The Tribune

By CHESTER ROBARDS

Tribune Staff Reporter

crobards@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Free National Movement supporter turned Democratic National Alliance political candidate, Roscoe Thompson, announced yesterday that he is returning to the FNM.

In a letter Mr Thompson revealed that his reason for leaving the FNM in support of the DNA was that he could not support former FNM leader, Hubert Ingraham.

“I couldn’t support the FNM as long as HAI (Hubert Alexander Ingraham) was in charge,” Mr Thompson said in his letter.

However, he praised the accomplishments of the FNM’s new leader, Dr Hubert Minnis, with whom he said he has been “impressed.”

“I fully support the leader of the FNM, Dr Hubert Minnis, and the direction of the younger generation moving forward,” he said.

“I have watched him over the last couple of years and what he has done to represent his constituency. He is a man who put his people first and represented them with dignity.

“I have also been impressed by the programmes he started: CCTV in neighbourhoods, school programmes and many more. Most of all, however, I am impressed by the new leadership he brings to the FNM.”

Despite his leaving the DNA, Mr Thompson, spoke highly of his time with the party and thanked those who supported his bid for the Central and South Abaco seat during the last general election.

“We ran a campaign that I am very proud of,” he said.

“It wasn’t about smearing the other candidates. It was about who is best to represent and their plans for the constituency.”

Mr Thompson tendered his resignation with the DNA on September 11, according to his letter, and resigned as the party’s shadow minister for lands and local government several weeks ago. He suggested that he continued to have an amicable relationship with members of the FNM after he joined the DNA and insisted that the party promised him nothing in return for his rejoining the party.

“It will be an honour to be a part of change and to move this party in the right direction for 2017,” he said. “Some will ask if I promised anything. Let me make this clear – I wasn’t.”

Mr Thompson recently came back to the fore after taking a very public stand against alleged racial remarks made by deputy speaker of the House of Assembly, Dion Smith. “Most would have read my comment about the deputy speaker of the House, MP Dion Smith,” he said in his letter.  “Is this the type of new generation we want to lead our country?” 

In his letter Mr Thompson also specially thanked his grandfather – Sir Durward Knowles –for his support and thanked “everyone that has supported me, past and present.”