Dr Hubert Minnis launched his leadership campaign at Christie Park with speakers, entertainment and a junkanoo rush out by the Saxons. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Free National movement (FNM) Leader Tommy Turnquest said he does not believe Dr Hubert Minnis has the “leadership ability” or the “personality” to defeat the current administration in the next general election.
Speaking with The Tribune on the sidelines of the official launch of Loretta Butler-Turner and Dr Duane Sands’ campaign, Mr Turnquest said he supports the former for party leader because she “has what it takes to take the party to the next level” and “is comfortable in her own skin.”
“I have been intimately involved in the FNM since 1981,” the former minister of national security said. “I have been on the council from then. I have been in practically every sphere of the FNM and I know the inner workings of the party. I have seen the good in the FNM and the not so good in the FNM.”
“The FNM has always been made up of a group of different persons. The job of a leader has always been to bring those groupings together. It has never been an easy job and unless you make an effort to bring those persons together you will not be a good leader and Dr Minnis has failed to do this. Minnis did not (do) his job as leader successfully and I think the party needs to regroup and have a change in direction. Currently there are too many people being pushed aside in the party and not being utilised because they have a different point of view. That is not how a leader leads.”
Mr Turnquest said Dr Minnis has underutilised the talent in the FNM and he is unable to deal with “free thinking people.”
“The job of a leader is to find within the party the talent and then pull that talent out and Dr Minnis hasn’t done that. I am confident that Loretta is willing to take advice and she is willing to work with all the various groupings in the party and bring out the best in everyone,” Mr Turnquest said.
“You need a leader who is comfortable in their own skin to be able to deal with the free thinking people and I believe that Loretta is that person to do that.”
When asked if he thinks the Bahamas is ready for a woman prime minister, Mr Turnquest said: “We will see.”
However he added that what the nation needs is not a man or a woman, but a “competent leader who takes advice and different views into account.”
On Wednesday night, Mrs Butler-Turner called herself and Senator Sands the “best team” not only to lead the FNM, but also to take the country out of the hands of the “worst government the country has ever seen.”
The FNM’s convention is slated for July 27 - 29.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 9 months ago
Takes one to know one! Tommy is a real expert on the subject of "lack of leadership skills".
licks2 7 years, 9 months ago
No. . .not lack of leadership skills. . ."got bamboozled" by papa. . .he was never solidified like rocking doc is. . .an endorsement from him is like an endorsement from Neko Grant. . .HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 9 months ago
Tommy is exactly right.
He's also happy Minnis took the title "worst leader of all time" from him...
Lol...
licks2 7 years, 9 months ago
Nobody who counts listens to anything TT says fella. . .now if ya get a Papa to endorse her.. . .yea. . .that will be the juice with the people there now! But TT. . .child please. . .do better than that!
licks2 7 years, 9 months ago
Now Watson comes out to endorse LBT. . .zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.. . . .opps. ........fell asleep there for a lil bit. . .now we were saying?
Rhetoric 7 years, 9 months ago
He has some nerve
by Rhetoric
The_Oracle 7 years, 9 months ago
The ruling class has lost control of the FNM, and they are scared. Minnis is the proverbial Cat amongst the pigeons. Now we will see just how low they will stoop, They may just one up the PLP when it comes to dirty tricks. H.A.I. did, along with his minions. Looks like L.B.T might have inherited the same minions.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 9 months ago
Tommy and Doctor Sands are first cousins. Could it be that Tommy believes blood is thicker than water????Strong
truetruebahamian 7 years, 9 months ago
Birdie, you keep proving over and over again that your head is jammed firmly up your backside. It affects your thinking, outlook and understanding.... but what he says is the truth.
DMoe 7 years, 9 months ago
Dear Tommy Turnquest, you should be the very last one to judge leadership abilities cause you have none. Even Minnis is way better than you ever can be. Jokes
alfalfa 7 years, 9 months ago
Having had the occasion to attend the funeral memorial for an FNM council member at the FFNM headquarters a few months ago, I likewise sat through a tribute given by Tommy T. in which he fervently urged FNM supporters to unite and stop the infighting in the party, and get behind the leadership. What a hypocrite.
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