By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) Senator Dr Duane Sands has endorsed St Anne's MP Hubert Chipman for re-nomination as the party's standard bearer for the area.

With no formal decision from the party over the future of the seat, Dr Sands, a St Anne's constituent, said on Friday that Mr Chipman - who he called his best friend - was an excellent member of parliament.

"He's given excellent representation to the people of St Anne's compared to all other representatives," Dr Sands told The Tribune. "You can look at his presence in his constituency office, his participation in activities that are expected of an MP, his active participation in the House of Assembly, and in addressing the concerns of his constituents."

Dr Sands joined fellow constituents in a demonstration at FNM headquarters on the sidelines of a council meeting on Thursday night. The group held placards expressing their support for Mr Chipman's renomination.

Sources within the FNM have suggested that the party is looking to use the “sure seat” as bait to attract a “financially capable” candidate to its ranks.

Last week, Mr Chipman said he remains focused in finishing his current term as MP for the St Anne’s area.

He added that while he has notified the party of his intention to seek re-election, he has not received any notice from the FNM of a decision to support him or go in a different direction.

According to a source familiar with the party’s thinking, the FNM has delayed all communication with Mr Chipman as it moves “diligently to venture through all of its possibilities” for St Anne’s.

Mr Chipman is one of the “gang of six” MPs who wrote to the party’s Central Council outlining the drawbacks of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis earlier this year. They also called for an earlier FNM convention, which was later moved up from November to July.

In addition to Mr Chipman, the group included Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant and Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins.

Of the group, to date only Mrs Butler-Turner has been ratified and publicly backed by the party.

Mr Neilly and Mr Grant have announced that they will not contest the next election while Dr Rollins said he will not be seeking a FNM constituency nomination, but would run as an independent. However, he has also said if the FNM offered him a nomination he would consider accepting one.