The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Please allow me space in your column to express my views on the recent one day FNM Convention for the singular position of party leader.

Now that the convention is over I think in hindsight one could easily say that it was unwise to proceed with the race as the new leader must now proceed with all of the present executives. This is definitely not a good look for the new leader and for his sake and the party’s sake I can only hope this was not a glimpse into the future with Pintard.

Having said that I believe congratulations are in order for Michael Pintard who emerged the victor in the early round of tussling for a grip on the mantle in the Free National Movement. Well, like I said, I believe congratulations are in order, my hope is that this jubilant moment does not quickly turn into sorrow for the young leader.

I looked on Pintard’s victory platform and instead of seeing him flanked by well-wishers and his supporters, I only saw persons around him, who either wants his job or wants someone other than him for the job. How sad. On the platform was Hubert Ingraham former leader of the FNM, who is on record, stating that he hopes that Dr Duane Sands would be like him and one day hold the office of Prime Minister. Then there was Dr Duane Sands himself who has publicly stated that he will run for party chairman for now. Whatever for “now” means, surely one would need clarification on this, “fa now” statement because in the Bahamian vernacular whenever you hear someone say “I ga hold on to this fa na” it means that this is just a temporary fix for the moment, but they are truly seeking something greater. Then there was Tommy Turnquest, a former leader of the FNM who never really got his fair chance to lead as former Prime Minister Ingraham doubled back and took Turnquest out. Is Tommy Turnquest considering another run? Who knows? Then there was Brent Symonette, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Deputy Leader of the FNM who backed Loretta Butler-Turner for Leader while Pintard was in the fold, so what is Brent’s true story in this,“Act of the tussle”? Heaven only knows. Then there was Dion Foulkes, former FNM Deputy Leader and one half of the 2002 Dream Team ticket that crashed and burned; where does Dion line up in all of this, now this is the $64,000 question? The remaining persons were either Pintard’s wife and daughter or the other contenders and, yes, before I forget, the remaining defunct Carl Culmer’s slate of party executives, well what a picture!

A true picture of treachery and deceit! No doubt, but as I said the tussling has only just begun, there are many more acts to this movie so stay tuned for the leader to take the FNM into the next general election is yet to have emerged.

And before I sign off, yes, The Most Hon Dr Hubert A Minnis remains a person of interest in all of this. What are his plans? He is no doubt likely to be the only man standing; after this colossal battle of aligned rivals. All he has to do is take his just due rest. He deserves a little rest after for four and half years battling the worst natural disaster the Bahamas has seen in modern times and fighting a pandemic that rocked the entire world and changed our lives forever. His worst critics give him high him marks for his handling of the country’s most difficult period. This, I too support, but my wish for him is for him to one day be given a term free of these challenges, a term in which I know he will make significant strides for everyday people. I urge Dr Minnis to remain vigilant, and remember the people he has been called to serve, God is not done with him just yet!

A word to the wise is indeed sufficient!

THE COUNCILMAN

Nassau,

November 30, 2021.