The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) officials have denied claims that Dr Hubert Minnis would disrupt Loretta Butler-Turner's annual Christmas party in Long Island, on Friday night.

Mrs Butler-Turner, the MP for Long Island who led a group of seven rebel FNM MPs in a vote of no confidence in the party leader in Parliament earlier this month, told The Tribune she had reason to believe the event would be disrupted as she prepared to board her flight from Lynden Pindling International Airport on Friday afternoon.

"Intelligence is telling me that there are efforts by the leader to disrupt my function," she said on her way to Long Island. "I am advised by security that Dr Minnis and Adrian Gibson have gone there to try to counter a family affair that I'm having in Salt Pond tonight.

"Police are on it. As leader, I have not taken any of the trappings of the office because I don't want to embarrass anyone. Dr Minnis has the security detail. I am concerned about my safety. I spoke with (Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade) and I was assured my party won't be disrupted.

"The Commissioner has advised that because of the alert for what we are understanding will be a disruptive activity, there will be precautions taken."

On Wednesday, Dr Minnis and the FNM revoked Mrs Butler-Turner's ratification as the party's candidate for the next general election.

Mr Gibson, who has been nominated to run for the FMN in Long Island at the election next year, said: "I am home in Long Island, interacting and mingling with Long Islanders. I am an officer of the court and have no interest whatsoever in disrupting a family event - or any event - that Mrs Butler-Turner is having in Long Island."

A spokesman for the FNM said Dr Minnis has no plans to be in Long Island this weekend.

"Dr Minnis is not travelling this week," the official said. "He will be in Nassau all weekend. In fact, he will be at the Cousin McPhee church on Carmichael Road on Sunday and invites all Bahamians to attend."