The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

TOMORROW, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s resignation as a Member of Parliament will officially take effect.

At that time, the North Abaco seat, one that Mr Ingraham has held for his entire 35-year political career, will also become vacant. While FNM Greg Gomez, Renardo Curry, PLP and the Bahamas Constitution Party’s Ali Mcintosh have offered themselves to run for the seat, the government has yet to announce a by-election date.

Last week, Mr Ingraham cleared the air, insisting that he would resign as planned, despite widespread reports that he would change his mind and remain as MP.

Although the FNM was defeated by the PLP in the May 2012 general elections, Mr Ingraham retained his Coopers Town seat.

He conceded the defeat of his government to the PLP and resigned as leader of the FNM just hours after that loss on May 7.

Mr Ingraham announced almost two weeks later that his resignation from his Abaco seat would take effect on July 19. The decision to resign on that date, which was also the anniversary of his first entrance to Parliament, was delayed in a bid to gain time for a by-election candidate to be selected by the FNM and the public to become more informed on the proposed gambling referendum, Mr Ingraham said.

On July 19, Mr Ingraham tendered his resignation letter to House Speaker Dr Kendal Major, shortly after 9.30am. In it he had stipulated that the resignation would not become effective before August 31. Party Chairman Charles Maynard, now deceased, had confirmed that the new government had decided that no special sitting of the House would be held for Mr Ingraham to make his farewell speech. Mr Ingraham had not requested a special sitting although when he was prime minister he had arranged a special day for Sir Lynden on his retirement from parliament.

The House was not scheduled to meet before July 25. It was announced that Mr Ingraham could make his farewell speech at that sitting. It is understood that his resignation speech would be the first item on that day’s agenda.

However, when the House did meet he was informed that he would not be allowed to speak before the end of the day. On hearing this he quietly gathered his papers, bowed to the Speaker, and, for the last time walked across the floor of the House and left.

Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis defended Mr Ingraham’s decision to quietly leave. He said the agreement with government to allow him to speak at the beginning of that day’s sitting had been broken.