By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis last night vowed to continue to fight for democracy following his removal and barring from the House of Assembly.

Scores of FNM supporters rallied together at the party’s headquarters in what was described as the beginning of their 2017 election campaign. The party expects to return to government at that time.

Defending his actions in the House of Assembly, Dr Minnis said he could not just sit passively while government MPs spoke negatively of his party.

He said: “Tonight we stand together in solidarity as FNMs and freedom fighters to show that we will not be silenced. In this 40 years after independence the PLP wanted to silence us. We must continue to stand and work together.

“Imagine a speaker moving to muzzle me.

“They want me to sit down in parliament, while five heavyweights say all manner of things about me, my colleagues, my deputy, and the FNM and I must sit there silent as a lamb and not respond.

“I pledge to continue to deepen the democratic process and to champion freedom and liberty of our people and to fight for transparency and honesty in governance.”

Deputy leader Loretta Butler Turner added that the FNM will not allow the government to intimidate them but rather hold them accountable for their actions.