Minnis trying to hold on as leader

The executive committee of the Free National Movement (FNM) last night voted 17 to 12 to support FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis serving as leader of the official opposition, as he announced on election night he intends to do, party sources told The Nassau Guardian.

Tonight, the matter is set to go before the party’s Central Council, which is the supreme body outside of a convention.

Given that the council is a larger grouping of FNMs and is said to have more rabble-rousers likely to attend the meeting, party insiders say Minnis could be in for a significant fight.

The FNM suffered what many in the party regarded as a humiliating defeat in the general election last Thursday, winning just seven seats in the House of Assembly: Killarney (Minnis): Marco City (Michael Pintard); Central Grand Bahama (Iram Lewis); East Grand Bahama (Kwasi Thompson); St. Anne’s (Adrian White); St. Barnabas (Shanendon Cartwright) and Long Island (Adrian Gibson).

Minnis won 51 percent of the votes in Killarney, down from the 73 percent he won in 2017.

In that election, four and a half years ago, the party had a historic victory when it won 35 seats in the 39-seat House of Assembly, and Minnis had repeatedly declared throughout the term that it would win all seats in Parliament next time.

The vote to stay on as leader of the opposition, if upheld by the council, would be on understanding that this is to be the case up until a convention is held, and whoever emerges as leader after the convention would serve as opposition leader as well.

Party sources familiar with the issues at hand opined last night that the close margin in the vote of the executive was a signal to Minnis that he could have a difficult time in his bid to become leader of the official opposition, and to stay on as leader of the party.

The Nassau Guardian reported on Monday that there are powerful internal sources who wish not to see Minnis serve as leader of the opposition and appoint opposition senators.

The last time he served in that role, the party faced a chaotic time in opposition.

In December 2016, the then-members of the FNM’s parliamentary caucus wrote to the governor general, expressing a loss of confidence in Minnis and had him removed as leader of the opposition.

Minnis, as leader of the party, still went on to lead the FNM to victory in 2017.

While the six FNM other candidates who were victorious last week do not need the party’s approval for Minnis to lead them in Parliament, it is understood that they and the party wish to be on the same page as it relates to this matter.

The Nassau Guardian understands that the party intends to have a convention no later than February and as early as November.

Several prominent FNMs, including former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette and former Minister of Health Renward Wells, were present at headquarters during the executive meeting last night.

The Nassau Guardian last night asked Minnis for a comment as he left headquarters.

He replied, “We’re still in meetings.”

When asked how he felt after the FNM lost last week’s general election, Minnis replied, “We’re still in meetings.”

Asked what was next for him, he said, “It’s all being discussed at party level.”

Some in the FNM want their party to be completely rebranded with Minnis gone as party leader and as leader of the official opposition.

Former FNM Vice Chairman Fred Williamson said last night, “Minnis should go immediately, not down the road.”

He said, “Minnis should resign immediately and allow the party to find new leadership. I’m not supporting one person over the other.

“New leadership is important because it is clear that from the results of the election that the people have no confidence in Minnis’ leadership style. Whether he did what was right or not, they had no confidence in him. He came across as incompetent.”

Williamson said the FNM cannot  heal with Minnis as leader.

“I would propose an interim leader who can set the party up in a year to have real elections,” he said. “But that person who is interim leader cannot offer himself or herself for leadership.”

The post Minnis trying to hold on as leader appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/minnis-trying-to-hold-on-as-leader/