The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

It is fine for anyone to hold a view. However, it must also be appreciated that others may have a different view. The Free National Movement will have a convention and will have it early in 2015.

Since someone put in a public domain a skewed view of the proceedings of how FNM Convention 2015 came about, let us make sure it is clear and not misleading. The FNM Council had two votes and very passionate discussions on the holding of the convention.

Holding Convention no later than May 2015 - Defeated;

Holding Convention no later than November 2014 - Was discussed but never put to a vote;

Holding Convention no later than March 2015 - Confirmed.

Dr Hubert Minnis did not push an agenda for when convention was to be held. Yet, when he desired for it to be held still one, and this was despite the focus determination of McAlpine and others.

The argument proffered was that holding a Convention later will accrue benefits to the PLP. Yet, no argument was put forward to bolster that position, unless one were to surmise that some who believe there will be a change in leadership.

The reality is that Dr Hubert Minnis is proving to be an exceptionally good leader and certainly very focused. Despite all of the shenanigans of those who do not support him and seek to undermine him at every turn; he is getting stronger and stronger.

Let us not forget, that this is the FNM and we are the most democratic party in the country. We must also appreciate that whomever wishes to challenge for any position, including the leadership, is free to do so. We as FNM just ask that it be done with decency and in the best interest of harmony and the future success of the party and our country.

Now having said that, Hubert A Ingraham never had full support when he was leader and nor will anyone in the FNM ever will. We are not a cult following like others of a greener hue; or the yellow whose leader appointed so many Stalwarts thus disenfranchising the voice of the delegates and people from the constituencies.

Anyone seeking the leadership of the FNM should ensure the following:

They have declared. If not, should cause for immediate suspension of their campaign. Why would we as FNMs want to vote for someone who was breaking the laws that we sent them to uphold and create.

If they are an MP, their constituency office should be open and operational since the 2012 election. Do people believe we are stupid to support someone who cannot keep their personal constituency office open, that the taxpayers are paying for? If it is not open, we also require, as the Bahamian people should, where is the money that has been provided for the last two years plus?

Again, if they are an MP, their constituency association should have been holding the monthly meetings. If that is not the case the association itself should be questioning whether the MP should be given consideration to run again. Further, if you cannot keep one constituency open; why should we believe you can keep all throughout the country?

If they are or were an MP or was a candidate, we should have a report from their constituency association of their outstanding work in the constituency association and the constituency or constituencies ( if they have run in multiple areas).

Should be working with the party and supporting the team. If the individual has been selfish in their present role, why should we believe they will all of a sudden change by becoming the leader.

Should not be attacking party members that they believe do not support them, this demonstrates they are level headed, mature and on the flip side not nasty, intolerant and immature. We need a leader that can attract as many as possible through their genuine goodwill not fake smiles.

Appreciate that Hubert A Ingraham set a high standard for work ethic. The individual cannot be lazy and late for everything, we already have that with the present PM and will not tolerate slothfulness in our party’s leader.

We expect that the person has done such an outstanding job in any present or past roles in the organization, that people can easily see how effective they would be as a leader.

Individual should have a clear vision for the country and party, that is viable and not to run a campaign that is solely based on pulling down and tearing down what we have.

If anyone is interested in being the leader and has any two licks from the above, they should disqualify themselves and not waste convention time. Clearly, we in the FNM believe in “Delivering” and cannot solely have talkers leading us, as we are not merely about rhetoric.

We in the FNM must be about putting the necessary work that will take to positively transform the country. We must be about conducting the necessary critical analysis of our country and the best way forward. We must have a powerful vision and national development plan that the Bahamian people can buy into. We must be about the catalyst for change.

Presently, only Dr Hubert A Minnis represents a real change from what we had since 1967. No other names that have emerged for leadership in the FNM, DNA or PLP has that distinction, they all have ties to what, especially the DNA claims, to be attacking. (This matter will be addressed more thoroughly in a subsequent article). He is a self made man from very humble beginnings from over the hill. He has continued to remain connected with the people in these very same communities, perhaps that is why he is so comfortable meeting and being with people no matter what island or place.

Dr Minnis will emerge from the FNM 2015 convention a formidable force to reckon with, as upon being successful in his re-election he would have defeated the mystique of 1967 within the Free National Movement. He will then have to take it on nationally having to defeat both the PLP and DNA, both parties fighting against the principles of the FNM.

Dr Hubert Minnis will win and the FNM will be better for it. Hope will be restored in the FNM and those who were the stepping stones will become the corner stone. We will then be able to say as our illustrious first leader and father of the FNM Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield once said: “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty we are free at last!”

FNM STEPPING STONE

Nassau,

July 2, 2014.