FNM to hold 'full convention' in late July

Friday, June 3, 2016

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement (FNM) will now hold its convention in July, roughly four months ahead of the pre-established November date.

The decision was made during an executive meeting called on Thursday night to quell discord among the party's parliamentary caucus. The party has announced a "full convention" scheduled for July 27 - 29 at the Melia Resort.

Sources told The Tribune that FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis opened Thursday's meeting with a declaration that if an early convention was necessary, he would oblige.

Last week six of the FNM’s 10 MPs gave Dr Minnis an ultimatum: call an early convention or they would write to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to have him constitutionally removed as leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament.

Dr Minnis has downplayed the threat, telling The Tribune on Monday that he “has never felt so good” and is not concerned about the “noise in the market.”

However, on Thursday a seemingly despondent Dr Minnis shunned reporters on his way out of the FNM's Mackey Street headquarters.

When asked if the decision to hold an early convention would end persisting infighting throughout the ranks of the FNM, the Killarney MP flashed a smile, squeezed through a crowd of party supporters and exited the meeting hall.

On Wednesday, the six FNM parliamentary members at the centre of the latest push to oust Dr Minnis as leader - St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins - disseminated a damning memorandum to the party’s council.

That memo described Dr Minnis’ perceived flaws, including his failure to take command of the party “at almost every turn” despite their repeated efforts to support him.

“For well over three intensely frustrating and oftentimes painful years the parliamentary team, and former colleagues, did everything they could to help and support the leader,” the memorandum, obtained by The Tribune, said.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, who served in the last FNM administration, said the party can now start its “healing process.”

Mr Symonette suggested to reporters that the early convention would allow the party to sort through its issues ahead of 2017 general election.

"It's a beginning of a way to starting the healing process by which the party has to go through so that everyone can have their say and they can hold a vote if someone wants to run for various positions and we start to go forward to the real goal which is becoming the next government of the Bahamas," he said on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Darron Cash, a former party chairman, called the decision to hold an early convention the “right choice”.

In recent weeks Mr Cash has castigated Dr Minnis for his style of leadership, lamenting that the FNM had become “a shadow of its former self”.

He previously stated that the party was at risk of being “sunk by an anchor of leadership that has been found wanting”.

On Thursday Mr Cash said the July date allows the FNM to “self-correct” and prove that it was “connected to reality”.

“. . . Reality is that the most important consideration in that which is in the best interest of the Bahamian people. Our objective is to make sure that we have a convention that has a meaningful election process where everyone who is interested in running for office has an opportunity to let their voices be heard," he said.

For more on this story, see Monday’s Tribune

Comments

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

For many who might support the FNM if Minnis steps down as the party's leader both inside and outside the House of Assembly, Brent Symonette is an even bigger problem for the party's survival than Minnis is. Symonette needs to ride off into the sunset forever....the FNM party in the eyes of the country's voters wants nothing to do with him, period! And rightfully so.

Posted 3 June 2016, 11:53 a.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

John Bostwick III for FNM leader ............. time to move on from the older generation ........... Bran get on board and let's win this election

Posted 3 June 2016, 12:42 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

He was just convicted of a gun offence. While he deserves a second chance, Prime Minister is not it (yes I know this is only party leadership). No (my opinion). The judge didn't buy his numerous theories on how the bullets got in his bag. He accused everybody except the kitchen sink.

Posted 3 June 2016, 1:15 p.m. Suggest removal

Publius says...

@sheep Are you serious? A convicted felon, convicted on ammunitions charges in a country with an astronomically high murder rate where illegal firearms are the principal weapon of choice? My word, the low standards we have in this country!

Posted 3 June 2016, 10:17 p.m. Suggest removal

Yes ....... Or are we to really think that JB3 is a gun-toting thug from a family of the Bahamian political nobility????? ....... that is what the PLP will say, now watsayu????? ............. why was he set up with the bullets??????

Posted 4 June 2016, 2:46 p.m. Suggest removal

Ever heard the saying that the preachers kids are the worst? Just as an aside, existence in a line of "nobility" has nothing to do with character.

I don't believe he's a gun toting thug. I believe he has a lot to offer, but he's disqualified himself from leadership. I believe there are respectable men who procure guns and ammunition for other respectable men, probably for protection purposes. The only problem is it's all illegal. It's also disturbing that he blamed everyone, down to the maid, in his defence. A leader doesn't do that.

Posted 5 June 2016, 3:26 a.m. Suggest removal

@sheep And if he was a PLP, your opinion would be different. That's is what is wrong with so many Bahamians, no true moral or ethical compass. Something is only wrong if it is done by someone we do not like or support. But if we like the person, that very same thing is okay.

Posted 5 June 2016, 12:26 p.m. Suggest removal

Very smart move .......... the FNM must go in the House now and not allow the PLP to divide and conquer them ......... they must keep this leadership race as separate and apart from the National Budget debate ........... it will be hard but in the end, it will make the FNM relevant and viable for the next election .......... it gives the organization time to consolidate and allow the dissenters to move on (if needed) .......... the PLP should not gloat now, it puts even more pressure on them now to pretend to be a responsible, accountable government (hell no!!)

Posted 3 June 2016, 12:19 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2016…

Posted 3 June 2016, 12:51 p.m. Suggest removal

Bad wardrobe choice

Posted 3 June 2016, 1:16 p.m. Suggest removal

arussell says...

Get your house in order FNM because you will be the next government of this country. I think the people really wants LBT as leader!!

lemonfreshpinesol says...

No no hell no!!!

Posted 6 June 2016, 11:09 a.m. Suggest removal

Comrade Minnis to his credit has remained statesmanlike throughout the Loretta coup d'état attempt.
Now that her hand has been forced out in the open during last night's executive council conclave, let's see if she will follow her leaders statesmanship as the stateswomanlike that many red members to assemble at convention will be expecting from her?

Posted 3 June 2016, 2:16 p.m. Suggest removal

MonkeeDoo says...

Tal is Big Bad Brad I think. Yeah, keep pushing Minnis so Perry could win.

Posted 3 June 2016, 4:17 p.m. Suggest removal

Comrade I do not mind you commenting on my posts but couldn't you recognize my propaganda efforts as my own and not pass the creative credit over to 'Big Bad' Brad?
But I do thank you for not calling my posts, lies.

Posted 3 June 2016, 4:59 p.m. Suggest removal

Jonahbay says...

Hubert Minnis must move on from the leadership of the FNM. He may be feeling great but the rest of us are not. Hubert Minnis has been a failure as leader of the FNM. For four years we have watched him flounder and flail like a fish drowning in air. A man with his balls tied together around his back according to Bran! A man so desperate to continue as leader he would bring in PLP members to his ranks( and look how well that turned out). If the caucus does not see how unpopular this man is, they will lose many more good FNM's. He does not have what it takes and he never will, I don't care if he had 100 years to prepare. The sooner the FNM delegates smell the reality, the better for all of us...

Posted 4 June 2016, 10:04 a.m. Suggest removal

The convention will only be worthwhile if there is complete transparency in how the delegates are selected ............. if the process is manipulated by the Minnis crew, then this convention will not solve the problem it is intended to solve ................. the party will inevitably split

Posted 4 June 2016, 2:54 p.m. Suggest removal

Right!

Posted 5 June 2016, 12:27 p.m. Suggest removal

licks2 says...

Then how must the delegates to be chosen? WE ALREADY EXPECT LBT WILL GET BEATEN. . .SHE WILL LEAVE THE FNM AND RUN INDEPENDENT. . .SHE WILL BE BEATEN IN LONG ISLAND. . .MINNIS WILL BE THE NEXT PM!!

Posted 6 June 2016, 12:37 p.m. Suggest removal