Desmond Bannister, Zhivargo Laing, Kwasi Thompson and Heather Hunt
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FOUR former FNM candidates will be sworn in as senators later today.
They include former Education minister Desmond Bannister, former state minister of Finance Zhivargo Laing, and Kwasi Thompson, who had served as House Speaker. Heather Hunt, attorney and unsuccessful candidate for the Marathon constituency, also will be sworn in.
Calling the party's selection a mixture of youth and a wealth of knowledge, Opposition Leader in the House of Assembly Dr Hubert Minnis said the four were chosen to send a message that the FNM is a party of the future.
He said: "We have chosen this group to show that the FNM is a party that is interested in readying our young people to be serious leaders. We realise that they are the future of this country and that is one of our focuses."
"Each of them qualifies to serve in the Senate. Zhivargo has institutional knowledge of each agency having served the Ministry of Finance. Kwasi has shown excellent organisational ability and has a youthful following and Desmond has proven himself as a leader time and time again."
"Heather is youthful and we know she promises to be a great leader in this country."
However, the new senators will serve for only three of the five-year term, according to Dr Minnis.
"I would have a rotation type of system to support other young people who are ready to be moulded as leaders. The Senate is a good place to help them begin."
The ceremony will take place in the Ballroom of Government House at 4 pm.
Comments
concernedcitizen 12 years, 5 months ago
good choices , Bannister was an exelent education minister ..HAI you and the FNM left some good young people to move the party forward , and senator Hunt is very intelligent and very beautiful ,with all due respect to her husband ...
notsogullible 12 years, 5 months ago
FNM's lift your heads high and be proud. Remember, we are a different class of people. I'd like to remind us that we lost by only 10k votes and those went to our curious brothers and sisters who dared to experiment with the DNA. Despite the landslide number of seats won by the PLP, we must be reminded that this election was VERY CLOSE. Let's press on and prepare for battle again in five years. We remain the only party with a record of delivery, non-victimisation and opportunity for all. BE PROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
llehteb 12 years, 5 months ago
It is pathetic attitudes life this why the FNM got clobbered; and why you FNM supporters will never ever see your party in power again. You need to get a life! Sooooooo sad
concernedcitizen 12 years, 5 months ago
as a plp supporter ,did you stand behind the plp when they were the opposition .its called a democarcy , it only works with two or more parties
ApoliTical 12 years, 5 months ago
Not bad except for Mr. Laing. What is going through Dr. Minnis' head if he think he there for knowledge bad choice. Come one FNM party lets move forward please. Victimization exists in politics no matter what party you are PLP, FNM, democrat, republican so don't be silly it's all in the game
Arob 12 years, 5 months ago
According to the PLP - the economy, education, health are at the top of the agenda. The government will be supplied information by the civil servants- the opposition will not be privy to this information. (Unless the leaking of confidential information continues) Mr. Laing's appointment is about knowledge -- 5 years of experience. As the former Minister of State for Finance he knows more about the state of the Bahamian economy than the new finance team. He can clarify the misinformation, half truths and lies. Likewise, Mr. Bannister serves the same purpose.
Philosopher_King 12 years, 5 months ago
Those who stood silent as a tyrant ruled should be last to say they can now reform the FNM, new fresh faces should have been brought in. Citizen Ingraham has successfully turned my former party in to The Hubidites, I hope they have learnt from the overwhelming rejection of his style and policies both in '02 and now again in '12. Failure to do so and break from his legacy will only strengthen the DNA if they play their cards right. I smell a third place finish next time if you don’t get some fresh blood in soon or can't woo back the prodigal sons and daughters.
Philosopher_King 12 years, 5 months ago
I'm glad to see you gave Zhivargo a job, because lord knows he don't have any marketable skills in the private sector nor does he have an entrepreneurial bone in his body. I would have hated to have seen him around town renouncing politics in the name of religion again in attempt to get a job.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 5 months ago
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John 12 years, 5 months ago
Any politician should always remember, Bahamians LOVE slackness, at least most of us. So come election time, many will sacrifice 5 years of good governance, for getting,'taken care of' during the elections, and suffer the consequences for the next 4 1/2 years. Many votes that went to the DNA were protest votes. Some persons found it difficult, nay unbearable under the FNM government, because of economic conditions due to forces external to the Bahamas.
BUT if the DNA holds true to form and is around tor the 2017 elections, they will be a force to recon with. This will especially be the case if the PLP's performance is poor and lack lustre, like their last term in office,and Hubert Ingraham is not around to head the FNM. The DNA may become the party of choice so the 10,000 votes they got this time around are seeds growing into children and grandchildren and family and friends voting DNA next time... the FNM will be more or less a new and uncontested party like the DNA.
spoitier 12 years, 5 months ago
Same thing I said
Victor 12 years, 5 months ago
The DNA is DOA. They have nothing to build with and with Ingraham out of the picture, no real place in the electorate. They were a protest party, nothing more, and they did little to lay the foundation for them to have their own identity going forward. They got some support as the 'Not-FNM' when they were in power, but with the FNM in opposition, those people will return to the fold.
Livestofish 12 years, 5 months ago
I strongly believe the FNM will win the election in 2017. PLPs i'll advise you guys to celebrate as much as you can now because in 5 years you'll will receive the boot.. The PLP gov/cabinet is comprised of a bunch of hebitudes they are clueless about the current situations the Bahamas face. Moreover in 5 years they will be looking for a new leader seeing that Perry will not be around. It going to get nasty trust me, there's going to be a fight for the leadership position.
spoitier 12 years, 5 months ago
If the people is fed up with the PLP already and voted the FNM out just less than 2 weeks ago, you think their are going to play ping pong and just vote the FNM back in like that? you don't think the DNA will have a say with all of the younger generation that will be ready to vote come next election.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 5 months ago
please don,t waist precious votes on the DNA,,again .why would plps or fnms waste votes on a party that got less than 10% of the overall vote,,might as well vote for bozo the clown ,unless something drastic happens he has as much chance as the DNA at winning in 2017
Cc 12 years, 5 months ago
I for one will be SHOCKED if Bran is still with the DNA at year's end. I would like them to hold tight and build on their foundation, but Bran the Man is a proven quitter.
spoitier 12 years, 5 months ago
Bozo was just voted out, now you have Homey. So why not vote for the DNA if the PLP mess up.
A person shouldn't base their vote upon a party because the amount of votes that they got, you should base that upon what policy they at least say they are planning on putting in, you know for years that the other two parties have been telling you one thing and then don't do it, for Bahamians to vote FNM if the PLP mess up is no different than a woman who keep listening to her man telling her sorry after he spank her.
concernedcitizen 12 years, 5 months ago
it may seem strange but i vote for which party i think has the best leader ,,and i,ve voted FNM and PLP ,,was not into the FNM choice in 2002 ,so far i like Doc Minnis ,theres still time to watch him but at this point i prefer him to PM PGC ,,just my opinion
Philosopher_King 12 years, 5 months ago
To the contrary those 13,000 DNA votes sent a clear message to both the PLP and FNM that more of us independent thinkers are prepared to turn our backs on their Saxon/Valley or nuttin way of tribal voting and will go in another direction. If the DNA continues to evolve, attracts more palatable candidates and remains ever present with alternative solutions and recommendation to the tried and failed FNM/PLP policies of yesteryear then they'll only get even more support by '17. Remember many disaffected younger voters I spoke with turned back at the last minute out of fear that Citizen Ingraham might scrape another slim margin victory this time. If the PLP fall back in to their old habits and the FNM bring back these Hubedite flunky retreads next time all bets will be off.
dacy 12 years, 5 months ago
DNA WILL NOT WIN JUST BECAUSE, THEY WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE WORKING, PUT MORE MEAT TO THEIR PLANS ESPECIALLY HAVE AN ANSWER WHEN SOMEONE ASK THEM HOW? AND WORK ON THEIR CANDIDATE SELECTION. 5 YEARS WILL WORK IN THEIR FAVOR IS THEY DONT DISAPPEAR AND SHOW THE PEOPLE THEY WERE SERIOUS, IT IS STILL A MATTER OF TRUST!
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