The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis confirmed yesterday that the party has not reached a final decision on a candidate for the North Abaco by-election.

Speaking while in Abaco as the party held a series of meetings and discussions on the matter, Dr Minnis said a final decision was not expected “for a while.”

“We are in Abaco now and meetings are expected to go on throughout the day and into tomorrow as well,” Dr Minnis said.

When asked if the party would still consider Greg Gomez as a candidate despite his residency challenges, Dr Minnis repeated that the party was still in discussions.

Dr Minnis confirmed on Sunday that Gomez had not yet met the constitutional requirements to run for the seat.

The constitution states that anyone who desires election to the House of Assembly must have been an ordinary resident in the Bahamas for a period of not less than one year immediately before the nomination date of the election.

The hopefuls are: Perry Thomas, Mr Gomez, Cay Mills and Jackson McKintosh.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham represented North Abaco constituents for more than two decades.

Although the FNM under his leadership failed to win a majority in the House of Assembly in the May 7 general election, Mr Ingraham still won his seat. 

A short time later, he announced that he would officially resign front-line politics on July 19. The by-election is expected to follow soon after.