The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

AS delegates and supporters arrived for the Free National Movement party’s convention this morning former Attorney General and opposition senator Carl Bethel voiced his support for incumbent Leader Dr Hubert Minnis in the leadership duel with Loretta Butler-Turner.

Sporting a red baseball cap that read “Minnis” on the front, Mr Bethel told The Tribune that the MP for Killarney and former Minister of Health is “the person best suited to carry the party forward into the next general elections”.

Mr Bethel’s comments came as a swarm of FNMs, including former Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest and former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, descended on the Holy Trinity Convention Centre.

“It’s important, having regards to the FNM past history, that the full strength of our leadership should be in the House of Assembly,” Mr Bethel said. “That is the arena that most Bahamians see, observe and judge who they will support to be the next government of the Bahamas. And it is important in terms of our presentation to the nation that our reinvigorated leadership should be in the House of Assembly.

“Everybody has their strengths, and (Deputy Leader) Mrs Butler-Turner has formidable strength. That cannot be denied. The question though is who is best suited of those contending for leadership to take the party to the next level, and that in my view is Dr Hubert Minnis. I believe that he is the person best suited to carry the party forward into the next general elections.”

He also said he supported East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest in his bid for the deputy leadership post, a contest in which he faces Dr Duane Sands and incumbent party chairman Darron Cash.