Dionisio D’AGuilar set to be ratified by FNM for Montagu

Monday, September 19, 2016

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement is moving ahead with plans to ratify businessman Dionisio D’Aguilar in the Montagu constituency, the seat currently held by Richard Lightbourn, according to several sources within the party.

Fuelling reports that Mr Lightbourn has already been notified of the party’s intent to venture in a new direction with the Montagu seat, a source with knowledge of the party’s selection process said the FNM had “zeroed in” on the Super Wash owner and was “preparing plans to get him in and going in the coming weeks.”

When contacted for comment on the claims, Mr D’Aguilar said there has not been any indication by the party up to this point that it had decided to move ahead with him as a candidate.

He said while it remains “common knowledge” that he has submitted himself for consideration as a candidate, he was still awaiting the party’s decision as to if and where he could stand as a candidate.

“There hasn’t been any indication by the party, to me, that they have finalised any plans for me. Until that happens, I am still just one of many vying for a candidacy,” he told The Tribune.

Asked directly if he had been offered the Montagu constituency, Mr D’Aguilar said: “Wherever the party places me as a candidate I would devote my attention and effort.”

Meanwhile, former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson called Mr D’Aguilar a “good addition” to the party when asked about plans to have the businessman ratified in Montagu.

Mr Watson insisted that Mr D’Aguilar, from the strength of his business acumen and civic presence, could be an asset for the FNM in “any constituency you place him in.”

On Friday, The Nassau Guardian reported that Mr Lightbourn would not receive a nomination from his party for the upcoming election, quoting the parliamentarian as stating: “I’m not going to be a candidate for the FNM.”

However, in an interview with The Tribune on Thursday on the sidelines of the FNM’s recent mini rally, Mr Lightbourn indicated that no decision had been made, and that he and the party were still “hashing some things out.”

Mr Lightbourn was one of the six MPs behind a scathing letter that called into question the leadership capabilities of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

Many political pundits have speculated that this act could hamper the bids of all six MPs moving forward – and of the six, only Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner has been ratified as a part of the party’s 2017 candidate slate.

Two of these MPs – Neko Grant and Theo Neilly – have confirmed that they will not offer themselves for re-election, while another, Dr Andre Rollins said he would consider accepting a nomination if offered one by the party. This comes after Dr Rollins said he would not seek a nomination if Dr Minnis remained leader of the party.

Another source within the FNM has suggested that Mr Lightbourn’s blunder during his speech at the FNM’s national’s convention in late July cost him a nomination.

Mr Lightbourn, on the second night of the convention while attempting to offer a solution for the country’s rising crime trends, proposed state-sponsored sterilisation of unwed women with more than two children as an anti-crime initiative.

The FNM immediately distanced the party from the Montagu MP’s proposal, stating that the party did not believe in restricting the reproductive rights of anyone.

The FNM source claimed the party viewed that blunder as “too big a hole to climb out of.”

“Those comments will never go away and no matter how much the people in Montagu approve of (Mr Lightbourn), those comments will cost us votes in every other constituency as long as he remains a candidate,” the source claimed.

The FNM ratified four more candidates last Thursday - Mrs Butler-Turner, former Deputy Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames for the Mount Moriah constituency, former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Chairman Mark Humes for the Fort Charlotte constituency and local entrepreneur Walt Saunders for the MICAL constituency.

Party Chairman Sidney Collie last week indicated that to date the party has been busy vetting roughly 140 potential candidates.

Comments

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

Geeezz! What did the poor people of Montagu do to deserve such a lousy candidate? The FNM has in recent general elections taken the Montagu constituency for granted....a safe seat that any bozo running on the FNM ticket could win; especially one who would not stand a chance of being elected in just about every other constituency.

Posted 19 September 2016, 1:32 p.m. Suggest removal

jus2cents says...

Thank you Mr D'Aguilar,
About time we had a Young, Bright Mind representing!

Truly Hardworking Businessman (not another lawyer) who puts his own home and cell number on the wall of all his 24 hour operation businesses.
A very well educated man with a deep understanding of the nations problems, he is in touch with grass root people on a daily basis.
He also understands business and politics he will be a great asset for this nation, he knows how to get things done.

He is about action, but most of all he is not afraid to speak his mind.

Posted 19 September 2016, 2:08 p.m. Suggest removal

Reality_Check says...

The FNM must truly be hard up for cash. This yapping poodle was likely able to secure his candidacy by writing a cheque to the FNM party for not more than $100,000. What a joke!

Posted 19 September 2016, 2:15 p.m. Suggest removal

licks2 says...

Just go off into the sunset. . .whatever which one of the "six" are you! You have had your day. . .and was sent out to "pasture". . .

Posted 19 September 2016, 3:33 p.m. Suggest removal

Guess again. I'm one of the "twenty-two" striving to put the "six" out to "pasture" along with Minnis by not opening my very "fat" pocket book to the FNM party in the run up to a general election for the first time since the party's formation.

Posted 20 September 2016, 10:51 a.m. Suggest removal

Watch the revolution then. . .without ya money. . .the one that will place you on the side line with your money in hand. . ."YES WE CAN" . . .without yall who want to buy a nation. . .you fail to see that we the people feel insulted by yall rich persons who say: " I WILL NOT GIVE MONEY IF IT DON'T GO MY WAY. . .GOOD. . .ITS THE TIME OF THE SMALL MAN ANYWAY"! Watch how people power will work. . .

Posted 20 September 2016, 12:15 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

The FNM is showing that it can accept/attract diverse thinkers and agitators ........ if a respected businessman is considered a lackey because he sat on Bahamar Board, what do you ascribe to the PLP members who were in Nygard's back pocket?????????

TalRussell says...

Comrades! Not only does Dionisio has that pretty shinny Mulatto colour, he's also not looking for new territory be a profiteering opportunist only out looking to expand his washers and dryers on every street corner of Montagu, cause the constituents brungs in more maids to 'Wash Em, Dry Em, Press Em' laundries than all other households incomes per capita across the Bahamaland.
In fact the Minister of Immigration will confirm Montagu also imports more foreigners wash they things over hiring the natives, more than any the other household grouping.

Posted 19 September 2016, 3:43 p.m. Suggest removal

And how do you know all this? You are so full of fairy stories you should write a book of all your fantasy conspiracy theories.

Posted 19 September 2016, 4:19 p.m. Suggest removal

Comrade Just2cents, I can think of a calypso song befitting for all the Mulattos that sat up in the House of Assembly for Montago.
Working title?
They Were All Mulatto Honourable MP's For Montago Sandwiched Between
'Sheriff Johnstone' & "Tie Da Tubes" Richard?

Posted 19 September 2016, 4:51 p.m. Suggest removal

I know that they are shaking in they boots them. . .tal talking all kind of mixed-up talk here this morning. . .Lol!

Posted 20 September 2016, 12:18 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

Mr Motor mouth they have given him a safe seat, and they have thrown Mr: Lightbourne
under the bus. Roc with doc does not have to worry, they will throw him under the bus.very
soon..
what goes around comes around. poor doc has never even heard this.

Posted 19 September 2016, 4:05 p.m. Suggest removal

Alex_Charles says...

Lightbourne threw himself under a bus and a Mack Truck without any help at all. I'm not fan of Minnis but stop talking crap.

Tie dem tubes ay?

Good morning Mr. PM!

Posted 20 September 2016, 12:19 p.m. Suggest removal

Socrates says...

well i suppose he is no less worthy than the straw vendors, taxi drivers and preachers who have been in one or the other of the 2 chambers in the past...

Posted 20 September 2016, 7:34 a.m. Suggest removal

proudloudandfnm says...

More proof of how unbelievably clueless Minnis is. Yall think Rollins turned against Minnis quick? Lol....

Minnis is a PLP type leader. He needs sheep like Halkitis and Fitzgerald to support him. Men like Dino sign letters voting no confidence in their leader...

The FNM really needs a reality check....

Posted 20 September 2016, 12:26 p.m. Suggest removal

Does anyone really expect Minnis to be a long term FNM leader????? ....... he will do well to sell his position as one that will truly be a transitional leader who must rally disaffected FNMs and DNAs to oust the corrupt PLP in 2017

Posted 20 September 2016, 12:45 p.m. Suggest removal

Ah here we go again. . .two cut hips een enough aye? Lol!

Posted 21 September 2016, 2:36 p.m. Suggest removal

SP says...

**............................................ Gatekeepers Or Nothing! ............................................**

PLP & FNM better not set foot on my property.

Posted 20 September 2016, 11:45 p.m. Suggest removal

The PLP will have a hard time selling their Kool-Aid this time around ....... no slogan, song, manifesto or money/shirt will fool Bahamians this time ...... 14% is a true reflection of what they are worth in the eyes of Bahamians

Posted 21 September 2016, 11:47 a.m. Suggest removal

This government is on the verge of having a "uprising" on their hands. . .talk about slogan etc.! The people are "sudgging" to get their electoral hands on the neck of this government. . .

Posted 22 September 2016, 2:48 p.m. Suggest removal

BOL ............ that's a good one!!!!!!

Posted 22 September 2016, 3:29 p.m. Suggest removal