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Do you think the vote of no confidence in Dr Hubert Minnis will damage the FNM's election chances?
- Yes, it will damage the party's chances.
- No, it will not.
457 total votes.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
CARL Bethel, Kwasi Thompson and Dr Duane Sands each last night confirmed that they tendered resignations, with immediate effect, from the Senate following a bombshell move from the majority of Free National Movement (FNM) MPs to have Dr Hubert Minnis removed as leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly.
The three FNMs represent 75 per cent of the Opposition in the Senate and the fourth representative, Monique Gomez, speaking to reporters last night at FNM headquarters, said she would deliver her resignation this morning.
The official resignations came after seven MPs - Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, and Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins - sent a letter of no confidence in Dr Minnis to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling and House Speaker Dr Kendal Major.
They have asked Dame Marguerite to remove Dr Minnis as leader of the Opposition in the House, citing Article 82 of the Constitution.
They also revealed that they voted to have Mrs Butler-Turner lead in the House.
Speaking to The Tribune, Mr Bethel said his resignation came because there will be a new leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly. This leader, he said, has the task of appointing FNM senators.
However, he further expressed doubt that the efforts of the seven MP’s would work.
“There is a new leader of the Opposition and that is who advises the governor general on who should be in the Senate,” he said during a telephone interview.
“Since the leader of the Opposition changed she will advise on senators. However,,. party leadership continues and we will see where this goes and I can assure you that all MPs get their essence from the party. So if there is some division between them and the party the party will prevail. I have done the honourable thing.”
Before this, Mr Bethel sent a resignation note to Mrs Butler-Turner.
“Pursuant to today’s events I hereby tender my resignation from the Senate with immediate effect. A formal confirmatory letter will be delivered to the President of the Senate (Sharon Wilson) and yourself tomorrow morning, as I am just out of a trial in the Supreme Court,” Mr Bethel wrote.
Dr Sands, in a formal letter, said his resignation would take place immediately, adding that it was a privilege to work on behalf the Bahamian people. He later told The Tribune that he served “at the pleasure” of Dr Minnis, adding that the Killarney MP “requested the resignations given today’s (Wednesday’s) events.”
Mr Thompson said he also notified both Dr Minnis and Mrs Butler-Turner of his immediate resignation.
Dr Minnis remains leader of the FNM.
Comments
John 7 years, 3 months ago
Have ever been rushing around the house to get something done and you inadvertently lock yourself outside? Seems to be the case with LBT and her gang of seven. Unless there is some yet unrevealed plan seems that the move was selfish and based on greed for power. As a matter it seems it all started with some hoisting on the Rodney Moncur show and action unplanned.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 3 months ago
The job is only half done. The entire leadership apparatus of the FNM party needs to be dismantled otherwise it will remain a failed party hijacked by the very deceitful, arrogant and incompetent Minnis. If this cannot be achieved in relatively short order, Bahamian voters should simply consider the FNM party to be a politically defunct organization of the past, with no future political purpose whatsoever for our country....much like the PLP will be after the next general election. Collie, the FNM party chairman, and every single FNM council member who still supports him and/or Minnis, must be thrown overboard at the earliest possible time. Time should not be wasted doing this though, and Collie and Minnis will be doing everything possible to run down the clock in the run up to the next general election. If need be a new party should be formed in short order to be led by someone young, energetic, intelligent, sensible, pragmatic, charismatic and politically astute with patriotic public service ideals; someone who has no prior political baggage, is not beholden to special or foreign interests of any kind, and who cannot be bought by the likes of Sir Snake, Craig Flowers, Crooked Christie's Red China friends and others like them. The search should be on for such a leader of the Bahamian people because he or she does indeed exist among us today, and is our only hope for a better Bahamas tomorrow. Sadly, LBT is most assuredly not that person.
Honestman 7 years, 3 months ago
Well Mudda....sounds like you are awaiting the early arrival of the Messiah. I am coming to the conclusion that this is the only hope for The Bahamas.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 3 months ago
The Senate serves NO purpose in The Bahamas ............ the mere fact that these folks have to resign because the substantive House leaders change is a testament to the usefulness of this obsolete British office ............... We must elect a Senator for each island or island grouping, not have toothless rubber stampers parading as a part of a branch of government
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 3 months ago
The FNM party is no more and the root cause of its demise was Hubiggity's piss poor sore loser conduct in response to the thrashing he received from Christie in the last general election. Hubiggity's angst and utter disgust at the conclusion of the 2012 general election resulted in shameful post-election bahaviour on his part. Hubiggity's disgraceful walkaway from the FNM party back then created a power vacuum easily filled by a blithering incompetent corrupt imbecile with zero charisma and absolutely no ability to think quickly while standing on his feet to address or debate anything. We all know Minnis was never possessed of the qualities necessary to be or become a political leader; he could never overcome his many obvious limitations. Hubiggity knew all of this when he observed Minnis maneuvering to fill the leadership role in the opposition and the FNM party shortly after the last general election. But, like a spiteful child, Hubiggity did nothing to prevent the disaster he undoubtedly knew would be coming the FNM's way under the failed leadership of Minnis.
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