The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Democratic National Alliance's first convention will be held "shortly before Easter", party leader Branville McCartney announced on Friday. 

Mr McCartney said officials are now looking at "the beginning of April" 2016 to host the convention at the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel. 

Mr McCartney also announced that a January 8 date has been "tentatively" set for the opening of the party's new headquarters on East Street south in a building owned by DNA Chairman Andrew Wilson.

In October, Mr Wilson announced that the DNA had postponed its convention, stating that the "thousands of dollars" which would have been spent on the "usual pomp and pageantry" of such an event would be donated to Hurricane Joaquin relief organisations.

The convention was previously scheduled for November 13.  

On Friday however, Mr McCartney announced that the party is in the process of "trying to build our resources back so when we do have our convention it will be second to none". 

"We are preparing for the next elections and we are hoping that persons who are willing and wanting a change for this country, if you are looking to move this country forward as opposed to keeping us in the state we're in, we're asking you to join the DNA," Mr McCartney said.  

During a press conference at the Halsbury Chambers, Village Road, Mr McCartney again dismissed rumours that his party is "folding up" from losing supporters and members, saying that such rumours come from "persons in other parties who are desperate for their own survival". 

Conversely, Mr McCartney claimed that it's "those other parties out there that's getting weaker, where persons are coming to us and want to see change. We have had persons for instance from the FNM who came over to the DNA because they thought they would have gotten a nomination under the DNA," he said.

"They didn't get the nomination so they went back to the FNM. You have persons from the PLP, many who we know came over because they're expecting nominations. We haven't determined whether or not they'll get it but we'll see if they don't get it whether or not they'll go back to the PLP." 

He added: "The party is far from imploding as they say on social media or far from there being nobody in the DNA. We are at minimum three times stronger, bigger and more equipped at this stage that we were in 2012 and you can take that to the bank, literally. 

"This foolishness about being self appointed and that the DNA never had elections is rubbish, pure rubbish, and is being done and is being said by those desperate parties out there struggling to maintain their viability."