Dionisio D’AGuilar set to be ratified by FNM for Montagu

As of Monday, September 19, 2016

Dionisio D’Aguilar

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement is moving ahead with plans to ratify businessman Dionisio D’Aguilar in the Montagu constituency, the seat currently held by Richard Lightbourn, according to several sources within the party.

Fuelling reports that Mr Lightbourn has already been notified of the party’s intent to venture in a new direction with the Montagu seat, a source with knowledge of the party’s selection process said the FNM had “zeroed in” on the Super Wash owner and was “preparing plans to get him in and going in the coming weeks.”

When contacted for comment on the claims, Mr D’Aguilar said there has not been any indication by the party up to this point that it had decided to move ahead with him as a candidate.

He said while it remains “common knowledge” that he has submitted himself for consideration as a candidate, he was still awaiting the party’s decision as to if and where he could stand as a candidate.

“There hasn’t been any indication by the party, to me, that they have finalised any plans for me. Until that happens, I am still just one of many vying for a candidacy,” he told The Tribune.

Asked directly if he had been offered the Montagu constituency, Mr D’Aguilar said: “Wherever the party places me as a candidate I would devote my attention and effort.”

Meanwhile, former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson called Mr D’Aguilar a “good addition” to the party when asked about plans to have the businessman ratified in Montagu.

Mr Watson insisted that Mr D’Aguilar, from the strength of his business acumen and civic presence, could be an asset for the FNM in “any constituency you place him in.”

On Friday, The Nassau Guardian reported that Mr Lightbourn would not receive a nomination from his party for the upcoming election, quoting the parliamentarian as stating: “I’m not going to be a candidate for the FNM.”

However, in an interview with The Tribune on Thursday on the sidelines of the FNM’s recent mini rally, Mr Lightbourn indicated that no decision had been made, and that he and the party were still “hashing some things out.”

Mr Lightbourn was one of the six MPs behind a scathing letter that called into question the leadership capabilities of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

Many political pundits have speculated that this act could hamper the bids of all six MPs moving forward – and of the six, only Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner has been ratified as a part of the party’s 2017 candidate slate.

Two of these MPs – Neko Grant and Theo Neilly – have confirmed that they will not offer themselves for re-election, while another, Dr Andre Rollins said he would consider accepting a nomination if offered one by the party. This comes after Dr Rollins said he would not seek a nomination if Dr Minnis remained leader of the party.

Another source within the FNM has suggested that Mr Lightbourn’s blunder during his speech at the FNM’s national’s convention in late July cost him a nomination.

Mr Lightbourn, on the second night of the convention while attempting to offer a solution for the country’s rising crime trends, proposed state-sponsored sterilisation of unwed women with more than two children as an anti-crime initiative.

The FNM immediately distanced the party from the Montagu MP’s proposal, stating that the party did not believe in restricting the reproductive rights of anyone.

The FNM source claimed the party viewed that blunder as “too big a hole to climb out of.”

“Those comments will never go away and no matter how much the people in Montagu approve of (Mr Lightbourn), those comments will cost us votes in every other constituency as long as he remains a candidate,” the source claimed.

The FNM ratified four more candidates last Thursday - Mrs Butler-Turner, former Deputy Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames for the Mount Moriah constituency, former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Chairman Mark Humes for the Fort Charlotte constituency and local entrepreneur Walt Saunders for the MICAL constituency.

Party Chairman Sidney Collie last week indicated that to date the party has been busy vetting roughly 140 potential candidates.

Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 6 months ago

Geeezz! What did the poor people of Montagu do to deserve such a lousy candidate? The FNM has in recent general elections taken the Montagu constituency for granted....a safe seat that any bozo running on the FNM ticket could win; especially one who would not stand a chance of being elected in just about every other constituency.

jus2cents 7 years, 6 months ago

Thank you Mr D'Aguilar, About time we had a Young, Bright Mind representing!

Truly Hardworking Businessman (not another lawyer) who puts his own home and cell number on the wall of all his 24 hour operation businesses. A very well educated man with a deep understanding of the nations problems, he is in touch with grass root people on a daily basis. He also understands business and politics he will be a great asset for this nation, he knows how to get things done.

He is about action, but most of all he is not afraid to speak his mind.

Reality_Check 7 years, 6 months ago

The FNM must truly be hard up for cash. This yapping poodle was likely able to secure his candidacy by writing a cheque to the FNM party for not more than $100,000. What a joke!

licks2 7 years, 6 months ago

Just go off into the sunset. . .whatever which one of the "six" are you! You have had your day. . .and was sent out to "pasture". . .

Reality_Check 7 years, 6 months ago

Guess again. I'm one of the "twenty-two" striving to put the "six" out to "pasture" along with Minnis by not opening my very "fat" pocket book to the FNM party in the run up to a general election for the first time since the party's formation.

licks2 7 years, 6 months ago

Watch the revolution then. . .without ya money. . .the one that will place you on the side line with your money in hand. . ."YES WE CAN" . . .without yall who want to buy a nation. . .you fail to see that we the people feel insulted by yall rich persons who say: " I WILL NOT GIVE MONEY IF IT DON'T GO MY WAY. . .GOOD. . .ITS THE TIME OF THE SMALL MAN ANYWAY"! Watch how people power will work. . .

sheeprunner12 7 years, 6 months ago

The FNM is showing that it can accept/attract diverse thinkers and agitators ........ if a respected businessman is considered a lackey because he sat on Bahamar Board, what do you ascribe to the PLP members who were in Nygard's back pocket?????????

TalRussell 7 years, 6 months ago

Comrades! Not only does Dionisio has that pretty shinny Mulatto colour, he's also not looking for new territory be a profiteering opportunist only out looking to expand his washers and dryers on every street corner of Montagu, cause the constituents brungs in more maids to 'Wash Em, Dry Em, Press Em' laundries than all other households incomes per capita across the Bahamaland. In fact the Minister of Immigration will confirm Montagu also imports more foreigners wash they things over hiring the natives, more than any the other household grouping.

jus2cents 7 years, 6 months ago

And how do you know all this? You are so full of fairy stories you should write a book of all your fantasy conspiracy theories.

TalRussell 7 years, 6 months ago

Comrade Just2cents, I can think of a calypso song befitting for all the Mulattos that sat up in the House of Assembly for Montago. Working title? They Were All Mulatto Honourable MP's For Montago Sandwiched Between 'Sheriff Johnstone' & "Tie Da Tubes" Richard?

licks2 7 years, 6 months ago

I know that they are shaking in they boots them. . .tal talking all kind of mixed-up talk here this morning. . .Lol!

birdiestrachan 7 years, 6 months ago

Mr Motor mouth they have given him a safe seat, and they have thrown Mr: Lightbourne under the bus. Roc with doc does not have to worry, they will throw him under the bus.very soon.. what goes around comes around. poor doc has never even heard this.

Alex_Charles 7 years, 6 months ago

Lightbourne threw himself under a bus and a Mack Truck without any help at all. I'm not fan of Minnis but stop talking crap.

Tie dem tubes ay?

licks2 7 years, 6 months ago

Good morning Mr. PM!

Socrates 7 years, 6 months ago

well i suppose he is no less worthy than the straw vendors, taxi drivers and preachers who have been in one or the other of the 2 chambers in the past...

proudloudandfnm 7 years, 6 months ago

More proof of how unbelievably clueless Minnis is. Yall think Rollins turned against Minnis quick? Lol....

Minnis is a PLP type leader. He needs sheep like Halkitis and Fitzgerald to support him. Men like Dino sign letters voting no confidence in their leader...

The FNM really needs a reality check....

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