Loretta Butler-Turner
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner admitted yesterday that the Free National Movement is “not as strong as it should be so close to the next general election” but said she hopes an early convention can bring “unity”.
In an interview with The Tribune, Mrs Butler-Turner said “thousands” of persons are depending on the FNM to take them out of the hands of a failing PLP government, but the party’s internal issues may be causing some persons to doubt the Official Opposition.
Going into the next convention, Mrs Butler-Turner said she hopes members vote based on “what is good for the party” and not based on “personality”.
“The party, the FNM is not as strong as it should be less than a year out of the general election. All we are requesting is that Dr Minnis as a good leader move the convention date up so that the party can heal, regroup and unify and be strong,” Mrs Butler Turner said.
“No one is trying to get rid of Dr Minnis - maybe Dr Minnis may need a new mandate, maybe we need to regroup. We need to look at how we are going to make this party stronger. If Dr Minnis goes into the convention and prevails then maybe he should surround himself with those who he feels can make him stronger because he hasn’t been able to unify the party thus far. At the last convention they said it was me. I ran, I lost and I moved out of the way but the party still hasn’t gotten to the point where we are gaining traction.”
Mrs Butler-Turner said no one in the party is discussing challenging FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis for his post until he announces a new convention date.
At the party’s last convention in November 2014, Mrs Butler-Turner was unsuccessful in her bid to unseat the Killarney MP.
Last week, The Tribune reported that the majority of the FNM’s parliamentary team threatened to petition Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to have Dr Minnis removed as leader of the Official Opposition unless an earlier convention was held.
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 Andre 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.
Earlier this year, the FNM announced it would hold a convention in November.
Comments
Publius 7 years, 11 months ago
At this late stage these MPs are still coming to the public with a bunch of BS statements. Of course they want to get rid of him. The voters do not want or believe in him so he should go. So stop lying to the public at this stage as if we all are stupid. Many of us are, but not all of us. You guys have said what the problem is, now either tell the nation what the solution is to be or shut up and sit down entirely. Obviously Minnis has proven to be unwilling to surround himself with anyone other than functional illiterates and barnacles clinging to the ship of life. So quit with the "maybe he needs to surround himself with people..." and tell the nation what your party is going to do to make it atleast somewhat battle ready to face the PLP. Not hypotheticals or maybes or idealistic fantasies - facts - what is the FNM going to do for certain? The General Election is pretty much tomorrow.
jackbnimble 7 years, 10 months ago
Yeah call a spade a spade. They just want him gone. He's leading them into defeat.
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
Comrades in the red party's convention playbook, doesn't it say a leadership convention is only to be called when the party needs to choose a leader due to a vacancy or at a "mandated" challenge to the incumbent leader?
What has Loretta seen that would make her, Chippie and Richard to believe that Minnis should not remains that party's de facto candidate for prime minister in-waiting?
Loretta, Chippie and Richard after CHICKENING out on delivering their drafted letter to Her Excellency, now wish to use the red party's high council to question the purity of the massive majority red convention delegates cast in favour of Minnis, over Loretta as their leader?
Besides, had the three red MP's showed up thinking to use Her Excellency as some kind political pawn to make Loretta PM in-waiting, she would have laughed them back down off Mount Fitzwilliam's hilltop.
Comrades on the reds high council, simply put - you do understand this was a FAILED planned "Coup" to overthrow your own party's PM in-waiting?
Economist 7 years, 11 months ago
They are scared of the FNM Council which is full of old has beens. This old outdated Council lost touch with the electorate years ago and are dumb enough to re-elect Minnis again.
Most of them are in their 50's to 70's. You are hard pressed to find many under 40 and they would be lucky if they have more than 5 members of Council under 30.
It is the Council that is destroying the FNM.
Publius 7 years, 11 months ago
Yes. Actually, he has paid for a number of persons under the age of 40 to be there. Not as many as the age groups you rightly cited ofcourse. All the same at the end of the day as you said, destroying the FNM and the country's chances with the FNM, as it were.
jackbnimble 7 years, 10 months ago
Not true. I understand he has had hand picked most of the persons who are now on the council. The old MP's (including Hubert Ingraham) were put out under the FNM constitution as it required that they only remain on it for 2 years after losing their seats. They were recently removed in favour of persons who actually could stomach him.
TalRussell 7 years, 11 months ago
Comrades this has nothing to do with the ages red council members.
But the codes of conduct for members of the party's official opposition benches, sure as hell has lots do with council members....if the council, first learned of a draft letter to Her Excellency, calling for the immediate removal of Minnis, as prime minister in-waiting?
If your consultation were not sought by the three MP's back then, why would you even consider entertaining what they have to say come Thursday's council meeting?
Do they not still come as the wolves they really are but in sheep's clothing...and only after the "Coup" fell apart.
Yet, they cry out to council members, for party UNITY?
EasternGate 7 years, 11 months ago
Time to go Minnis
sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago
For the reason(s) Tal noted above .................. that is why we (Bahamians) do not live in a democracy ..... Please follow my argument:
An elitist group will decide who the PLP/FNM/DNA party leader is ........... an elitist group will get to decide who the party candidates are ........... an elitist group will get to decide who the PM is ........ and finally ONE man will get to decide who the Cabinet, Senate, ambassadors, senior government officials, judges and the military leaders of the country are .............. and then they (politicians) have the gall to tell us that we live in a democracy ........ what a big joke ............ at least let us watch the US Presidential race and get a glimpse of what "democracy" can be one day in this country
DDK 7 years, 10 months ago
Surely you jest, watching the U.S. Presidential race is akin to learning the meaning of "a joke"!
I do, however, agree with your sentiments on elitist groups, and ONE man.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 10 months ago
I am speaking to the personalities ....... I am speaking to the system of participatory democracy
sheeprunner12 7 years, 10 months ago
BTW: ........... Butler Turner is not even that strong in Long Island right now .......... long on bark and short on bite ........ right now Long Islanders are taking some serious bites from the PLP leopards because of the LBT barking .......... we deserve better than this LBT (your sweet talk game is not putting money in our pockets or food on our plates) ...... we need JOB, JOBS, JOBS
licks2 7 years, 10 months ago
The rants are still coming. . .the clock ticks. . .WE ARE WATCHING! Lol!
cmiller 7 years, 10 months ago
Can any of these politicians be honest with us, PLP or FNM?????? They staged a takeover. I want Minnis gone too, why can't they just admit it??????
TalRussell 7 years, 10 months ago
Comrades the same UBPism wing that controlled the party in 1990 and still think its their right as we speak, first sought out a populace young black to anoint as their Parliamentary Leader and they found a willing participate in the likes of one later to go on to self proclaim himself Papa Hubert.
Minnis was warned and should have known he would never to be considered as a true UBPism leader, when he first become surrounded by UBPism's Loretta, Chippie and Richard as the red party's.
The question today begging to be answered, is it too late to publicly "rebuke to shame," the three UBP seated House members?
You tell me if Minnis must part company with the three UBP's?
NassauBoy77 7 years, 10 months ago
Minnis is the leader and must be held accountable for the condition the party is in today. He cannot blame any of those MPs. Their only fault is sitting quietly by while Minnis and the Council allowed the party to slip into the worst state of affairs it has ever seen.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 10 months ago
Agreed .................. the buck stops with the leader ........ he has to take ownership of the mutiny and dysfunction in the FNM................. maybe he needs to go and buy a simple textbook on leadership by John Maxwell and let his grand-kids read the book to him
licks2 7 years, 10 months ago
So. . ... . . . . .where is the letter for the GG?
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