Loretta Butler-Turner
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells said yesterday that the Free National Movement “will lose” the Long Island seat in the 2017 general election if it presents area MP Loretta Butler-Turner as its candidate, as many supporters have been angered by her recent actions.
Mrs Butler-Turner strongly criticised FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis in the lead up to and after the party’s contentious convention in late July. Dr Minnis has said Mrs Butler-Turner has his “full support” to be the party’s standard-bearer for Long Island once again.
However, Mr Wells predicted that should another candidate emerge who resonates with Long Islanders, Mrs Butler-Turner would struggle to secure a maximum of 200 votes.
And despite her “wrongdoings,” Mr Wells said the former FNM deputy leader “did the right thing” when she issued her statement on Sunday calling for unity and urging her supporters to back Dr Minnis.
He said the party should welcome this and continue to work with Mrs Butler-Turner to unify the party and ultimately defeat the Progressive Liberal Party.
“They should find another constituency for her because the damage is already done,” Mr Wells said yesterday when he was contacted. “She brought this on herself. The thing to do would be for Dr Minnis and the FNM to find her another constituency, as I understand the government will likely cut up the boundaries.
“But she will not be able to salvage a relationship with voters in Long Island.”
He continued: “I don’t think that the people will nominate her and I think they are looking at other possibilities for representation.
“What people have to understand is that when she was elected she had a certain team backing her. However, because she ‘dissed’ certain people, they are no longer with her. They complained about her representation and there were a number of promises and commitments she made that she didn’t fulfil.
“When you do that and other wrongdoings in a small constituency like Long Island you will get jammed.”
Just days after insisting that she “can’t be bought” by the FNM, Mrs Butler-Turner on Sunday made a drastic change in position and urged supporters to back Dr Minnis’ team.
Taking a markedly different tone from previous statements, she appealed for the party and the wider public to be patient with her as she continues to “grow and change.”
She also said she would accept the party’s nomination for the Long Island constituency if voters there wanted her to do so.
“It is my fervent hope that unity will be achieved through a spirit of collegiality, dialogue and mutual respect from all within the party,” her statement read.
It marked an astounding turnaround for her and could prove crucial for the party’s efforts to reverse the impact of highly publicised and caustic infighting that has raised questions about its ability to successfully challenge the PLP next year.
As recently as last Tuesday, Mrs Butler-Turner seemed unprepared to fall in line under Dr Minnis’ leadership.
After Dr Minnis extended an olive branch to her during his closing speech at the party’s convention two weeks ago, on Tuesday she said “I am not for sale” in response to reports that Dr Minnis and his team made offers to her, including one to be made leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly.
Given her new pledge to work towards party unity, it is unclear if Bahamians will get a response from the party to accusations from her that its convention election process was rigged. She accused the party’s leadership of engaging in criminal and corrupt behaviour when she dramatically withdrew from the leadership race on July 29, hours before votes for executive positions were to be cast.
On Sunday night, Dr Minnis said the party welcomed her call for unity. He said it confirmed the “longstanding belief” that the FMN would unite after the convention.
Comments
theplpsucks 7 years, 8 months ago
Why does the media keep asking this has been bitter old man anything about the FNM? hes not an fnm and he is devious. Karma is sure to get him. Does he speak for Long Island and the FNM? who gave him permission? He should pray and stop being bitter.
jackbnimble 7 years, 8 months ago
"... many supporters have been angered by her recent actions"? I guess the 'many supporters' all reside in Long Island then and will vote for her.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 8 months ago
Mr: wells was with Roc with Doc. Now roc with Doc is with Butler Turner in spite of what she has *said about him Strange bedfellows they are, Doc wants to be in her good grace no matter what she does. Now the FNM party is not attacking the Bahamas best to run on their ticket. so it may be his reasoning. For holding her close Mr: Wells is out. and Butler and Doc are close. Mr wells should be hurt.,, But he has been burnt by the destructive torch before. That is what their party is all about
ohdrap4 7 years, 8 months ago
Quoted from yesterday's editorial:
aha, they replaced the hospital daily call with one to tennyson wells, frank watson, or maurice morre, whomever asnwers first. :-))
TalRussell 7 years, 8 months ago
Comrades! As much as Long Islanders might like to forget how it was back in May 2012, Papa Hubert gone surprisingly sprungs Loretta on them and her now wishing she was done back in her old Montagu constituency, they just might be stuck with her until only after the May 2017 General?
Long Islanders should look on the bright side of a Cinderella story about a grandfather Milo's offspring that despite so much promise, has turned into something so terribly politically bad. But at least its the taxpayers all across all Bahamaland, sharing in the paying of her MP's salary for the next few months and not just them.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 8 months ago
This FNM thing is so weird. I didn't hear Mrs Butler Turner say Dr Minnis had her full support,she spoke in really general terms about "the party" and "the leader", but Dr Minnis was oh too happy to rush in to say she had his support.
If her solo press conference was part of the negotiations, that should be a really bad sign to Dr Minnis, its a clear "you can't tell me what to do,I'm here on my own terms" signal. I predict a year of Butler Turner second guessing every decision Dr Minnis makes, stirring up strife in the background and a 3rd letter for the Governor General stating that Dr Minnis is unfit to lead
BMW 7 years, 8 months ago
Why does this past date crooked politician continue to chime in on the FNM. You got your goods long ago, time to sit small.
licks2 7 years, 8 months ago
Doc is no "low fence". . .she will sit small. . . her "line in da sand" is May 2017. . .watch and see. . .
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