Loretta Butler-Turner pictured in Grand Bahama on Saturday.
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
WITH LESS than a week left until the Free National Movement’s one day convention, FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner said she is “more than confident” she will emerge as the party’s new leader.
Speaking with The Tribune, Mrs Butler-Turner said she believes being a woman has not hurt her chances of winning because she is the best and “only choice for leader”.
In a statement released yesterday, the Long Island MP also outlined her plans if elected as party leader and ultimately prime minister.
She said her plan for the Bahamas, among other things, is to expand opportunities for economic growth and employment; reduce the cost of living; bring new initiatives to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour; greater protection of the country’s borders; and enhanced education and training.
As party leader, she said she would retire the FNM’s “substantial remaining debt”; create a leadership development and training institute for candidates, party officials and campaign workers and expand the FNM’s outreach on social media. “I feel very confident, more than confident,” she told The Tribune. “I certainly believe that the delegates believe in me and they are the ones who have the power to determine exactly where they want this party to go. I rolled out a campaign on October 13 and it was well planned and I am proud of the way the campaign has been conducted.
“We had a plan, we stuck with it, we remained focused and we set out a clear vision that we are following. We have been moving across the country and I have been to every part except the most southern part, but I plan on reaching out to those delegates this week. My team has demonstrated not only do we have the capacity to articulate where we want this party to go, but also where we want the country to go. Those cases where people may have an issue with me being a woman are isolated cases, red herrings that were thrown in the mix. I have shown I have the capacity to lead, leadership is not inbred to one gender.”
Mrs Butler-Turner also said if she fails in her leadership bid, it will not deter her commitment to the party.
“My time in the FNM has demonstrated my commitment to the party. I have lost before and I remained consistent. I have grown stronger in my convictions, I have fought to be a part of the FNM and my track record speaks for itself. So for me, it would be a personal loss, but it would only be a set back,” she said.
She made similar statements during a meeting with a Grand Bahama delegate on Saturday.
“I choose the FNM, be clear here, this was my decision and I have worked tirelessly for the record we have in this country,” she told the packed room of delegates. “No matter the outcome of the leadership race, I will always be an FNM and I will work to put the FNM back in control of the government.”
The FNM’s convention is scheduled for Friday, November 21.
Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis will go head-to-head with Mrs Butler-Turner for the party leadership. Dr Minnis did not want to comment on his campaign when contacted yesterday.
FNM Chairman Darron Cash and his deputy Dr Duane Sands have announced that they will contest the post of deputy leader.
Comments
duppyVAT 9 years, 11 months ago
She should be ................... she is the best candidate to beat the PLP in 2017. At least the PLP MPs pay attention to her, heckle her and answer her questions in the House of Assembly ...... they dont give HAM the time of day when he speaks.
TalRussell 9 years, 11 months ago
Has the once so in love facing the media Comrade Loretta now become all freaked out to face hard questions by reporters? He she become so afraid of a damaging question or slip-d-tongue? But stiil it is reassuring that she has come to her senses that being a woman is not the sole qualification to becoming PM come 2017, or has Loretta's campaign war room. forced her to fine tune her much inflated ego? You tell me? Who knows just maybe she honestly believes her campaign jingle is crafty enough capture 50% + 1 them red votes?
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 11 months ago
I hope people don't vote for her just because she's a woman and she's outspoken. We need more qualities than that in a leader. Not saying not to vote for her, that's an individual decision, just don't use gender as the reason. I still don't know what "she'll be a better leader than Minnis" means, I'd prefer that she stood against the standard of what a leader "should" be rather than comparing herself to what she considers a failed leader. but I guess that's politics.
Emac 9 years, 11 months ago
But of course Dr. D. Sands would be the best choice right? ):
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 11 months ago
Yes I like Dr Sands, I need to find out more about him, but I love what I saw of him so far. I saw a man who was well informed and who when presented with a situation took time to absorb what was being asked of him and then used what he knew to provide a response. I'm betting that that's part of his training,he has to be calm in really hairy situations, I could of course get new info that would change my opinion. I think Mrs Turner flies off the handle and she's very defensive, she reminds me of a milder version of Fred Mitchell.
I'd like to see a serious debate between the candidates, I'd like to see them putting forward their plans for the country and have those plans tested with serious questions. I'd like to hear them denounce kickbacks on contracts, grabbing up government land, quieting property, accepting "gifts" for contracts, awarding contracts for their financial gains, in essence acknowledgement of concrete unethical behaviours, so they can't say "I didn't know".political corruption is the root of ALL of our "nation" problems from the Pindling drug era to today
Emac 9 years, 11 months ago
LOL...I get you every time with that one. But you are right though, it is time to introduce a debate forum for our candidates and stop all of the foolish campaign parties. No reason to celebrate the past two and a half years.
asiseeit 9 years, 11 months ago
I would love to hear her view on CORRUPTION and if she believes it can be stamped out in the Bahamas. I wonder if she would support a Freedom of information bill? Education is the only way we can make certain our youth stand a chance in the future so it is good she is wanting to do more in that regard. I would like to hear more from Mrs. Butler-Turner, maybe it is time to have a woman lead the government. Women are the backbone of this country, why not?
SP 9 years, 11 months ago
Why haven't BLT, Minnis, Sands, Cash or the PLP addressed the missing $5M that evaporated into a shell company owned by the then FNM Cabinet minister for tourism?
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 11 months ago
Warning, completely unrelated. I just heard a news story that scientists are recommending that we not eat rice more than twice a week because it has traces of arsenic in it. The levels are not poisonous but long term effects are unknown. (Then again scientists are always telling us not to eat this or that)
The best variety of rice to choose is basmati, which absorbs less arsenic from the soil. It is also possible to remove 80 per cent of arsenic from rice in the cooking process. The key is to rinse thoroughly before cooking, to boil it in the largest volume of water possible (which allows the poison to leach out) and to rinse it again in boiling water after cooking.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic… Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Did mother really know best? My mother and grandmother taught me to wash rice and pick out any black specks. I took a cooking class where the chef said it wasn't necessary, now this, could Grammy and Mummy have been among the smartest women the world?
Emac 9 years, 11 months ago
Are you kidding me??? I should be dead then, cause I am a rice lover. Peas n rice, crab 'n' rice, shrimp fried rice, rice ,rice ,rice. I love it all!! Interest find though
SP 9 years, 11 months ago
The FNM government as matter of policy granted over 5,000 work permits to foreigners every month while over 40,000 Bahamians were unemployed, and an additional 6,000 school-leavers were joining the unemployment lines annually.
Loretta Butler (BLT) is on record saying "Bahamians are a useless drug and alcohol dependent unreliable people which forces the FNM to bring in foreigners for jobs"
If Bahamians are stupid enough to put the FNM back in power then Bahamians will indeed lose the Bahamas to Haitians and do not deserve to keep the country!
The_Oracle 9 years, 11 months ago
The real question is, Who is she being groomed by? Personality is needed to be the tribal leader elect, but it takes money, and plenty of it. A freedom of information Act especially as it concerns Election finances might just show us who has been buying our elections and for how much. What is the going price for a soul anyway these days?
duppyVAT 9 years, 11 months ago
IF THE FNM REALLY WANTS TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION ON THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE BAHAMAS ............. THE TWO CONTENDERS SHOULD HAVE A LIVE NATIONAL DEBATE. STOP THE DOLLY HOUSE GAMES AND LET EVERYONE KNOW ON ZNS LIVE WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE FOR 2017 AND BEYOND ......... GET ONE OF THE HOT TALK SHOW HOSTS TO MODERATE IT LIKE IN THE USA. STOP HIDING AND THROWING ROCK AT EACH OTHER.
IF POLITICIANS DONT DO THAT IN 2017 ........... WE SHOULD BOYCOTT THEIR SORRY ASSES
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 11 months ago
"Hot talk show hosts" is too loose, we will end up with Daryl Miller hosting a comedy hour, and I love Daryl Miller!! Get Jeff Lloyd, Ian Strachan, Gowen Bowe, Rupert Pinder and maybe Jones as candidates for the panel. None of them are lightweights, they will ask the tough questions, if the candidates are afraid to appear in front of this panel, they shouldn't be in the race (just like that other guy who seems to have disappeared now, the construction company owner who claimed long familial ties to politics)
duppyVAT 9 years, 11 months ago
Whoever ........................ just do it!!!!!!!!! No bias ones.
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