EDITOR, The Tribune.

Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner has yet to decide on taking on Dr Hubert Minnis for the FNM Leadership position at the party’s July convention. Butler-Turner is attempting to appear modest to FNMs.

Despite the subterfuge, many are still under the assumption that the Long Island MP was one of the ringleaders in a recent move to force Minnis’ hand in changing the date of the convention from November to July.

For the past three years, Butler-Turner has not been a good team player in the FNM. We in the FNMs Underground are elated that the convention will be held in July rather than in November, as this would give the FNM ample time to get its house in order.

We suspect that the November date was the Minnisites’ shrewd manoeuvre to bide more time for Minnis in a bid to hold on to the FNM top post.

We are glad Butler-Turner and the five FNM MPs who have rebelled against Minnis have succeeded in getting the FNM executive council to adjust the date, even though we believe each of the six political nonconformists must suffer the consequences of not being renominated in the event Minnis is re-elected at convention. Conversely, if Butler-Turner runs and somehow, someway defeats Minnis, then he should resign his Killarney seat and return to private life, if only for the good of the party and the nation. In light of Butler-Turner’s recent irrational charge that Minnis should accept responsibility in the part he played in the failed equality referendum, it has become apparent to many FNMs that the two cannot coexist within the party. Butler-Turner is the granddaughter of the first Bahamian governor general, Sir Milo B Butler.

Her political navel string is buried in the PLP. Virtually the entire Butler clan is PLP. We do not know when she converted to the FNM, although it is her constitutional right to support any political organisation she desires to. Despite the two hypotheses that were posited above, we believe Minnis stands a good chance of winning at convention, owing in large part to the strong support he currently enjoys among FNM council members.

We do not believe Butler-Turner is as popular among FNMs as she was in 2014 when she challenged Minnis for his post. Her popularity has diminished. There have even been chatter among FNMs that her support in Long Island has dwindled due to her relentless opposition to Minnis. Maybe Butler-Turner should give serious consideration to returning to the party her political navel string is buried in: the PLP.

There have been rumours that the PLP top brass has courted her. We believe she would gel much better with the PLP than with the FNM led by Minnis. Furthermore, Butler has many family members who are PLPs. This fact along with her family’s name and the legacy of Sir Milo Butler are all invaluable political capital, and would go a long way in helping her climb the political totem pole within the PLP. While we agree with the Butler-Turner camp that Minnis has some glaring leadership deficiencies which have hurt him in the eyes of many swing voters and even some FNMs, we just cannot see the FNM winning with Butler-Turner as leader, as she has turned off far too many Minnisites.

Interestingly, there have been rumours that former FNM Leader Hubert Ingraham might re-enter front-line politics at the behest of some wealthy white knights. Another possible run for the FNM leadership post by Ingraham could alter the political landscape of the FNM. If there is anyone who can topple an impregnable Minnis, it is Hubert Ingraham.

However, it should be remembered that Ingraham was very unpopular in 2012 among thousands of swing voters and thousands of ordinary FNMs. If Ingraham re-enters politics and defeats Minnis, Butler-Turner can stay put. She would not have to leave the party.

Undoubtedly, Ingraham would give her a nomination, something Minnis appears unwilling to do. But all this is just conjecture at this point. We do not know if Ingraham will run, as he has stated in recent times that he has no desire to. In light of this, Butler-Turner’s best bet is to join the PLP if she wants to save her career in politics. 

FNMs UNDERGROUND

Nassau,

June 12, 2016.