EDITOR, The Tribune.
The ongoing controversy in the Free National Movement (FNM) involving leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner has come to a head. An internal e-mail was leaked to the public a few days ago and this communication showed proof that there exists some tensions at the highest leadership levels in the FNM.
But the leaked e-mail is not the big story here. The big story here is that Minnis succeeded in getting the FNM National Council to hold a convention in November of this year. The council had initially voted a few months ago to hold a convention early next year.
This is a masterful move by Minnis and shows that he is becoming a good political strategist.
Why should Minnis allow Butler-Turner to parade around the islands trying to amass support for a run to the party’s leadership when at this present time he has the clear advantage?
Additionally, there have been talks of the impending return of former FNM leader The Rt Honourable Hubert Ingraham.
Minnis is well aware of Ingraham’s cunning political abilities and this was on full display in November 2005 when Ingraham out smarted Tommy Turnquest for the party’s leadership. Minnis seems hell bent on letting the same thing happen to him.
Furthermore, by pulling this trump card, Dr Minnis was able to get Butler-Turner to lose even more national support. Her tirade with the dailies further exposed her political naivety and added to the lack of confidence in her political leadership. He also has diminished Butler-Turner’s chance of running for deputy leader.
In all truth, her quest to be a part of the FNM’s leadership in 2017 is over. Even though this is another national distraction to the dismal performance of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government, the canny political move by Minnis cannot be underestimated.
DEHAVILLAND MOSS
Nassau,
October 9, 2014.
Comments
moncurcool 9 years, 6 months ago
There is nothing shrewd about what Minnis did. It was the party who insisted on having the convention early next year after Minnis was trying to push it down further. In fact the party wanted to have the convention this year in harmony with the party's constitution. The fact that the party supported in overwhelming majority has nothing to do with Minnis shrewdness, but with the fact that the people want to get in a real leadership team and stop the bickering.
Honestman 9 years, 6 months ago
Regardless of who is behind the bringing forward of the convention date, this is a good move by the FNM. The obvious disharmony between the Party leader and his deputy has been undermining the party's effectiveness. It is time now for the leadership issue to be resolved once and for all and for the country to get behind whoever is confirmed. This country needs a credible alternative to this train wreck of an administration. I believe that LBT has been out maneuvered and will fail in her bid to lead the party. My money is on Minnis to prevail.
Greentea 9 years, 6 months ago
Honestman, Moncurcool's point remains though. This development has nothing to do with Minnis. Shrewd is not a word I would use with doc, but he has been sharp enough to surround himself with younger minds and talent. IMO he should never become Prime Minister of the Bahamas. We deserve and quite frankly need better at this point. I hope he quickly moves out of the way, to give that generation in the FNM a chance at leadership. The same movement needs to happen in the PLP and hpefully is happening - though I imagine things are a little different there. I think the not so young generation around 40- give or take a few years, should be emboldened by the poor governance of recent years. You can lead this country. You will have to prove that you can do better, but be assured that know you can't do any worse than these jokers. It will be hard to crack this juggernaut of party politics. The old heads (true colonials) have not mentored a new generation of leaders and the vision and art of coalition building in the interest of country - necessary in leadership, will have to be honed and learned elsewhere.
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