By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE FNM’s reported struggle to raise funds for its upcoming national convention could foreshadow trouble ahead for the party’s general election campaign, according to Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, who placed responsibility for the matter squarely at the feet of leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
Mrs Butler-Turner noted that she wasn’t a part of the convention process, as she remained tight-lipped over her own leadership bid.
“I haven’t been invited to be a part of that (convention planning),” she said. “My take on convention is simple, it is the responsibility of leadership to lead their party in all ways. As far as I’m concerned, whether the convention is in November or any other month, the leader has responsibility to lead and to rally his troops, and be able to get the necessary collateral to meet obligations.
“It’s clear to me if we have a convention on the horizon, and if the leader isn’t able to raise the funds, we have a much bigger problem. That problem is we have a general election coming up, where is the funding going to come from for that?”
The FNM’s national convention is set for July 27-29, which was pushed up from its initial November date after a group of six parliamentarians threatened to remove Dr Minnis as Official Opposition leader if he did not accept an earlier date.
Mrs Butler-Turner was a part of the group, which also issued a scathing rebuke of Dr Minnis to the party’s Central Council in support of their call for an earlier convention.
On Monday, insiders told The Tribune that the party was struggling to find the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to host next month’s convention amid debate over who is responsible for finding the funds.
Sources told The Tribune that the FNM’s big financial backers have refrained from providing money because of discontent with Dr Minnis.
Some, like former FNM Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells, have argued that those who fought for an early convention should find the funds to host it.
While others, like former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, said that the responsibility lies with the party’s leader. A convention was estimated to cost around $300,000.
On June 19, FNM Senator Duane Sands confirmed his plans to run again for deputy leader on a ticket with Mrs Butler-Turner vying for leader. At the time, Mrs Butler-Turner told The Tribune she endorsed all Dr Sands had to say about the matter.
However, the Long Island MP has since declined further comment and held off from making a formal announcement. Her silence has fuelled rumours that she will withdraw her bid in the event that former FNM Leader Hubert Ingraham enters the race.
Responding to speculation that she has backtracked from Dr Sands’ pronouncement, Mrs Butler Turner said: “There has not been any backtrack, I just haven’t made any announcement. I know this game of trying to find out and preempt me.
“I can only speak for Loretta Butler-Turner, I cannot speak for Mr Ingraham, Dr Minnis, or anyone except for myself and I have made it patently clear. I’m not speaking today; I will make my formal announcement.”
She added: “I have a plan and I’m sticking to the plan.”
In 2014, both Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands lost their bids to become FNM leader and deputy leader respectively.
Comments
Publius 7 years, 10 months ago
Loretta, until you have the integrity and propriety to declare to your delegates and then to the country what you plan to contest at your party's upcoming convention just weeks away, how about you be quiet on the convention altogether? And is anyone else sick and tired of Butler-Turner always playing the victim role? "I wasn't invited"; "they dont like me"; "they are trying to kill me". Enough! There are no words for these FNMs.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 9 months ago
Agreed
licks2 7 years, 10 months ago
They tell the Doc in public that they will not fund the party until he let them "run things" for him. . .and then tell him it is his fault if he do not let them run things. . .therefore they don't fund him. . .my head spinning from this bunch. . .Lol!! Now LBT says she is the better leader. . .tough and ready on day one!! But her second in command done told the nation that he running to be her second in command. . .papa done endorsed him in public (leaving LBT out). . .LBT has not say she running yet. . .Brent done say she running. . .WHERE IS LBT. . .SHE NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. . .YA PEOPLE TRYING TO FORCE YA HAND BY GOING PUBLIC IS A BEACH AYE! She should know. . .it looks like what she has been doing to Doc for these four years now!
jackbnimble 7 years, 10 months ago
If she wins the backers will suddenly appear. If she loses and you think they are struggling now, the general election will be worse. Minnis is his own worse enemy. Hell bent on leading a party that doesn't want him.
licks2 7 years, 9 months ago
Are you for real Jack. . .a party that don't want him. . .and he beat the snot out of LBT at about 3 to 1. . .holds an iron grip on the party that Papa almost can't get it back from him. . .AND YOU TELLING ME THAT YINNA PARTY DON'T WANT HIM? I have to sit down on that one. . . ARE YOU BEING REAL THERE OR JUST PLAYING THE FOOL? Only the hapless five around will take you serious. . .hehehehehehehehehehehe!
truetruebahamian 7 years, 9 months ago
Jack - you are so right on both levels.
Economist 7 years, 9 months ago
The realists are making the point to Minnis. He has been and is not able to get the confidence of those who make political contributions.
If they had confidence in Minnis, the party would have no problem funding the convention.
For whatever reason, after over two years as Leader of the Opposition, Minnis has not gained the confidence of those who matter. It is that simple.
DEDDIE 7 years, 9 months ago
It is simple. No funding for convention, no convention. Minnis stays on as leader. The grouping who scheme and twisted every John Doe arm for the convention, should pay for it. Minnis have everything to lose if a convention is held. Minnis is playing a brilliant game of political chess and he is winning handily. If I was a delegate I would place the onus on those who was pushing for a convention to fund it or let the status quo remain. I could assure you if those oppose to Dr. Minnis were sure that Minnis would not be successful the money would be in place to host the convention. At least Brent is a good gambler, he knows a winning horse when he sees one.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 9 months ago
You clearly haven't figured out yet that it takes money and a competent leader who is a decent caring charismatic individual (who can think quickly on their own two feet) to win votes.....and the FNM party will have neither leader nor money for as long as Minnis, LBT and Sands remain. Wake up to reality DEDDIE!
Economist 7 years, 9 months ago
Deddie, if Minnis remains leader the party gets no money for the election campaign. No money means PLP wins.
Whose side are you on?
DEDDIE 7 years, 9 months ago
I am an independent with zero bias and a whole lot of common sense. The logic is simple. If you force me to go to dinner with you, you should have the common decency to pay for it.
Economist 7 years, 9 months ago
Actually Minnis has forced the dinner.
If he had been performing as a viable Leader of the Opposition, this dinner would never have arisen.
licks2 7 years, 9 months ago
This winning horse he can't ride. . .but he knows that its Doc or Papa. . .Papa looks like he will not return. . .so rest assured. . .THEY WILL FUND DOC AFTER HE BEAT THE HECK OUT OF LBT. . .OR THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH PLP OR DNA GOVERNMENTS!
SP 7 years, 9 months ago
..... 5 pieces of chicken, peas & rice macaroni and cheese, conch souse, & diet coke .......
.......................................................... STFU BLT! ............................................................
Dr. Minnis is supposed to raise $300,000.00 at the drop a hat just because BLT and the gang of 6 decided to force a snap convention?? WTF is that??
You 6 geniuses called for a snap convention, so you jackass's should know how you plan to fund it.
Don't now point fingers at Dr. Minnis, its YOUR plan, now deal with it!
BLT failed beyond miserably as minister of social services, and drove us to suicide about her superior intelligence and total disdain for unemployable, worthless, drug and alcoholic addicted Bahamians for 5 long years.
We don't care if the PM is male or female as long as the individual is worthy of the position!
YOU (BLT) ARE NOT WORTHY, CAPABLE OR ABLE!
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 9 months ago
“It’s clear to me if we have a convention on the horizon, and if the leader isn’t able to raise the funds, we have a much bigger problem. That problem is we have a general election coming up, where is the funding going to come from for that?”
This is so unhelpful, whether true or not. I think Edison Key is 100% correct even if he's batty. The way they've gone about sulking and sewing discontent since losing just looks bad and bodes of trouble ahead. I am so disappointed that Dr Sands has associated himself with this. I was hoping Hubert Ingraham would announce. People say don't bring Ingraham back, for me it's not about who else "can" lead but who will step forward to lead. Unrealized potential is worthless. it's Loretta Bran or Minnis at this point. God save us all.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 9 months ago
So hypocritical, to whine and moan, force his hand by threatening to go to the GG, push him into an early convention then say I don't have to help, I'm not the leader. "I wasn't asked" is such a petty cop out. If you are "a" leader, offer your help gracefully, if he refuses, then it's on him. Should you become leader you'd want him to support you in kind. In my eyes they reveal every day that they're not what the country needs now, right down to the FAKE drama around the announcement yesterday.
licks2 7 years, 9 months ago
Well I see that the FNM found the money to fund their convection aye? I wonder who is providing the juice for this trip? Anyway. . .regardless who is. . .LBT said that the leader had to be the one who found the money to fund the event! Did she. . .?
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