Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham
5.25pm UPDATE: Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has confirmed in a letter to FNM Chairman Sidney Collie, that he will NOT be running for leadership of the party at the upcoming convention.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
AS THE Free National Movement prepares to head into its much-anticipated national convention on Wednesday, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham last night issued a strong plea for unity regardless of who clinches the top post in the party following what is expected to be a fiercely contested electoral process.
The former FNM Leader, who has shied away from speaking publicly about the party’s ongoing internal challenges, said it is essential that the Leader and the party quickly move toward complete oneness after the event, especially as it faces an impending general election. If this cannot be achieved, Mr Ingraham said, the party will fracture and go into a general election unstable and disunited.
Electorates, Mr Ingraham added, reward party unity and stability and punish the lack of it in a political organisation. He went on to insist that whoever emerges as FNM Leader must demonstrate the maturity and the wisdom to engage in open dialogue with all sections of the party.
He added that unity will not be fostered and the FNM will remain divided if there is a closed mindset or if there is a programme of retaliation against opponents.
This comes amid allegations from leadership hopeful, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, that should she be defeated, not only will the party abandon her but party Leader Dr Hubert Minnis would most likely seek vengeance against her.
“Whoever is elected FNM Leader must demonstrate the maturity and the wisdom to engage in open dialogue with all sections of the party,” Mr Ingraham said in a statement last night.
“Unity will not be fostered and the FNM will be divided if there is a closed mindset toward or programme of retaliation against opponents.
“FNM supporters throughout the country and non-aligned voters are eagerly waiting to see the direction the party takes following the convention. If the party moves toward real unity rather than simply talking about unity, many voters will feel reassured. But if the Leader and leadership of the party do not make every effort to unite the party and to co-operate with others, the FNM will fracture and will face a general election unstable and disunited.
“I strongly urge the party to come out of the convention in a spirit of unity, which will require all sides, especially those who are victorious, to reach out in a spirit of reconciliation and collegiality. This is a time for magnanimity by all sides. The enduring theme of the Free National Movement is “All Together”. It is my sincerest hope that the party comes together in a spirit of unity in order to defeat the PLP and rescue the country.”
He pointed to the spirit of collegiality and co-operation upon which the party was founded.
“The best way to ensure stability and unity is through a spirit of collegiality and co-operation, which must be fostered and exemplified by the Leader of the party. This spirit of collegiality is the cornerstone upon which the FNM was founded. It is a foundational value of the party and of a parliamentary democracy with its system of cabinet government and collective responsibility.
“During the 19 years I had the privilege of serving as party Leader, I sought to unify the FNM by working alongside and bringing into government those with whom I may have had policy or political disagreements and those who ran against me for the leadership of the party. This spirit of collaboration and creating a team out of a diversity of voices and perspectives is the best way for a party to move forward and to gain the confidence of its core supporters and the electorate in general.
“It is typical in a parliamentary democracy, as evidenced by recent events in the United Kingdom, that rivals be brought together for the good of the party and for the good of the country. Electorates reward party unity and stability and punish the lack of same in a political organisation,” Mr Ingraham said.
During the party’s three-day convention beginning on Wednesday, Dr Minnis and Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest will go head-to-head with Mrs Butler-Turner and her running mate, Senator Dr Duane Sands, for the FNM’s top two posts.
During the party’s last convention, Dr Minnis was elected Leader after he defeated Mrs Butler-Turner by three votes to one. At the time, she ran a solo campaign.
However, in this instance, the former party deputy and Dr Sands have chosen to run a joint campaign. He too contested the deputy leader’s post in 2014, but was defeated by Mr Turnquest.
Mr Ingraham, 68, served as Leader of the FNM for 19 non-consecutive years and resigned effectively on August 31, 2012, after the Progressive Liberal Party was elected to government in a landslide defeat of the FNM in the May 7 general election. He served three terms as Prime Minister, from 1992 to 2002 and 2007 to 2012.
Comments
John 7 years, 9 months ago
Ingraham should have made this call at least two years ago. Since he was the one that put Minnis in place as leader, Ingraham should have been the catalylst to bring the party back together. Infighting is not always a bad thing as long as one does not allow it to drag on too long or become too hostile and turn into a cancer.
Publius 7 years, 9 months ago
He has been trying to be that catalyst behind the scene for years now. The current leader has repeatedly rejected it.
John 7 years, 9 months ago
Dean Burnett: "
Donald Trump is causing an implosion in the Republican party. Bernie Sanders is causing issues for the Democratic party establishment. Labour have been tearing strips off each other since Jeremy Corbyn became leader. And as of last weekend, the Conservatives seem to be heading for an all-out civil war.
It’s lucky these people aren’t in charge of anything important, or this would be a deeply worrying situation for nearly half a billion people."ckquote ".Similarly, are the current crop of politicians sufficiently capable “leaders”? A reliance on presentation and spin may mean they have an easier ride from most voters (for better or worse) but these qualities don’t automatically make you a strong leader. In times of uncertainty (which seems to be 24/7 at the moment) a strong leader is very important for group unity. But modern politics seems ill-equipped to allow such a thing. Allowing a free reign on voting for important issues like wars and referendums may be the most democratic thing to do, but it doesn’t demonstrate strong leadership, and allows dissenting views from other aspiring figures to gain prominence, which just makes the disharmony worse. " . "All of this wouldn’t be a huge problem if the general electorate were consistent and clear in their intentions and desires. But they aren’t. So it is, that too much uncertainty at all levels means these issues aren’t going to go away any time soon. Strap in folks, we’re about to experience some turbulence.
Dean Burnett discusses group psychology in depth in his debut book The Idiot Brain which he keeps plugging here and on Twitter, @garwboy
The Idiot Brain by Dean Burnett (Guardian Faber, £12.99). To order a copy for £7.99, go to bookshop.theguardian.com .
DillyTree 7 years, 9 months ago
Let's not forget Ingraham is the reason the party is in shambles to begin with! Had he not stepped down in a childish fit, things would be very different now going into the 2017 elections.
Publius 7 years, 9 months ago
FNMs are funny. So who is the reason for the FNMs successes? Let me guess - everyone else with Ingraham simply playing a role, right? When your party is defeated, you are supposed to resign. That is an automatic. If your party wishes you to stay on they can ask you to do so, but you are supposed to offer your resignation immediately and unreservedly. Tommy Turnquest offered his resignation in 2002 after their party lost. The party asked him to stay on, and he ultimately did.
Alex_Charles 7 years, 9 months ago
You resign with a time-frame in place for a smooth transition. also our history shows that BS is just that BS. That prospect of resigning only works when there is honor. this is the Bahamas, not fairy-tale land of rainbows and flowers. These are gangsters we are dealing with.
Publius 7 years, 9 months ago
I agree with you about a transition. The thing with FNMs is, it seems that even that would not have been okay with them. The transition would either be too long or too short, or either would include too much or too little of what personally pleases them.
John 7 years, 9 months ago
Then maybe it's time for the Bahamas to consider term limits for prime ministers. While Barak Obama is doing his best not to ruffle any feathers and to make sure dot all his 'i's' and cross all his "t's", and allow for an easy transition to the next president, Christie after 40 plus years in politics, and 10 years prime minister, is trying to get another 5 years on the political bandwagon.With the reins of prime minister in has hands. For him there is no need of urgency to pass the baton on to another (younger) leader and this causes some to die with it in their hands, leaving chaos and a leaderless party behind. Sometimes even a country with no direction. The same for Ingraham: Should there even be talks about him coming back to lead the FNM at this stage? Not that he is incapable, but you should pass the baton but once.
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 9 months ago
This is Ingraham's fault actually. He is the one that appointed Minnis....
Publius 7 years, 9 months ago
Small wonder FNMs are in such a bad state; their mindset says it all. The Members of Parliament chose Minnis as their Leader of Opposition, who was then appointed by the GG. That is how the Leader of Opposition is appointed in this country. Remember? One person in Parliament, no matter who it is, cannot appoint the Leader of Opposition. And your party's delegates elected Minnis by acclimation at your 2012 special session. Remember? FNMs are shameless in the way they constantly try to re-write their party's history. Say what you want about PLPs, but they don't try to demonize their former leader though he is worthy of condemnation for his acts. FNMs on the other hand are shamelessly ungrateful against the only leader that has taken them to victory, repeatedly so, and who did not lead them into any disrepute during that time. Minnis is Minnis' fault. Lay the man's blame at his feet where it belongs. And the FNM as a whole is at fault for allowing Minnis to take the party to this level. The FNM should have reigned Minnis in long ago, but refused to do so. Don't you know your own party's Constitution? You guys had the power to stop Minnis from going this far. You guys allowed this mess to continue for this long and now we the voters are stuck with dumb, dumber and DNA.
Publius 7 years, 9 months ago
You keep calling Minnis PLP Lite. He has long since graduated to full fledged PLP status.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 9 months ago
The Bahamian people have been played as fools for far too long by Ingraham and Christie alike. Both have driven our country to the brink as a result of their corruption, greed and incompetence, all the while feathering their own nests and the nests of their family members and elitist cronies.
TalRussell 7 years, 9 months ago
Comrades, the former prime minister is as big of a pain in the tush as Loretta. Not sure if he's already in Nassau, Town, for the Red Movement's July 27-29, 2016 pow wow- but if so, I'm petty damn sure many of the 410 voting convention delegates would step froward to drive the former prime minister to the airport to hop the next flight out of Pindling's airport, heading Copper's Town's way.
by TalRussell
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 9 months ago
Re-electing the same failed leader a third time will not unite the party.
That is for damned sure....
licks2 7 years, 9 months ago
If God allows them to elected the same leader for the 3rd time says something about them and not him. . .or maybe you or I. . .but why blame the man for being elected in a democratic electoral process. Either they love the man. . .or you hate him. . .so they will continue to elect him and you will continue to hate him. . .no matter what anybody could do. . .their love will remain and your hate will as well!
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