By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson expects the next Free National Movement chairman to be someone favoured by FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
The nomination process to decide who will be the FNM’s next chairman ends tonight, with a vote expected to take place during a special council meeting on April 14 that is not open to the press.
Thus far, only Sidney Collie, a former FNM minister of local government, has been nominated for the position.
Mr Collie could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Acting Chairman Brensil Rolle told The Tribune yesterday that he will not run for the post, but did not say why.
Meanwhile, Mr Watson praised Mr Collie, calling him “an experienced fellow” that is “knowledgeable,” although he questioned whether the former MP for Blue Hills could find the time to perform the role of chairman if he is elected.
Regarding whether he can execute his duties in a way that is fair to the party, Mr Watson said: “He should be his own man.”
Not all agree with his sentiment, however.
One former high-ranking party official who spoke to The Tribune on the condition of anonymity yesterday said Mr Collie would be a “person totally controlled by Hubert Minnis and therefore someone incapable of representing the broad interests of a divided party.”
The insider added: “He won’t be someone who is widely regarded as being a fair minded person who will represent all points of view and segments of a fairly divided organisation.”
The source argued that the chairmanship battle could serve as a proxy fight for leadership of the FNM, although this is unlikely because of the fact that most members of the FNM’s council are believed to be supporters of Dr Minnis.
The chairmanship battle comes as some in the FNM continue to have concerns about Dr Minnis stewardship of the party, with Mr Watson telling this newspaper recently: “I don’t know how much more of this we can take.”
“The anti-Minnis forces have been coalescing in recent weeks,” the source said. “Which battle are they prepared to fight? Will talk translate into action?”
The move to elect a new FNM chairman comes after the former chairman, Michael Pintard, resigned on March 21 over questions stemming from his involvement in a controversy that also involved fashion mogul Peter Nygard.
According to an affidavit filed by the environmental group Save The Bays on March 9, Mr Pintard was named as being the person who uncovered an alleged murder for hire plot concerning Mr Nygard.
In 2015 Mr Pintard met frequently with Livingston “Toggie” Bullard and Wisler “Bobo” Davilma, two men named in court documents as allegedly being hired by Mr Nygard to threaten and harass Mr Nygard’s opponents.
The men were paid for their testimony, according to the affidavit filed by a US investigator. After the information was made public, some in the Progressive Liberal Party called on Mr Pintard to resign and questioned why he did not immediately report these allegations to police.
Mr Nygard has since filed court documents where Bullard and Davilma allege they were paid for “false testimony” against him.
He has also filed suit against Mr Pintard, Dr Minnis, Save The Bays and others.
Comments
Regardless 8 years, 1 month ago
Collie was Jimmy Knowle's lackey so what does that tell you.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 1 month ago
Can he remain impartial and balance the various factions in the FNM or is he a yes-man for the present leader?????? ............... just look at what the RNC Chairman has to face in the USA right now with those candidates ............... who are Collie's backers????
Economist 8 years, 1 month ago
Another of the OLD GUARD! Looks like the PLP have it made.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 1 month ago
Who are the other nominees???????? ............... you need a person who can manage media propaganda, galvanize the party base, organize constituency branches, find committed foot soldiers, obtain legitimate funding, and plan an imaginative winning election strategy ............ Can Sidney Collie do this??????? ........... we know what the present PLP Chairman can do (sling mud)
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 1 month ago
Exchange your Red Shirt for a Greenie I guess.
The_Oracle 8 years, 1 month ago
Another questionable choice. Find some decent non entrenched has beens.
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 1 month ago
Sidney Collie can't possibly become Chairman of the FNM. He is too well known a tax dodger (like Ishmail Lightbourne) and thinks nothing of not paying bills for goods and services he has received.
Greentea 8 years, 1 month ago
All important points- but don't think for a moment that Minnis is listening. His desire for yes men and women regardless of their baggage, does not bode well. It is not the kind of leadership required to get this country out of the quicksand our corrupt and selfish political class has placed us in.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 1 month ago
WHERE IS LORETTA???????? ........... WHAT IS HER PLAN????????? ......... THE NATION AWAITS
licks2 8 years, 1 month ago
HIDDING FROM THE COMIMG FALL OUT OF THE COMING STORM. . .JUST WAIT A LIL BIT MORE. . .BAHAMAS HUSTLE WILL BE HOT HOT HOT HOT!! I GUESS SHE GETTING A PLAN TOGETHER TO ADRESS THE DROP OF THE NEXT SHOE IN THE BOB AND TOGGIE FILM! LOL!
Economist 8 years, 1 month ago
If they don't pick Loretta I will probably go green.
Emac 8 years, 1 month ago
LB is probably smarter than we think. She is probably waiting for the present opposition leader, who is an idiot, to dig his own grave and bury himself. But the whole prospect of the FNM winning the next election looks very grim at the moment. 2017 will be a very important year for Bahamians, as we are now on the brink of becoming a country just like our neighbours in the south. If the PLP wins the next election, we are surely doomed! If the FNM wins the next election with Minnis as leader, we will still suffer by default.
proudloudandfnm 8 years, 1 month ago
If I was Perry I was ringing the bell today......
licks2 8 years, 1 month ago
Perry Christie knows jut what yinna don't seem to know. . . doc got plenty support out in the "real" Bahamas where leaders win elections. And why yinna few LBT supporters on this site keep criticizing but will not do anything to save ya party but doing everything to "bust it up" just because yall don't like the leader! If I was the doc I will not nominate yinna tails in the upcoming election! Lets see what party would take yall.
We are not fools out here. . .we are not listening to yall because yinna don't care if the PLP wins again. . .yinna done straight. . .rich people greedy for power and economic domination!!
VIVA EL HEFE DOC!! LOL!
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