EDITOR, The Tribune.

The attack on Free National Movement Chairman Michael Pintard in your paper today by a former Candidate and Council Member of the party is unwarranted and most distressing.

Likewise, the diatribe against the Hon Dr Hubert A Minnis, Party Leader, is unfortunate and unhelpful, especially coming from a person who is a former Council Member and presumably, even though, not on Council now, is still a FNM member.

There is no chaos in the party! The Central Council of the party, which according to the constitution, “shall be the principal governing body of the Party between conventions... “ made a determination regarding the candidates of the 2012 general elections and that determination by the Central Council of the party was made unanimously and without objection!

Also, the party has a history of limiting the membership on Council of the immediate former candidates. It is unarguable that at most they were given one year by the constitution and extended a year by Resolution passed in the Central Council under other Leaders of the party and those were not questioned (during or after the votes).

Since, 2012 they were given a further period beyond the normal two years. The Central Council of the party determined to conclude the membership at that time.

Further, it appears that the letter writer was on Council last year when Notice of the Resolution was given indicating that the Resolution would be discussed at the next monthly meeting - so where was the person when the principal governing body of the party, outside convention - the Central Council, discussed the Resolution - as no one objected to it? Was the person present? We cannot and do not know, as the letter writer is not disclosed.

It begs the question though, in any event, if the letter writer was there, why did not he or she speak up (as they are doing publicly now - as it is admitted that their letter today being his/her second one on the subject this month - only 14 days in). If the person did not attend the Central Council meeting when the Notice was given or the meeting when the Resolution was discussed and passed, who is to blame for that? But, it must be one or the other, because, there was no objection to the Notice when given or the Resolution when passed unanimously.

There is no difference in what the Central Council decided and what Chairman Pintard said. It is not uncommon (the letter writer ought to know), at many Central Council meetings that former Council Members (not limited to Candidates) are given an opportunity to attend Council and at times even make interventions. Chairman Pintard effectively, was recognising this fact and indicating in advance that, the former candidates would be treated similarly. The Resolution of the Council and the statement by the Chairman are completely consistent.

The disagreement cannot be more striking about the view (but the person is entitled to it) that the Hon Dr Hubert A Minnis, Leader is unelectable – the letter writer might like to think and wish that but that is not the view of many people. Most places I go, people express their sense of pride in Dr Minnis and what he has been able to achieve, coming from very humble beginnings.

And, they like the fact that he is very approachable, down-to-earth and a people’s person. He is measured and does not “fly off the handle”.

He was known to be a hard-worker as the Minister of Health and one who was on the cutting-edge of health with the introduction of telemedicine throughout the Family Islands which was desperately needed and oversaw the planning, execution and construction of the Critical Care Block - a cutting edge facility, one of the best in the region - that we are so proud of.

His involvement in Junkanoo as a “Cowbeller or beller” in what is our quintessential cultural expression - on the “back-line” - for more than 30 years, year in, and year out speaks volumes about his personal commitment to what culturally is “us”.

As the late Jackson Burnside said, “when we go to Bay, we go to get us”.

His success in business is beyond question and undeniable. He has done well and should be applauded (not maligned and denigrated), as any Bahamian ought to be, having risen from such a humble start in life.

The letter writer must be moving about in a very small circle of people, telling themselves what they want to hear and filling themselves with their fabricated propaganda and worst of all believing it.

What is truly disconcerting though, is the letter writer’s use of the words “a call to arms” within the party. While it may have a political meaning, it clearly has a violent connotation as well and am surprised that such a phrase would be used by a former candidate and council member, who is presumably still a FNM.

 It is time to unite with Minnis!

A FNM PARTY SUPPORTER

Nassau,

January 14, 2016.