FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest sought to minimise scathing criticism about the party’s leadership which came from former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson, insisting yesterday that the FNM has “tolerance” for “dissension”.

Mr Turnquest said while the party is not disturbed by the former Cabinet minister’s critique, his “minority view” is not widespread, based on the results of last year’s FNM convention.

His comments came in a statement, released after Mr Watson engaged in a war of words with party Chairman Michael Pintard. He had said that the Opposition is not yet ready for the next general election. He also suggested that Dr Hubert Minnis was not a fully formed leader and is a “work in progress.”

“Unlike other political parties who seek to tamp down any public debate or obvious inside dissension under a cloud of secrecy at all costs, which often carries over into their public service lives, the FNM does not aim to do such,” Mr Turnquest’s statement said.

“Today, in our nation we continue to witness the obvious circling of wagons around members of our honourable chambers by their party officials, despite breaching the public’s trust and right to know in respect to government actions or inactions.

“The FNM was founded on the principles of transparency and public debate to flesh out ideas to move the country forward. We, therefore, are not disturbed by Mr Frank Watson’s comments although he clearly shares a minority view in the party based upon the last convention results and current support. This is not the first time Mr Watson and others have publicly expressed similar views without effect. We encourage Mr Watson to continue to offer his considerable experience to our leadership team in a constructive way and to utilise the many avenues available to him within the party to influence its membership by sharing his point of view.”

The East Grand Bahama MP added that as a senior member of the FNM, Mr Watson is “acutely aware of the party’s structure” and the avenue to voice internal disagreement. “We again encourage him to avail himself of these mechanisms for the greater good of the party and indeed the country as we aim to recapture the government of the Bahamas,” he said.

On Wednesday, Mr Pintard questioned why Mr Watson had aired his concerns about the party’s leadership publicly instead of taking the internal route.

“Lots of folks are interested in psychoanalysing the leadership of the Free National Movement (and) second-guessing the decisions made by the leader, even some former Cabinet ministers.

“If you are a former Cabinet minister of a political organisation and you are still a member of the internal organs of the party, where you are able to vent any concern that you have but you refuse to do so internally and decide to do that outside, then I begin to raise suspicions about what your real motivations are.”

Mr Pintard’s comments came as he spoke on the 96.9 FM talk show, “The Revolution” with host Juan McCartney.

However, Mr Watson has said Mr Pintard’s statements were “nonsense”, adding that he and other senior FNMs have tried to offer advice to Dr Minnis.