The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement chairman Dr Duane Sands says he will step back from frontline politics for at least a year, citing the demands of political life and the burden it has placed on his family.

Speaking as a guest on Our TV’s “On the Record”, hosted by Jerome Sawyer, Dr Sands said the decision was driven largely by his responsibilities as a husband and father.

“This is a privilege. It's been an honor, but it's a great sacrifice. It’s a sacrifice that's borne by primarily my family. I have young kids. I have an autistic child. I have a wife who has had to carry a lot of the load herself, and so for at least a year, I'm going to step back from frontline politics,” he said.

Dr Sands said that while he intends to step away from frontline politics, he remains committed to the FNM for the remainder of his tenure as chairman.

“I will not offer at convention, but until such time, the FNM will have my full service as chairman,” he said.

“I remain the CEO, but I ain’t gonna be here indefinitely.”

It was reported in June that he would not seek re-election as chairman, but he declined to comment further on his future plans at the time.

Dr Sands was first elected chairman at the party’s February 2022 convention with 183 votes, while Elsworth Johnson received 169 and Michael Foulkes received 83.

The chairmanship race featured two prominent former Minnis administration Cabinet ministers.

The former Health Minister retained his post at the FNM’s 2024 convention after defeating Mr Johnson by 431 votes to 221.