NASSAU — The Bahamas Herald has learned from high-level political sources that Belinda Wilson, the outspoken President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT), is preparing to seek the Free National Movement’s nomination for the Bamboo Town constituency in the next general election, setting up what insiders describe as a heated contest with attorney Heather Hunt.
According to multiple well-placed FNM sources, Wilson has already met privately with senior party figures and signaled her intention to contest Bamboo Town, a seat that the party believes could be winnable if it fields a strong, recognizable candidate. Those close to the matter say Wilson’s move has surprised some in both the union and political circles, given her long record of maintaining independence from partisan politics.
“Belinda has made it clear she’s serious,” one senior FNM insider told the Herald. “She believes Bamboo Town represents a constituency where her voice and work on behalf of teachers will resonate with ordinary Bahamians. She’s been doing the groundwork quietly.”
Wilson, who has led the Bahamas Union of Teachers for more than a decade, is best known for her fiery advocacy on behalf of educators and her willingness to take on successive governments. Her decision to step into the political arena marks a dramatic shift from union activism to electoral politics.
Supporters within the FNM view her as a potential asset — a well-known national figure who commands attention and speaks plainly to working-class voters. Others inside the party, however, are said to be uneasy about the optics of nominating a union leader who has been critical of both PLP and FNM administrations.
“She’s been a thorn in the side of every government,” one party insider noted. “But that’s also what makes her appealing. People believe she’ll speak her mind and stand up for them.”
Wilson’s bid immediately places her on a collision course with Heather Hunt, the attorney and former Senate candidate whose name has also been circulating as a top contender for the FNM nomination in Bamboo Town. Hunt, known for her loyalty to the party and strong ties to the Pintard leadership team, is expected to mount a vigorous defense of her candidacy.
“This is going to be a test of who holds more sway — the traditional party establishment or the new voices trying to reshape the FNM’s image,” one political strategist said. “Bamboo Town could become the proving ground for that internal debate.”
If both women formally enter the race, it will mark one of the few head-to-head nomination battles between two prominent female contenders within the FNM in recent memory.
Within the Bahamas Union of Teachers, word of Wilson’s political ambitions has reportedly sparked debate. Some union executives are concerned that her move could blur the lines between her labor advocacy and partisan politics. Others argue that after decades of service, she has every right to take her experience to the national stage.
“She’s earned her stripes,” said one educator familiar with the discussions. “No one has fought harder for teachers than Belinda. Whether you like her style or not, she commands respect.”
The next general election is constitutionally due by September 2026, and candidate positioning has already begun in earnest. The FNM, still recovering from its 2021 defeat, is expected to announce several new faces to signal renewal under leader Michael Pintard.
If Wilson secures the nomination, the Bamboo Town contest could become one of the most closely watched battles in the country — pitting two strong, outspoken women from very different backgrounds against each other in a constituency long viewed as a bellwether for political momentum in New Providence.
For now, neither Wilson nor Hunt has issued public comment. But according to Bahamas Herald sources, both have already begun quiet campaigning in the area — meeting residents, visiting churches, and building teams behind the scenes.
As one FNM insider summed up, “This won’t be a quiet nomination fight. Bamboo Town is about to become the center of attention.”
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