By CELESTE NIXON

Tribune Staff Reporter

cnixon@tribunemedia.net

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis said with the results of the North Abaco bye-election in, the party will move beyond “the Ingraham factor.”

Following last night’s unofficial results of the North Abaco bye-election showing PLP candidate Renardo Curry as the winner, Dr Minnis, thanking the FNM campaign team and former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham for their support, said FNMs must now follow the party in a new direction.

“I also want to say thanks for the support that we got from the former Prime Minister and I want to wish him the best in going forth in his retirement, I hope that he enjoys retirement,” said Dr Minnis.

“The Ingraham factor will now be behind us and we must see the new FNM moving forward and the direction I want to take them in.”

Accepting defeat, Dr Minnis said the loss is a “temporary obstruction” that will not hamper the FNM’s progress and growth.

“We will move on and be ready for 2017, hopefully before, and I can assure you we will be a stronger more vibrant party and we will be successful.”

While congratulating Prime Minister Christie and his government on the win, Dr Minnis said it is clear through the low voter turn out that FNMs were “intimidated” and “frightened” to vote in the bye-election.

“I think it is a sad day for the Bahamas when government’s can win an election not only by money but through threats and intimidation.

“The facts are there and people have spoke; people are intimidated, people were frightened to go out and vote, people were frightened to wear red – the voter turn out will speak for itself, we have never had such a low turn out and when you have such a low turn out that in itself shows that the people were somewhat frightened to come out and vote,” he said.

Speaking of the controversy surrounding FNM candidate Greg Gomez, Dr Minnis said the PLP did a good job with “throwing slander” on him.

Dr Minnis added that Mr Gomez will remain a part of the party moving forward.

“Greg Gomez is a young, vibrant individual and shows leadership calibre,” he said. “He will be a part of that cadre of young energetic leaders that we are inviting into the party, we are expanding the base of the party.”

When contacted by The Tribune last evening, Mr Gomez said he had no comment at this time.