By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson said yesterday that the morale of the Free National Movement has not suffered amid internal drama, despite the rupture created in the party following the decision of seven parliamentarians to oust Dr Hubert Minnis as leader of the official Opposition.
“Everyone seems to be taking it in stride,” he said.
Mr Watson supported Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner for leader at the FNM’s convention in July.
She dropped out of the race hours before votes were cast, and Dr Minnis went into the leadership contest unopposed.
Mr Watson said yesterday that the party’s decision to pursue disciplinary proceedings against her and six of her colleagues is not an approach he would have taken.
“I would’ve taken a different posture,” he said, echoing the view of Brent Symonette, another former deputy prime minister who served in an Ingraham administration.
“What I have gathered is the party is taking a hardline position on this. Of course, I would’ve preferred Loretta for leader. But when she lost, the thing to do was to support the leader.”
Mr Watson also seemed to disagree with the FNM’s decision to seek a replacement for Mrs Butler-Turner in Long Island, a process Dr Minnis says has already begun. “I would’ve thought that they would at least wait until the hearing is completed,” he said.
The hearing would take place if Mrs Butler-Turner and her colleagues refuse to resign from the party.
In such a case, a tribunal of three people will be established to investigate the matter.
If they are not exculpated, they could face punishment ranging from a fine not exceeding $100 to expulsion from the party.
The FNM has never had disciplinary proceedings before and no member has ever been expelled from the party, leaving some observers and members concerned that the party’s first experience with this process involves such a high-profile case.
“I’m going to watch this one from the sidelines,” Mr Watson said, adding he doesn’t want to get involved. “Oftentimes one person leaves the party, goes to another and comes back. My view is we want to get all the people who went against us back in the fold and to have them stay there.”
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 3 months ago
This idiot Watson doesn't seem to realise that it's only the votes cast in the next general election that will count at the end of the day; not the votes cast by the small minded FNM council members who are foolishly loyal to Dimwitted Doc Minnis as the hijacker of the FNM party who put them in place to cement his leadership of the party.
Economist 7 years, 3 months ago
Agreed
birdiestrachan 7 years, 3 months ago
Now you have to give it to Watson this fellow like lie, faster than fish can swim. It is in the FNM DNA.
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