The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

IF Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner is renominated as the Free National Movement’s standard-bearer for the constituency, former Cabinet Minister Tennyson Wells pledged yesterday that he would campaign for an independent candidate or run in the area himself as a last resort.

Mr Wells was adamant that Mrs Butler-Turner did not have the support of party voters on the island as he pushed back against accusations that his involvement in the FNM was linked to the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and rooted in a personal agenda.

“I am 70 in December,” he said, “you think I have any time to waste dealing with petty issues? I don’t. I don’t have time for petty issues. I look at who are there and I make judgment based on what I feel and know. She (Loretta) doesn’t fit that bill, Minnis is miles ahead of her in that.”

Mr Wells added: “I support the FNM under Minnis and that’s how I’m going to vote. As far as I’m concerned I never was a PLP. I supported the PLP as an independent. At my age going forward, I’m not going to follow anybody blindly. I look at the situation, I assess it and I think of the country. If I think that’s the right thing to do, whether PLP or FNM, I’ll do it.

“I’m not looking for nothing no more,” he said. “I’d like my children and grandchildren and the children of the country prosper.”

Mr Wells has recently been a staunch advocate of Dr Hubert Minnis, who is expected to face off against Mrs Butler-Turner in a leadership battle at the party convention next week. His commentary has drawn the ire of some FNMs, who expressed distrust of his motives given his former political affiliations.

Mr Wells resigned from the FNM in 1999 and later became an independent representative for Bamboo Town. In 2012, he campaigned against Mrs Butler-Turner on the island in support of the PLP’s candidate Alex Storr. Mrs Butler-Turner garnered 979 votes to Mr Storr’s 531, while Democratic National Alliance candidate Mario Cartwright received 219 votes.

“I think they are entitled to those views,” he said, “but I don’t have no motives of running. Other than if she was returned as leader. I’ve said publicly that if she was successful, we’ll organise an independent to run against her.

“Even if that be me. I have no interest really in running, but that doesn’t mean that if nobody else goes that I would sit down and let her go back to do the same bull again. I don’t mind doing that for five years.

“Only as a last, last resort but there are couple of people who I have talked to, there are a few names being circulated.”

Mr Wells revealed that a potential candidate being circulated was lawyer and Tribune columnist Adrian Gibson, whom he said that he would not have any difficulty supporting.

Notwithstanding Dr Minnis’ comments, Mr Wells pointed out that the FNM leader had a strong running mate in Deputy Leader K Peter Turnquest.

“Minnis got another man there who I believe understands what they’re about, based on what I see over last three to four years, his presentation in Parliament and advice in the business section (of local newspapers) just about every day. To me he looks to have some principle, when they tried to get him to run against Minnis he said no. And he’s not seeking office like what (Senator Dr Duane) Sands is doing.”

The FNM convention is scheduled for July 27-29 at the Melià Hotel.