Loretta Butler-Turner in the House of Assembly.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner revealed for the first time yesterday that party chief Dr Hubert Minnis initially did not want her as his second-in-command.
“Dr Minnis had told me a few days before the (2012) convention that he did not support me to be his deputy. As a matter of fact he was giving his support to one of my opponents, which would have been Desmond Bannister at the time,” Mrs Butler-Turner said as a guest on the ZNS radio talk show “Darrold Miller Live”.
She added: “To have said it to me, I didn’t think it was fair to me, be that as it may that was what his preference was and that’s what he shared with me.
“In politics we’ve got to unify our forces and to ensure that we represent the views of the people that we represent and remember who the true opponent is.”
Mrs Butler-Turner was responding to a caller who questioned whether she had spoken to Dr Minnis about her political aspirations.
In a later interview, The Long Island MP confirmed to The Tribune yesterday that she was still canvassing people and weighing her options on a potential leadership run based on the “limited feed back” she has received so far.
These latest comments give further insight into the relationship between Dr Minnis and Mrs Butler-Turner despite attempts by both over the last few months to downplay rumours that there is a rift in the party.
On Sunday an FNM insider said rivalry between party leaders was hurting the organisation as it remained clear that Dr Minnis and Mrs Butler-Turner were at odds.
The insider called for Mrs Butler-Turner to resign her position as deputy leader of the party.
“It’s time for Loretta Butler-Turner to step down as deputy leader because she is allowing her political ambitions to destroy the party,” the FNM said. “Lorry deserves some credit for down-playing the North Abaco confrontation, but nobody believes her.”
The comments were in direct response to a party that took place in North Abaco earlier this month where it was claimed Mrs Butler-Tuner “snubbed” Dr Minnis. However, she has insisted that the gathering was a private event put on by her supporters as she canvasses the country to see how much support she has for a leadership run.
She has told The Tribune that Dr Minnis arrived at the party uninvited, two hours late and with his wife, but insists she greeted him warmly and he enjoyed hospitality at the event. However, she said, she did not allow Dr Minnis to speak at the party because she did not think it was appropriate.
In June, Mrs Butler-Turner said she was considering running for party leader at the FNM’s next convention.
Comments
John 9 years, 6 months ago
Well thy say politics does make strange bedfellows...if you don't believe me ask fred
Publius 9 years, 6 months ago
This woman is pathetic and ridiculous. Why is she talking about a convention 2 years ago where everyone was vying for posts? She was not the deputy at that point, she was trying to get the post just like others were, so no one owed her their support and no one took anything away from her. Does she understand what a convention is? Further, why is she bringing this to the public? She is too old for this childish behavior and sad attempt to get pity from people by playing a victim. Based on her behavior, little about her shows leadership material. A person being well-spoken does not automatically make them fit to lead a nation. She needs to focus on the country and stop bothering us Bahamians with this infantile back and forth going on in her party.
dehavmoss 9 years, 6 months ago
I agree with some of your comments. Making public that Dr. Minnis did not support her does not help the interest of the FNM and it certainly will not help her cause for self pity. I believe that the country needs the official opposition to be more stronger and effectively address the many issues that the PLP seems to be mishandling.
TalRussell 9 years, 6 months ago
by TalRussell
SP 9 years, 6 months ago
Stuff another 5 donuts and 2 slices of pizza into that gaping pie hole BLT!
Reality_Check 9 years, 6 months ago
Some of her friends will tell you she has a very serious eating disorder that she simply won't acknowledge and get proper treatment for. In her case it's less about inherited Milo Butler genes and much more about the uncontrolled intake of thousands of unnecessary calories each day that her body's metabolic processes cannot cope with and therefore simply convert to tub loads of fatty tissue. Family and friends have apparently failed in their efforts to have meaningful intervention sessions with her. A doctor friend said if she continues to gain weight at the rate she has done over the last three years, she will have at most another three years before she is beset by very serious health issues that inevitably come with gross obesity.
CommonSense 9 years, 6 months ago
What in the hell does this have to do with this article? I believe you may be in need of a "Reality_Check".
TalRussell 9 years, 6 months ago
Comrade I agree. A personal attack is not only uncalled for, it's intellectually offensive..
Stapedius 9 years, 6 months ago
Totally agree. I say again that we Bahamians are too personal. We find the most nasty things to say to each other.
Tommy77 9 years, 6 months ago
That's crazy.
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ThisIsOurs 9 years, 6 months ago
I was skeptical a few months back when people started jumping on the Loretta bandwagon, maybe because she was female and she was not Minnis or Christie. There was always something disconcerting to me about her in a leadership position. With her comment yesterday I now know what it is, Maturity. She doesn't have it.
Publius 9 years, 6 months ago
Agreed. Granted, neither does Dr. Minnis, but she is showing herself as being grossly immature. On that radio programme she also took cheap shots at two of her fellow colleagues who though still in the FNM, are not even active in politics anymore. She sounded desperate for affirmation while at the same time speaking with a sense of entitlement as though she is owed support or deference. The FNM is truly in a bad state right now.
GQ 9 years, 6 months ago
I recently spoke with a delegate at the referenced one day convention who told me that the reason Bannister lost the deputy position was when Rev. Sweeting endorsed his position which was not planned for and he critized a woman having that job when there was a man who would. The person also told me that the women in convention could be heard groaning and moaning after that. I repeat my statement recently posted reference the North Abaco FNM party that LORETTA BUTLER-TURNER is a pathological liar about it being HER PARTY. From where I sit or stand she needs to refrain from what she is doing or the PLP will be the next government. Is there any truth that Mr. Turner is a card carrying member of the PLP.
Publius 9 years, 6 months ago
Interesting that you should raise this, because the race for deputy in 2012 is something she really should not have brought to the public's attention based on what she did in that race to get the spot she now has. I doubt she wants the public to hear that level of dirty laundry about her, yet she is hell bent on airing her party's internal laundry about others. The country does not need this from the Opposition.
Honestman 9 years, 6 months ago
Loretta is not going to cut it as the next prospective Prime Minister. She is making a mistake trying to undermine Minnis at every cut and turn. This is not going to endear her to the electorate.
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 6 months ago
Harsh words indeed from Reality_Check. But LBT really should be focusing on her obvious health problems rather than the demanding rigors of politics at this time in her life. It's generally well known that most MPs have a tendency to gain considerable weight while holding a seat in parliament which does not bode well at all for her well being in the short term.
TalRussell 9 years, 6 months ago
by TalRussell
Regardless 9 years, 6 months ago
I cannot begin to imagine the type of man who is married to this woman. Its almost certain he gets slapped in the face if he says anything out of line, waits to have his meal until she is finished and never, ever takes the lead on anything. He probably prays she becomes the PM so he can have peace in the house and probably a lot less years of abuse given the physical demands that comes with leading a sovereign nation.
SP 9 years, 6 months ago
The FNM said. “Lorry deserves some credit for down-playing the North Abaco confrontation, but nobody believes her.”
BLT is a proven straight faced, lying, female, chauvinist, SOW!
I will never EVER forget, and certainly will NEVER allow BLT to forget as FNM Minister of social services, during the worst recession in living memory she was incapable (unwilling) with Cabinet approved funding of orchestrating and organizing vitally needed assistance for the poor when all she had to do was simply use public schools in strategic areas as distribution centers.
To add insult to injury, BLT further said on more than one occasion that Bahamians were useless non dependable people due to drug and alcohol dependency which justified the importation of blue collar foreign workers for jobs!
Eat until you burst BLT.....We have absolutely NO RESPECT for you!
Observer 9 years, 6 months ago
Ladies, and Gentlemen; let the contest begin. The better strategist will win the fight. Please, be fair to each of them and afford them equal opportunity. That's all that is required. Drop the name-calling and act as 'grown-ups'..
Regardless 9 years, 6 months ago
You need physical endurance to win elections, not just strategy.
TalRussell 9 years, 6 months ago
Comrade Loretta among others should be encouraged to contest for the red party's leadership if that's their personal ambition. But there is a time and place for a serving deputy leader of any party and that time should be dedicated to her party's responsibilities, which certainly should not be running off up Palookaville, Abaco - forcing her obviously "uninvited" leader. hitch fight to Abaco. If this is what the red party members are OK with - then I guess she will remain their deputy leader? You would think the party would want to make all necessary adjustments to put a stop to such internal tactics that appear to be backfiring even on a party still recovering from their loss of the government back in 2012. Loretta has be reminded to stop behaving like the reds are no more than some fringe political party. Has it completely slipped her she is the deputy leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.
God Save The Queen's "Not So Loyal" Government-in-Waiting - Before They Blow It?!
John 9 years, 6 months ago
Obama vs Hillary Clinton: Hillary got offensive and dirty. Obama kept his cool and remained focus. Today: Obama is president. Hillary is in the wildeness not even sure if she will run again.
SP 9 years, 6 months ago
Hillary "misspoke often".......BLT lie routinely!
duppyVAT 9 years, 6 months ago
And has that been the best choice for President of the USA???????
John 9 years, 6 months ago
Would like to take this opportunity to offer sincere condolences to Loretta Butler-Turner and the entire Butler family on the passing of her aunt, Ms. Juanita M. Butler. Ms. Butler was an educator and humanitarian and the first headmistress of R.M. Bailey Senior High School (then named Highbury High School). Hope the government sees fit to name a school in her honor in the near future.
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