(L-R) Hubert Chipman, MP St. Anne's; Edison Key, MP Central and South Abaco; Richard Lightbourn, MP Montagu; Loretta Butler-Turner, MP Long Island, Neko Grant, MP Central Grand Bahama; Theo Neilly, MP North Eleuthera and Andre Rollins, MP Fort Charlotte. Photo: Shawn Hanna
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Free National Movement (FNM) has charged the "rebel seven" Parliamentarians with action that has brought the party into "disrepute, division, rancor and dishonour," according to a letter about disciplinary proceedings obtained by The Tribune.
The parliamentarians will have seven days to give a written response to the executive committee of the FNM, attempting to exculpate themselves.
"In the event that you fail to reply or the Executive Committee is of opinion that such reply as you have furnished does not exculpate you, the Executive Committee may, under the provisions of Article 54 of the Constitution of the FNM, appoint a Tribunal, as therein specified," the letter says.
A copy of the letter, which is signed by Michael Foulkes, Secretary General of the party, has been sent and received by the seven parliamentarians.
The FNM has never expelled a member before, but that is one possibility that now hangs over the seven MPs. If not exculpated, they could also be fined not more than $100 or be suspended for no longer than a year, according to the FNM constitution.
The Executive Committee said the parliamentarians brought the party into disrepute through the events of December 7 when they sent a letter to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling that was read in the House of Assembly by House Speaker Dr Kendal Major.
In the letter, the parliamentarians declared that they have withdrawn their support for Dr Hubert Minnis as Leader of the Opposition in the House and voted for Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner to lead them.
So far, the seven parliamentarians have said they will not resign from the party.
"I don't have any plans to," Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn said yesterday, echoing a sentiment expressed recently by St Annes MP Hubert Chipman, Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neily and Mrs Butler-Turner.
"I supported the party from God knows when," he added. "I worked for the party and believe in its principles and I plan to remain an FNM."
Regarding the future, he said: "I don't know where we go from this."
Meanwhile, Mrs Butler-Turner will be sworn in as the first female leader of the Official Opposition on Sunday at the Governor General's House. Mrs Butler-Turner met with Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling on Friday morning.
She described the meeting to The Tribune as "nice and cordial".
She has received official correspondence informing her of Dame Pindling's intention to host a ceremony at 3pm on Sunday giving her the instruments of her appointment.
Comments
Publius 7 years, 4 months ago
Hubert Minnis has got to be one of the most doltish men ever to enter Bahamian politics. So while his party is supposed to be fighting the PLP on the campaign battlefield next year, he wants to have his party tied up in tribunals for members who are not running on the FNM's ticket anyway and who will only be in Parliament for a short time left since Parliament must soon be dissolved. It goes to show that none of these FNMs have beating the PLP as their foremost goal. And Minnis is so outstandingly vacuous, he believes that he can waste time and precious party resources trying to get back at these MPs who got at him, and still win an election against the PLP.
I see why PLP Ministers have been celebrating since Wednesday's House sitting. They know that despite their treacherous and destructive term in office, the FNM is the gift that keeps on giving. Say what you will about the PLP, but they don't let anything get in the way of focusing on winning an election. That is why, though it should not happen, they are likely to do just that a short time from now.
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 4 months ago
Minnis is without a doubt the worse leader the FNM has ever had. The faster he gets out of politics the better. Kilarney! Do the country a favor and do not elect Minnis again....
Damn! He is horrible!
TalRussell 7 years, 4 months ago
Comrades! GG's just having placed Loretta at the helm of the Red Movement is going to create a serious leadership fight. Obviously, the GG failed in her obligation to see that there is a continuing, stable official loyal government-in-waiting, come the 2017 General. She has failed in her royal duties to The Queen.
DEDDIE 7 years, 4 months ago
If you ever wonder if you can support a military coup if it was to ever happen in the Bahamas. There you go. Coup have those oppose and those who support. You are basically saying the hell with the process as long as it gratifies those you support.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 4 months ago
No one disputes that LBT is a big politician with a big loud mouth, but these qualities alone do not make her suitable for any kind of effective leadership role in Bahamian politics today or tomorrow. LBT's innate political instincts are insufficient in relation to her over-sized ego and grandiose sense of entitlement to one day sit on the high throne of Bahamian politics. But she deserves no coronation by Bahamian voters given that she is clearly unable and/or unwilling to achieve anything substantial in the political arena by well thought out reasoning combined with shear power of political persuasion and popular appeal. Time and time again we have seen her resort to instigating disruption in an effort to compensate for her intellectual limitations and unstable emotions. The last thing we need now is a political leader who is much more similar to Minnis than she would like to think, especially when it comes to holding grudges, having way too many axes to grind and possessing great fondness for the more skullduggery aspects of yesterday's style of very destructive politics. Neither Minnis nor LBT are the answer to the hopes and aspirations of the Bahamian people for a better tomorrow. LBT must therefore be knocked off of her fleeting momentary high perch to join Minnis in the rubble of failed politicians with no political future.
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