The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said he wants Greg Gomez to have a chance at running in the North Abaco by-election.

Mr Gomez is one of for persons hoping to be selected as the Free National Movement candidate to replace Mr Ingraham.

However, Mr Gomez does not meet the constitutional requirements to run for public office as he lived in the United States and did not move back to the Bahamas until August 2011.

According to the constitution, a person who is eligible to be elected to the House of Assembly must have been an ordinary resident of the Bahamas for a period of not less than one year immediately before the date of his nomination for election.

Mr Ingraham said: “Greg Gomez, who was one of the four persons who applied to the party for a nomination, has spent some time in the US and he hasn’t been back home for quite a year yet.

“He has applied and I want him to be considered like the other four candidates and my postponement will facilitate that.

“His father has been my supporter for many years and in fact all the candidates have been my supporters at one time or the other.”

The former Prime Minister also claimed that Mr Gomez was “victimised” by the current PLP administration as soon as they entered office.

“Greg Gomez was selected by the public sector to be an island administrator,” he said.

“The election came and he was told no, he can not be hired. He made an appointment to see the minister, the minister gave him the appointment and then did not see him.

“He was told by a senior official, ‘Oh, you know why – you are red’, and she pointed to the colour on her dress.”

Mr Ingraham said Mr Gomez has a story to tell and he will see that he is able to tell it.

Almost a week after the FNM was expected to announce who will be their candidate for the North Abaco by-election, the party is still no closer to making that decision, FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis said on Tuesday.

He said the final decision is not expected for a while as the matter must be discussed by the part’s council.

Cay Mills, Jackson Macintosh and Perry Thomas are the other potential candidates.