East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson told Free National Movement (FNM) delegates over the weekend that if elected leader of the party, he will consult and he will listen but he will not be anyone’s “puppet”.
Sources say former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis favors Thompson to lead the party.
Thompson will challenge his fellow Grand Bahama MPs, Marco City MP Michael Pintard and Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis when the party holds its leadership convention on November 27.
“The election for leader is about a new vision and a new direction for our party,” Thompson told a room of FNM delegates at the Balmoral Club on Friday.
“I am thankful to all who have previously served as leader. We must honor all who have previously served as leader. They have all made a valuable contribution to this party and to this country.
“But, today is a new moment and it is time for new leadership.
“Notice I didn’t say new day. I say it’s a new moment.
“… I will consult, I will listen, but I won’t be anyone’s puppet.”
The Progressive Liberal Party, under the leadership of Philip Brave Davis, crushed Minnis and the FNM in the September 16 general election. Only seven FNMs were elected.
Thompson told supporters and other FNMs that he is the best candidate to unify the party.
He said the party must now wallow in its defeat or engage in a blame game.
“It was a difficult and painful experience from which, and as you can hear, we are still hurting and we are still recovering,” he said of the election.
“We must honestly understand all of the factors that played a part in our defeat. But guess what? We must not wallow in self-recrimination or failure. We must move on to renew, rebuild and restore our FNM.
“FNMs, failure is not final. It was the great Muhammad Ali who put it this way, ‘You don’t lose if you get knocked down. You only lose if you stay down.’
“You see, we have a choice. We could cry. We could complain about our past mistakes, and there were some mistakes, or we can acknowledge them and learn from them. The time for blaming is done and the time for complaining is done.
“This is now time for restoration.
“It is time for rebuilding and it is time for healing. It is also time for unity. We must be all together FNMs.
“Now, I know this is not going to be easy but I am absolutely convinced that we will achieve unity of purpose and unity of heart.”
Both Thompson and Lewis spent the weekend canvassing for support from FNM delegates on New Providence and Grand Bahama.
Thompson held a backyard barbecue on Saturday and attended a church service on Grand Bahama yesterday.
The post Thompson says he won’t be anyone’s puppet appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/thompson-says-he-wont-be-anyones-puppet/
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