The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

IN a rousing speech that often brought the crowd to its feet, former Free National Movement Senator Fredrick McAlpine last night urged whoever wins the party’s leadership race on Friday “not to cut anyone from the team,” stressing that the opposition needs “all hands on deck.”

Addressing delegates and party supporters on the opening night of the FNM’s convention, the Pineridge candidate acknowledged the infighting and bitter leadership race that has divided the party over the past few months.

The highlight of the night occurred when Mr McAlpine held the hands of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and his rival, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, bringing them together for an embrace at the end of his speech in a show of solidarity.

During his impassioned speech, he pleaded: “For God’s sake do not subtract anyone from this team. The Free National Movement, we are a team and we better start acting and performing like a team. We are as strong as the team. There is no ‘I’ in team.”

“Hear me well, when it comes to our team, FNMs we can recruit to the team, add to the team and multiply the team. But for God’s sake don’t subtract from the team or divide this team. We need all hands on deck. Every player is most valuable to this team, everybody is important to the team including the past, present and future. There is strength in unity and power in numbers. To win the next general election, it calls for a team effort. So let’s settle our difference here and now and come back to the Bahamian people as a ready FNM team.”

He added: “We need all Bahamians of all persuasions throughout the length and breadth of this country to join us. We need the majority to do so in order to win and become the government. We want you. We need you to join us in this fight to remove this PLP government.

“We can’t afford to turn anybody away. You’re welcome to connect with us, whether you’re male or female, saint or sinner, black or white, rich or poor, sick or well, fat or slim, short or tall, gay or straight, uptown or downtown, on the hill or over the hill. We need everybody. We need the majority so that we can govern.”

Mr McAlpine also said the party needs to focus on unity and support whoever wins Friday’s leadership race. He said people are not only tired of the governing Progressive Liberal Party, but the public is also tired of seeing the FNM’s dirty laundry aired in public.

“The people are tired of turning on the TV and looking at the newspapers and watching social media and seeing the party they have trusted in civil war,” Mr McAlpine said.

“FNMs we have a powerful legacy. We have a record of accomplishment with the Bahamian people that’s unmatched. The country needs us once again. They are calling on us to inspire them, to give them hope, to provide direction and leadership that can guide us out of the crisis we are in. They need us to survive...We cannot tear each other apart, brother against brother, sister against sister, brother against sister and sister against brother. No individual is bigger than the party and the party existed before anyone who is presently running for leader. The time has come for us to put aside our personal agendas so that we can all collectively win for the Bahamian people. The FNM is not about one man or woman.”

As he closed his speech, the crowd went wild, waving pom poms and cheering in support of his message to end infighting.

Over the past few weeks, concerns have surfaced within the FNM that the party will remain disjointed regardless of who is elected to lead following the vote on Friday.

Mrs Butler-Turner is challenging Dr Minnis for the leadership post he has held for the past four years.

It has been speculated that the six MPs who threatened to have Dr Minnis constitutionally removed as opposition leader will not be ratified if Dr Minnis emerges as leader once again.

These MPs are St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Mrs Butler-Turner, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant and Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins.

On Tuesday, former Prime Minster and Leader of the FNM Hubert Ingraham said he was currently “distressed” by the state of the FNM.

He also stressed that the six MPs who have voiced concerns with Dr Minnis should not face retribution, saying he was “disappointed” that the FNM leader refused to answer clearly when asked by the media on Monday what will happen to these politicians if he retains his post.