general election have been an ANOMALY—a post-COVID exercise where mandates created friction between the electorate and the current administration, albeit the most prudent decisions by the executive? While many of Sir Robin’s supporters abstained from voting, believing that he already had it in the bag. So, it was slightly trending away from the current administration.

I am of the view that the last general election was more of an anti-administration sentiment rather than a pro-opposition vote. 

Furthermore, the opposition’s campaign was marred by disinformation, including unfounded allegations regarding the importation of African voters by plane, claims about the PM acquiring four million dollars for campaign handouts from a foreign source, and assertions that the PM was wanted by the US government. The public quickly dismissed these accusations and instead focused on the government’s tangible efforts to address various issues in the country simultaneously. That can be a daunting task based on the reality that we have a finite budget as we do not have access to a federal budget.

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