The Tribune

ZHIVARGO Laing’s decision to leave the Senate had nothing to do with the leadership of the FNM, party insiders revealed yesterday.

After Senator Laing posted over the weekend his intention to resign his post on his Facebook, party sources speculated as to what the reasons were behind what appeared to be an abrupt decision.

Many questioned whether the move was designed to destabilise his party leader Dr Hubert Minnis, or be the start for a possible push for the leadership of the FNM a year or two before the next general election.

“Zhivargo has made a very personal decision to leave frontline politics at this time due to other business interests that would require him to travel more frequently.

“As a matter of fact, he never intended to stay in the post for a very long time. Initially it was decided that the FNM required someone in the Senate who could defend the party’s positions over the last administrative period, and who was better than Zhivargo to do that?

“He was never expected to remain in that post for very long. In fact, he reportedly had designs to resign in as early as May of 2013,” the party insider said.

On Sunday, FNM leader Dr Minnis said that Senator Laing’s decision came as no surprise, and was nothing new to him or the party.

Dr Minnis said that the party has already started discussions as to Senator Laing’s replacement, noting that the final decision would be his as leader of the party.

“As for his replacement, I am the leader so the decision will be mine. However, it will be discussed with my parliamentary colleagues, with my advisory council after which the final determination will be mine,” he said.

Senator Laing has gone on record confirming that this decision was a “personal” one and it should in no way reflect on the FNM and its leader. He also denied reports that he was resigning to join the church.

“I fully expect that my life, going forward, will involve much travel and activities that will make it challenging for me to give the level of service to the Senate that would be required. I thanked Dr. Minnis for reposing the trust he did in me to serve as a Free National Movement Senator, even if for this brief while. I pledged to remain available to assist him and/or our FNM Party, wherever possible and wish him every success going forward. I will be delivering my letter of resignation to the President of the Senate in short order,” he said.

Senator Laing was appointed to the Senate on May 16 after unsuccessfully running in Fort Charlotte in the last general election.