Loretta Butler-Turner
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune News Editor
tmthompson@tribunemedia.net
LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday said that the FNM’s parliamentary caucus does not want to resort to petitioning Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to have Dr Hubert Minnis removed as leader of the Official Opposition, but prefers to reach an “amicable” decision on an earlier convention date.
And while some view the MPs’ threat to express no confidence in their leader as a mutiny against Dr Minnis, Mrs Butler-Turner said the parliamentary caucus was not planning a “coup”, but was simply pushing for an early convention to put the FNM on the best footing to win the next general election.
Last week, The Tribune reported that the FNM appeared to be “teetering” on the brink of a leadership meltdown following an “explosive” council meeting on Thursday, which saw serious threats levelled at Dr Minnis to have him removed from the post by way of a petition to the governor general.
The Tribune understands the matter was raised in the council meeting by Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins after the issue was discussed in an earlier parliamentary meeting.
When asked about this, Mrs Butler-Turner said: “For him (Dr Rollins) to say something like that was leverage for persons who felt they don’t want to wait until November.
“Even if that becomes an option ... we don’t want to use such a position, we want to agree in an amicable way and to respect the returns (of the convention).”
She added: “We felt, the majority of the parliamentary caucus felt, that the November convention date does not give the party a sufficient amount of time to fully regroup all elements of machinery to take on a general election.
“The parliamentary caucus told Dr Minnis to consider an early convention to have the best possible strategy to take on the PLP. Some people have taken that to say the parliamentary caucus wants to (oust) Dr Minnis.”
She did not specify if the parliamentary team gave Dr Minnis a deadline to decide on a new convention date before they make good on the ultimatum, but said the group does not want to see this matter “protracted”.
Mrs Butler-Turner maintained that the FNM’s parliamentary caucus wants the party to regroup, pick a vibrant leadership team and galvanise support to boot the Christie administration out of office.
She said this strategising could only happen at a national convention.
“We are strongest when we rally our troops, we are at our best after convention . . . If Dr Minnis comes out of the convention remaining leader of the FNM then the party needs the best team.
“It is important that we have a unifying leadership team that is going to turn this country around and create a dynamic government.
“Whoever leads the FNM has to have around themselves a group of persons who will build on the (party’s talents).”
She said there is a narrative being spun by “detractors” who are claiming that the party is split along the lines of the “haves and the have nots” adding that some believe an elite group wants to “take the party over”. However, she said, that is not the case.
“I think it’s time for us to look at country above individuals. The party will do itself the biggest service to be unified.
“It’s up to the Bahamian people to realise that we are a country in crisis. We are a country consumed by a government that is concerned with self as opposed to country.”
This latest effort from the parliamentary team has the support of six of the opposition’s 10 MPs, The Tribune understands.
This includes St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Rollins.
Last year, it was reported that a group of FNM MPs had drafted a letter to the governor general to have Dr Minnis removed, however that letter was never sent.
If such action were successful, Dr Minnis would still remain leader of the FNM.
The FNM’s convention is slated for early November.
Dr Minnis did not comment when contacted yesterday.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 11 months ago
Great! Anything to get rid of Minnis!
But what's the plan to get the delegates to vote him out?
Without the delegates this is moot....
Although how anyone can still want this failure to stay on as leader is beyond me...
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
“Blackmail Politics by Loretta, Chippie and Richard, as the lead actors once played out in "closet" behind the backs red voting delegates". ...
Comrades a campaign long orchestrated by the Long Island, Montagu and St. Anne's red MP's to involve the Queen's Sovereign Representative of the Colony in "black mail politics, against the red party's "twice" constitutionally elected leader.
Long Island's gift to Bahamaland Loretta, along with her two longest serving MP conspirators Richard and Chippie, while ignoring a 300 to 1 votes by delegates for Minnis as leader, over their anointed leader Loretta?
But Comrades you don't have hear it from me that Loretta, Richard and Chippie's talk about using Article 82(4) Bahamaland's Constitution to remove Minnis, while not willing to adhere to their own red party's Constitution, under in which Minnis received two clear majorities of delegates votes as the red party's choice for leader.
These dangerous to party democracy red MP's, do not live in the same reality as their red party's voting delegates.
Comrade MP's Loretta, Richard and Chippie desire for Her Excellency to replace Minnis with Loretta to sit in the House of Assembly's front row's lead chair, directly opposition the prime minister's most advantaged House chair.
Minnis has one secret remaining move left in his arsenal to be used to destroy Loretta, Chippie and Richard?
However, it is still a correct move under the nation's constitution, for Minnis to refer the Governor General to Her Excellencies prerogative or "wide discretionary powers" in appointing a Leader Of The Official Opposition in the House.
by TalRussell
Honestman 7 years, 11 months ago
Does Dr. Minnis really want to lead the FNM into next year's election knowing that he is unpopular within his own party far less outwith? This guy sure is pig headed!
jackbnimble 7 years, 11 months ago
Guess he'd rather see them lose. The man is cold only dynamite can blow him out of the chair. Stupid is as stupid does.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago
The reality is that the FNM must solve their leadership problem .......... because there will be no leadership changes in the PLP or DNA ....... and November 2016 is TOO LATE for an FNM convention based on the timeline needed to produce a platform and campaign for the election (that can be called in January 2017) .............. both (pro/anti-Minnis) sides should welcome this proposal of an early convention ......... it is in the best interest of the party
jackbnimble 7 years, 11 months ago
Yep. What is he so afraid of. This "lacklusterness" cannot continue all the way to November. He's dooming his party the longer he waits. And what's the big deal if you gat the darned delegates in your pocket anyway?
DEDDIE 7 years, 11 months ago
Honestman you gotta be kidding. Minnis won the last leadership election with more delegate than what Hubert Ingraham won when he became leader. It obvious that you have brought the narrative pushed by the Bay Street Boys through their mouth piece the Guardian and Tribune.
Honestman 7 years, 11 months ago
I don't need to "bring narratives" from anyone - I have a brain in my head, ears to listen with and eyes to see. What I KNOW, is that Hubert Minnis is no political leader and will never be a political leader. Aside from his lack of debating skills and inability to inspire, he makes dreadful decisions, doesn't see a banana skin when it's right in front of him, cannot build a team, is so insecure in his position that he has to surround himself with Minnis loyalists. I could go on but I am getting bored.
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
Comrades, no political party's convention should be forced-fed upon members when three main leadership assassin conspirators are themselves publicly facing such turmoil within their own party's ranks.
If you were to poll the potential voting delegates to a rushed red party's convention, I would give you greater than numbers wagering odds, that Loretta's, Chippie's and Richard's "crash and burn" nominations for Long Island, St. Anne's and Montagu constituencies respectfully, can be expected to poll in the single digit numbers.
Comrades while tempted, I am not going to characterize the three kinds things and names you can compare these three red MP's to, cause to call one more things deserving than the other two, is just not fair even in the game nasty politics they delight in playing....And believes me, Loretta's “amicable” is not among the many names and things listed in my X-Rated categories.
by TalRussell
licks2 7 years, 11 months ago
They will not make this move because BC 82(4) only deals within the house. . .not leader outside the house! If they "swing" doc in public like that. . .they will leave him with the bigger stick. . .their nomination is determined by Doc and his council. . .THEY MUST BEWARE. . .
sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago
So true Licks ................ but the endgame will see all of them out in the cold if they cannibalize each other ........ The simple solution is to have an early FNM convention, and then the loser either accept defeat or create another party/coalition with Bran ............. but they have to have a July convention
Zakary 7 years, 11 months ago
You have a point. They have to be very careful. Minnis doesn't operate like a typical politician from my observations of him in parliament, and if they keep it up he may start acting like one for real. If he brings his hand down, it will not be pretty. This is entertaining though. There are so many FNM's with their panties in a bunch.
MonkeeDoo 7 years, 11 months ago
Bran gave the last election to Perry and now Minnis is going to give this one to him. All because they both so desperately want to be Prime Minister. And neither ever will be but the people will have to suffer because of it.
Honestman 7 years, 11 months ago
If that is what indeed transpires then both Minnis and McCartney will be consigned to political obscurity.
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
LONG Island's unsolicited gift to Bahamaland, MP Loretta could not have possibly said yesterday that the red parties parliamentary caucus does not want to resort to petitioning the colony's Dame Marguerite to have Minnis removed as leader of
Her Majesty's Official Opposition in da House of Assembly but prefers to reach an “amicable” decision on an earlier convention date...when it has been a well media reported fact, long before this past Thursdays Council meeting that she, Chippie and Richard have long been had this as this "amicable' brainchild when the had previously dictated that same damn letter to Her Excellency?
Comrade Sister Loretta, you is fooling few, if any, even among the 300 who now feel vindicated that it was a 'Matter Of Not Trusting Your The Motivations Behind Your Leadership Aspirations" back then at last convention.
How sweetly right their voting instincts are proving to have been, dead-on politically correct.
John 7 years, 11 months ago
If the FNM does not unite and pull itself together, not only will they not win the next general election but the PLP will win by a landslide and there will be no (effective) opposition. Imagine that! Of course many voters are looking towards the DNA for salvation. The question many ask is "how can you govern a country if you cannot govern yourselves?" Minnis' biggest problem is that he don't even have the support of the person who appointed him leader. His biggest challenge is going into a general election and not getting financial support from the rich FNM's. The PLP's will have access to the treasury. As they have with the referendum. Are there too many egotists in the FNM or it really a leadership crisis?
sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago
Three important questions to ponder: How are FNM delegates (s)elected????? ........ Who financially supports Minnis??????? ........ What will happen if there is an impasse between the MPs and the Council??
BTW: What is the amount of the Vote YES Treasury-allocated budget?????
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
Comrades the bigger half a million dollars question is why is the UBP wing of the party willing to fund $500,000 to fly delegates into an hastily called convention - plus pay for their hotels, meals, airfares and pocket moneys?
Source of the $500,000 claim is none other than old reliable stable horse Marsh Harbour's MP Edison.
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