The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING reports that South Abaco MP Edison Key may resign his seat, FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis firmly dismissed the claims.

Asked to comment on the reports, the Killarney MP simply said: “There is no truth to that.”

Former DNA South Abaco candidate Roscoe Thompson, who recently rejoined the FNM, also dismissed the reports as “speculation”.

Mr Thompson, whom some believe would be the frontrunner for the seat should it become vacant, said talks of a South Abaco by-election have not reached his ears.

“I believe it’s just rumours. From what I understand, he will not be stepping down,” Mr Thompson said.

“Until such a time as they (the FNM leadership) make a decision or he does, it’s just rumour. It’s just speculating on part of people in the PLP or the FNM or even the press. Until something happens, there’s really nothing to say.”

When asked if he would be considered as the FNM candidate for the seat should it become vacant, he said: “Right now, it would really all be hypothetical. If Edison did resign in the next year, and they came to me, would I run? It’s a decision I would make then and there.

“I came back to the FNM with no strings attached, that’s the easier way for me to put it. A lot of people think I came back to the FNM because I’m going to run in the by-election in South Abaco, that Edison’s going to resign, that I’d get a Senate seat, that I would do this. Trust me, there were no conditions on me returning to the FNM. It was on my own free will.”

He added: “If (Mr Key’s resignation) was a case and they were looking at me, I would hope I would be the first to know. So until it is confirmed that he does step down or he resigns or whatever, nothing has been said to me. I think it’s just a lot of speculation that’s going on out there.”

Mr Key, who has held the South Abaco seat since 2007, could not be reached for comment.