Butler-Turner: I can't be bought

Loretta Butler-Turner delivers her FNM Convention speech.

As of Wednesday, August 3, 2016

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Deputy Chief Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday revealed that the Free National Movement) has presented several offers to her, including a promotion to Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly, in an effort to “buy her off” to step away from the plethora of issues she has with the organisation.

The MP rejected FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ declaration that he was again extending the olive branch to her and suggested that this was no more than a sham to entice supporters to step away from their principal reservations with the party.

Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant currently holds the post of Leader of Opposition Business in the House.

Mrs Butler-Turner, the former FNM leadership hopeful, further confirmed that the FNM has also offered a ratification for her constituency, a prominent role on the party’s general election campaign team and a senior Cabinet post should the party defeat the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in 2017.

“Did they even tell Neko Grant that this is a consideration? I am not for sale,” Mrs Butler-Turner told The Tribune. “They are not going to offer me anything without the inclusion of the other members of Parliament.”

“They can’t just try to buy the people off. I am for the Bahamian people and will remain a voice of the people.”

Meanwhile, a senior FNM who requested anonymity told this newspaper that the offers presented to the MP raised serious questions regarding the party’s election process in addition to the motives of those at the helm of the organisation.

“If she is so bad and after lambasting her and dragging her through the mud, why now are they coming with offers? I find it a bit curious given all of the issues she’s had with how the process itself went. One would begin to wonder if the process was really rigged from the beginning in an effort to ensure that Dr Minnis did remain party leader because he is power hungry.”

Both Mrs Butler-Turner and former running mate Senator Duane Sands withdrew from the leadership race last Friday morning before party delegates went to cast votes for all executive posts of the FNM.

It was reported that the pair and several high-ranking FNMs – including the party leader – that day engaged in several hours of negotiations, but no resolution was agreed.

She later told the media that apart from Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest’s harsh critique of her on Thursday night, which she said was the last straw, there had been serious challenges with the overall process. This included issues with the selection of the delegates and the final list of those persons. Her “Forward-Together” campaign also complained that the list was not readily available upon their requests.

“I did not accept any offer. I am not for sale. I am standing up for the Bahamian people. I withdrew because the process was flawed,” she said.

“Now they want to offer me gifts? I am a voice of the people and there is nothing they can offer. They can offer whatever and I am not going to accept. I am not for sale.

She went on: “I will continue to fight for the Bahamian people and stand on the principles I believe in. They are still negotiating, but they are not going to offer me anything without the inclusion of the other MPs. Don’t try to buy the people off.

“What they are trying to do is not extend the olive branch, but trying to make offers to make people step away from their principled positions.”

She insisted that Bahamians, especially those in her constituency, would be “disappointed” should she accept any offers.

“The people and my constituents will be disappointed and saddened in me if I accept those things. They can’t offer me anything. The people are the ones who’ll make the decision on who stays and who goes.”

In another instance, the former deputy leader also sounded off on social media site Facebook, accusing Dr Minnis of attempting to steal the convention and silence her voice by engaging in undemocratic practices.

However, many speculated that the mortician and the surgeon ultimately made the decision to pull out from the race after she struggled to present her platform during an hour-long speech which was met by Dr Minnis’ supporters who chanted “Roc Wit Doc” as she tried to speak.

After surviving a second attempt in two years to thwart his leadership, Dr Minnis signalled on Friday evening that he would not purge the party of the high-profile members who have publicly criticised his leadership and help expose the party’s bitter divisions.

They were his first public remarks following Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands’ withdrawal from the leadership race.

During this speech, he confirmed that significant concessions were offered to Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands, but he did not reveal what they were.

“Tonight we offer the olive branch once again to our sister Loretta Butler-Turner, who I’m certain will be our candidate in Long Island with my full support,” he said.

“We have undergone a lot over the last few years,” he added. “Our internal politics have been laid bare for all the world to see and it’s not been pretty, but through it all we have maintained our integrity and focused on the points that unite us.”

Regarding Dr Sands, he said: “My medical colleague and political colleague, we work close together in the hospital and I must say that on many occasions when I ran into surgical difficulties in areas that are outside my domain, Sands was there for me.

“Each of these worthy leaders are qualified and possess the experience to rescue this nation and to contribute mightily to its future success. It is our hope that they will accept our offer to continue being a valuable part of this leadership team. We have made significant offers to both to demonstrate our commitment to them and we earnestly hope they accept.”

Dr Sands did not offer comment yesterday when he was contacted, saying he was out of the country and would not make any public comment until his return.

Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 8 months ago

Does LBT know that Minnis and Sands are 'tight' lodge brothers?

Observer 7 years, 8 months ago

There is a massive rift in the FNM. Butler-Turner is talking in terms of 'they' and 'me' and 'Niko'. Isn't that suggestive of, at least, two parts?

TalRussell 7 years, 8 months ago

Comrades! here she goes, again. I'm not one for Tennyson publicly advising Minnis but on this one occasion, he should listen to Tennyson and dump the person who should immediately become known as the "ex" red movement's MP, for Long Island. Neither should Minnis be keeping senatorial company with Duane.
I is going gift Minnis, a set long and sharp knives cause what I think Loretta really meant to say is:

"Did they even tell Neko and my other red MP Coupe renegade colleagues, that this is a consideration? I am not for sale, Loretta told The Tribune. “They are not going to offer me anything without the inclusion of the other members of my coupe?"

proudloudandfnm 7 years, 8 months ago

LBT and the others just need to leave. Go form a party and take opposition from Minnis. Then spend the next 10 months reminding the country what an opposition can do.

After that they can continue on as the new party or take over the FNM...

Publius 7 years, 8 months ago

The others? You mean the ones who left her standing high and dry on convention floor after hiding behind her to get an earlier convention in the first place? Do you FNMs ever take a critical and honest look at the people you support? Just what kind of party or grouping do you sensibly expect for that crew to form? Come on man. Have you noticed one of them coming to her defense in all of this? Has one of them uttered a word to stand up for her? Not even the person who ran as her deputy has done so. They didnt want her. They wanted a man who did not want to do what they hoped he would. When their hopes in that arena got dashed, she was on her very own, as she is right now.

licks2 7 years, 8 months ago

Well doc. . .if she still insist in "talking" in public. . .you have to do what you must do. . .she can't see that she is all alone. . .now Rollins says he was not aware of the letter that she wrote. . .placed his name on. . .he found out the day the letter became public! He was never one of the six. . .but he went alone with LBT scheme. . .now he is "throwing her under the bus" and on top of that. . .he will be running in Long Island as an independent. . .going after her seat!! Also, Papa says it was not LBT who stopped the letter from going to the GG as LBT took credit for in the press. . .but it was Papa himself who stopped the letter going to the GG. . ."he said she said". . . now she up and say she will "stand on principles" and can't be bought! Maybe can't be bought. . .but standing on Principles? She just needs to just stopped talking. . .in public that is. . .the more she talks the more her business in being exposed and the deeper she sinks. . .and "IT EEN LOOKIN GOOD FER SHE"!

Now Christy Love says that one time LBT "warned" about the possibility of losing her job to silence her for speaking out when the FNM was in power. . .she is not looking too good right up-in-now . I think that she and everybody in the FNM just need to chill. . .give her a chance to "save face". . .by getting their private business out of the press. . .which presents a huge problem because LBT keep coming in the public running her mouth. . .Lol!

TalRussell 7 years, 8 months ago

Comrades! Whether the claims are factual or not, it has become self-evident simply through the process of repetition that the Coupe's leaders are hell bent on sticking it to Minnis, and if the Red Movement, just happens to get in their way - that's too damn bad.
Regardless, even the 410 convention delegates of which a number also sit on the party's council, had they not been blocked from expressing their intentions are now supposed to blindly validate what they're now being told as the stated truth? Is it okay if I ask the failed and angry Six-Coupe leaders, why in the hell did you force your party to spend $350,000 to hold a convention that afforded your leader and deputy leader to validate their campaign before the 410 ready to vote delegates - but you ducked out from allowing them to cast their votes for or against Loretta and Duane? Now you're back where you said you wished to avoid, fighting your rebel cause in the media? What in hell gives with you rebels without a cause?

Publius 7 years, 8 months ago

Bought? These are the kinds of offers that are made all the time in a circumstance such as this. Take the personality of Minnis out of the equation for a moment and just focus on the actual fact that this is a political organization and whenever fights such as this occur, offers are made to attempt to move on from it. Sure Minnis is slime and cannot be trusted - but can any politician at the end of the day? After all, the same cowardly, useless MPs who made her believe they were standing with her to do what none of them were man enough to do themselves, abandoned her when the going got tough; and they did so on a national platform. If they told the truth, they were never truly supporting her, but were rather hoping against hope that their former leader who repeatedly told them he would not return, would somehow miraculously change his mind at the 12th hour. Butler-Turner's advisors are making her look worse as time goes on, and that is because they are not advising her based on what is best for her and her career, they are advising her based on their own personal agendas that they are content to use her to accomplish. And Butler-Turner's political foresight is so slim to non-existent, she seems not to be able to recognize the extent to which she continues to play so many wrong cards in this game. The FNM is finished in the minds of many people, but that does not mean she, as a politician, also needs to be. Be that as it may, she keeps on making on the wrong statements and the wrong moves and in the end, it is highly likely that none of the actors in this play shall be called back for an encore in a few months time.

jackbnimble 7 years, 8 months ago

Child LBT I don't blame you. I hope you find the courage to leave and carry your supporters and financial backers with you and see what party that other fool will have and how much of them over-da-hill people he so insistent he wants to help will fund his scrap of a party into a win at the polls.

I agree with previous bloggers that all Minnis is, is a PLP in a red shirt. After the PLP wins, I guess his blind followers will finally see.

I can now see why HAI is backing Perry. Even he doesn't support him as a leader for our country. The FNM is doomed. That party is finished!

licks2 7 years, 8 months ago

So you are just "bent" on "acting the fool"? I suggest that you go and read Papa statement. You are so selective in your thinking that you did not see where Papa said that "the FNM would not win the election if it continues to fight with each other". . . something that you and LBT insists on doing. . . then blame doc for not making unity in the party! Now Ex-MP Laing saying that the leader of the party is responsible for MP Lightbourne "fupa" statement. . .but doc should have censored the speech if he was good leader! WHEN MR LAING WAS COMPLICIT IN ENCOURAGING LBT ET AL IS "DOING THEIR OWN THING" WITHIN THE PARTY AND NOT RECOGNIZING DOC AS THEIR LEADER! Mr. Laing piece this morning is so just not "fair and honest" that I wonder what part he played in the coup of five meltdown!

licks2 7 years, 8 months ago

D five so far because we don't know who else will come forward and say it was BLT who did the letter thingy and they too found out at the point of press release. . .remember MP Rollins said that he did not have a part in writing the letter. . .

Publius 7 years, 8 months ago

Andre Rollins is a liar. He was very much a part of that process and was approached by a faction of the FNM to be more of the spokesperson for it than even Loretta was to be. He put out that statement sponsored by Tennyson Wells because he wants to run against Loretta in Long Island and he figured he'd get an early start at trying to tear at her. I didn't think it was possible to make even some of these PLPs look palatable but these FNM frauds have managed to do just that to many Bahamians.

licks2 7 years, 8 months ago

So are you telling me that LBT did not. . .I said "DID NOT" Dr. Rollins a letter of apology for publishing his name without his knowledge and consent? And by the by. . .your having "inside" information may suggests that you are deep in the belly of the beast aye? If you are. . .I have a question for you. . .maybe you can help me out. Why is it that nobody except the supporters of LBT on this cite is ever published in the Tribune. . .

ThisIsOurs 7 years, 8 months ago

Rollins said he didn't know about a letter and didn't know his name was included. I'm certain they did approach him. The fact the Loretta apologized in WRITING is a much bigger sign of "something", after all she told us she single handed lay stopped the coup.

TalRussell 7 years, 8 months ago

Comrade JackNimble, since you brought up financial backers, let's see how quickly Loretta will nimble her way to disclose, if there where financial backers involved with the $100,000 she reportedly handed over to the Red Movement's convention committee and if so - is she prepared to engage in public transparency by disclosure of their names and amounts contributed? Like did she put up the full $100,000 or what part thereof were from her own personal funds? Loretta talks trust but will she act nimbly, by providing a full disclosure surrounding the yet to be explained $100,000? Is she obligated to disclose? Absolutely not, but she should stop with her spinning the trust factor if she says - it's none the public's business.

DillyTree 7 years, 8 months ago

And you think Dr. Minnis was the only one to put up his share of the funds? His own personal funds? Maybe he should be telling who financed him?

Besides, the very fact that the FNM party as a whole didn't fund the convention speaks to the mess it's currently in. Minnis cannot garner financial support, and will have trouble financing a campaign for 2017. Or will he find some saviors in those poor people he's always talking about representing?

ThisIsOurs 7 years, 8 months ago

Excellent. Good riddance. Tired of the drama

ThisIsOurs 7 years, 8 months ago

" I am a voice of the people and there is nothing they can offer. "

Does she even believe what she says?? She can't get a majority of FNMs to support her and the minute someone rebukes her she quits.

SP 7 years, 8 months ago

................... BLT Has Already "Been Bought" by Her $100,000 Benefactors .....................

For someone always running around professing high intelligence, BLT is the personification that education doesn't give one common sense.

BLT is bought and paid for. Her loyalty lies behind Lyford gates!

Why Dr. Minnis thinks she will change course after 4 years consistently trying to unseat him highly questions his judgement!

TalRussell 7 years, 8 months ago

A Comrade Loretta supporter shared with me yesterday during our telephone conversation that it's not so much the tone used by Loretta against Minnis but the absurdity of the whole Coupe's situation that bothers them most.

DillyTree 7 years, 8 months ago

Tal, if you're going to keep talking about a coup, then please at least spell it correctly so we can know you're not one of those D- students.

John 7 years, 8 months ago

It was not just Hubert Minnis that beat the pants of LB-T but many in the FNM started to feel that Loretta was determined to cause an implosion in the FNM and even to the point that she would cross the floor and join the party of her grand father- the PLP. Even now that the olive branch has been extended to her along with a dozen or more roses she still does not seem to want to calm down and be at peace. Some say that after the years that inhaling the fumes of embalming fluid numbs a part of the brain and causes people to act that way, It numbs you to common sense.

DillyTree 7 years, 8 months ago

John, what part about all the irregularities and cheating that went on at the Convention? Are you blind to that, or do you approve of that kind of behaviour? That is why LBT is angry, and has every right to be.

If Minnis was so sure that he would retain his leadership, why did he have to cheat and play so dirty? I'm mad too, and want the full story to come out -- it will eventually. We've not heard the last of it. Minnis can carry on about unity and olive branches, but he's hardly the bastion of integrity and fairness. That's why the FNM is in shambles, as for too many, the FNM is looking a lot like those wutless PLP. And it's getting hard to tell the difference.

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