By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said the party will be ready to contest the next general election even if it has to do so with new people in place who are responsible for raising necessary funds.

His statement came after The Tribune reported on Friday that a shake-up of the party’s Finance Committee is expected.

Although FNM Finance Committee Chairman Brent Symonette denied reports that the committee resigned last Thursday, he suggested when contacted by The Tribune that a change was coming.

“(Dr Minnis) should have the unfettered right to invite persons he feels would be able to collect party funds to join the committee,” Mr Symonette said.

Sources told The Tribune that committee members planned to resign because of dissatisfaction with Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

Many of the members have been on the committee for years - Mr Symonette, for instance, has been a member of the committee for about 40 years.

A shake-up could be a major development for the party, impacting its funding and priorities.

“The reality is what you’re seeing is an evolving country and party,” Mr Turnquest said yesterday, although he disputed The Tribune’s characterisation of a shake-up in the FNM’s Finance Committee.

“More and more people are going to be involved in the process. It’s a natural evolution.”

He added: “The FNM is a diverse and organised party. We will have the resources that we need in order to contest the election and we will put forth a very viable and capable team. We’re always inviting new people into the party. People come and people leave.

“We’re not sitting here worrying about that because people make decisions. From time to time they might want change and might decide that they want to take a passive role.”

To prepare for the next general election, the FNM is trying to put its internal strife behind it now that its convention is in the rear view mirror.

It remains unclear, however, if many of the party’s most prominent financial backers will rally behind Dr Minnis’ leadership and support the party with funds.

Asked yesterday about developments in the party’s finance committee, former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson said there have been discussions of resignations but whether a decision had been made is something he is unaware of.

Nonetheless, he said there was a practical need to add additional people to the party’s Finance Committee.

“Over the years the party has lost a number of the members of the Finance Committee to death and ill health,” he said. “I’ve been suggesting that the party repopulate its Finance Committee since 2002.”