By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement leader Dr Hubert Minnis told supporters last night that at a time when it is easy to get distracted in the “silliness”, “constant bickering and petty airing of our dirty laundry”, FNMs must not lose focus of the real issues now facing the country.

Speaking to a fiery crowd at the Sadie Curtis School, the Killarney MP said “divisive” politics was not the purpose of the party, but rather to oust the “worst government” in the history of The Bahamas.

He was referring to the numerous headlines that his party has captured during the past weeks, portraying it as a fractured organisation with rampant infighting.

The party leader also responded to criticisms that he lacked charisma, saying that he has been able to attract his wife for more than 40 years.

Dr Minnis’s remarks came as his party introduced two new candidates for the 2017 general election – Howard Johnson, for South Beach, and Halston Moultrie, for Nassau Village.

“FNMs we cannot lose sight of the urgency of this moment. It is easy to get distracted in the silliness and constant internal bickering and the petty airing of our dirty laundry, but FNMs I say to you we cannot lose focus on the real issues we face today and the real issues we face day in and day out,” Dr Minnis said. 

“I am convinced that if we speak with one voice, if we move with one purpose and if we follow one vision, no one can defeat us. FNMs I say to you, together we are stronger and better than any other party and only together can we provide a new and better Bahamas.

“This kind of divisive politics is not why we are here. It’s not why I am here and it’s not why you’re here. This is not what the FNM is all about. We are here because the PLP have failed the Bahamian people.”

He continued: “Many bad things have been said about me. One thing you will always remember they have said repeatedly that I have no charisma. I want to inform you tonight I looked up the definition of charisma. Charisma is the ability to attract someone to you. Tonight I want to inform you that I have been able to attract my wife to me for 40 odd years and she is still attracted to me.”

In his first speech as the South Beach FNM Candidate, Mr Johnson, who was flanked by supporters, called on FNMs to stand behind the party leader. He said Dr Minnis was capable of becoming the next prime minister of The Bahamas.

He said: “We all know that this South Beach nomination did not come easy. We appreciate and we love the Free National Movement for making what we believe was the right decision and we will prove to the FNM that, as South Beach goes, so does the nation and we will deliver.

“It appears to all and sundry that we have some problems in our party. Ladies and gentlemen, bigger than any of our individual differences is the fact that for nearly four years we have had a government that is long on promises but short on delivery.”

“Out there some people are saying that it is time, I completely agree. It’s time for us to rally behind Hubert Alexander Minnis. It is time for us to get rid of the PLP. It is time for us to deliver South Beach,” he continued.