FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is unfazed by the number of his former Cabinet colleagues endorsing Michael Pintard in the upcoming Free National Movement leadership race and insisted he will contest the race despite unfounded rumours that he was considering dropping out.

Dr Minnis noted he has the support of former Deputy Prime Minister Desmond Bannister and former Minister of Health Renward Wells.

"There are many who have endorsed neither,” he said yesterday. “They’re just observing, but those who have endorsed me should be asked the same question you ask of those who endorsed Pintard.”

Brensil Rolle, Pakeisa Parker-Edgecombe, Darren Henfield, Dion Foulkes, and Elsworth Johnson told The Tribune last week that they support Mr Pintard.

During an endorsement event on Thursday, Dionisio D’Aguilar and Marvin Dames also said they back Mr Pintard.

Peter Turnquest, Dr Duane Sands and Brent Symonette previously endorsed Mr Pintard.

Carl Bethel, Romauld Ferreira, Frankie Campbell, Iram Lewis and Lanisha Rolle are among those who have not publicly declared a side.

“Individuals can go and endorse or work with someone else and subsequently come back,” Dr Minnis said. “When you look at the parliamentary system, there were many who were with the PLP, subsequently left, went with the FNM and then left and came back with the PLP and vice versa, so that’s the beauty of democracy. They have their democratic right and democratic choice, but people left from both sides.”

Mr Pintard has struggled to unify the FNM since being elected leader in 2021. Nonetheless, his overwhelming support from members of the former Minnis administration likely shows he is the favourite to win the race.

Dr Minnis said he had no issues with members of his Cabinet.

“They never mentioned that to me,” he said of the idea that some did not

approve of him. “They may have mentioned it to you or others, but in Cabinet, we discussed, we disagreed, we agreed and came out with a consensus, which was a Cabinet conclusion.”

Some FNMs, including Dr Sands and former Bain and Grants Town MP Travis Robinson have knocked former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader Branville McCartney, who endorsed Dr Minnis and said he would return to the FNM if Dr Minnis wins the June 1 convention leadership race.

Dr Minnis said he believes Mr McCartney would be a great asset to the FNM.

“When I was opposition leader, there was a great push for amalgamation,” he said. “Well, a coalition government basically with the FNM as government and Branville. There was a great push from many others and we felt that the FNM had the force and support to win the election without a coalition government.”

“We had invited Branville at that particular time. He has a lot to offer. He is of leadership quality. He has demonstrated that with DNA and he has demonstrated that when he was in Cabinet also."