The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

As the FNM prepares for the next general elections which is fast approaching and given the National Chairman’s comments this week in the newspapers about the candidate selection process, the question that immediately comes to mind is, what role will Tommy Turnquest, Brent Symonette, Dion Foulkes, Carl Bethel and Zhivago Laing play in 2017?

The party must take into account the real and prevalent view in the public that there is a need for fresh/new faces offering as candidates in the next general elections - as the PLP did effectively in 2012.

There is no question that the party has to offer the public fresh/new faces as part of its 2017 slate of candidates as it is often heard that the public does not want “re-cycled” candidates. Obviously, persons have different definitions for that term.

Nevertheless, the broad term and its implications are understood. There is a view also that persons who offered in 1992 should not be offering again in 2017.

However, when the situation is analysed deeper, one would have to consider that while the public sentiment about the need for fresh/new faces is undeniable, it is also true that the FNM will have to strike a balance between new candidates and those with governmental experience.

The task for the Hon Dr Minnis and the FNM is to strike the right balance between the competing realities; the need for new candidates versus candidates with experience in government/cabinet.

We now come to the question of Tommy Turnquest, Brent Symonette, Dion Foulkes, Carl Bethel and Zhivago Laing, however before we discuss them in terms of candidacy for 2017 let’s examine the current persons who are likely to run at this time and who have cabinet experience.

The current persons in the House of Assembly who are likely to seek nominations as candidates in 2017 and have government experience include: Hon Dr Hubert Minnis, Loretta Butler-Turner and Neko Grant and there are those who are not currently in the House of Assembly, but are likely to offer based on what is heard on the street; Desmond Bannister in South Abaco and Brensil Rolle in Garden Hills. While Mr Rolle did not serve in the Cabinet, he was a Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Housing. That would make five persons with government/cabinet experience who are likely to seek nominations and run in 2017.

That brings us squarely to the other persons mentioned. As to Tommy Turnquest, based on what is heard on the street, he is not likely to seek a nomination nor run in the upcoming general elections. Mr Turnquest first ran in 1987 and did so to 2012 – six general elections, winning three and losing three in what is essentially, the Mount Moriah constituency today. He did well. It is said that Mr Turnquest is prepared to play a role in the party now in whatever capacity the party needs and wants him to play. It is said that his sole objective is to ensure the FNM’s victory in 2017.

As to Brent Symonette, based on what is heard on the street, he might seek a nomination in the upcoming general elections. Mr Symonette first ran in 2002 being elected as the only FNM MP in New Providence. He ran again in 2007 when he was re-elected but did not run in 2012.

There is talk that he may be interested in running again in 2017 and he may be interested in his “old seat” - that would be St Anne’s which is now held by the Hon Hubert Chipman, Chairman, Public Accounts Committee. It seems that Mr Chipman intends to seek renomination and run for re-election in 2017. If that is so, while it appears that Mr Symonette, if he is interested in running would likely be given another opportunity and naturally would bring considerable cabinet experience being a former Deputy Prime Minister, would receive a nomination. The real question is, in which constituency? Maybe, Fox Hill or Yamacraw.

As to Dion Foulkes, based on what is heard on the street he might be interested in running in Yamacraw again. Mr Foulkes first ran in 1992 and did so to 2012. He won in 1992 and 1997 but has not won since. He ran in a new constituency in 2002, another new one in 2007 and yet another new one in 2012, not winning any of them.

Given Mr Foulkes’ recent electoral history, the question is should he consider playing a supportive role in the campaign of 2017? As to Yamacraw, there is word that Lisa Bostwick Dean, daughter of Hon Henry Bostwick and Hon Janet Bostwick, the former MP for Yamacraw for 20 years may be interested in offering for Yamacraw. Some say, given her mother’s legacy in the area, if she is interested, she should be seriously considered.

As to Carl Bethel, he, like Dion Foulkes, first ran in 1992 and did so to 2012. He won in 1992 and 1997, lost in 2002 but won again in 2007 and lost in 2012. Every time he ran it was in the Holy Cross/Sea Breeze Constituency, in that way, similar to Tommy Turnquest.

However, of all the persons mentioned, Sen Carl Bethel has been the only person who has been in frontline politics as the Opposition Leader in the Senate. The word on the street is that he might also be interested in running in 2017 for the same seat. If he decides to run, it seems, with his current prominent position in the party, he would be seriously considered for the nomination.

As to Zhivago Laing, he first ran in 1997 and did so to 2012, that is four times consecutively, winning two and losing two. There is a view that Mr Laing still has a lot to offer and he is the youngest of the group.

However, the word on the street is that he is not really involved and may not be interested in politics at this time. He was appointed to the Senate in 2012 after our loss but later resigned from the post. A concern often expressed is that of Mr Laing’s moving between the two seats, Marco City and Ft Charlotte. If he decided to seriously seek a nomination, which one would it be? If he were serious and made such an effort to seek a nomination, taking into account what he has to offer, he might stand a chance of getting a nomination. Except for Mr Symonette, he has been to the people the fewest times.

Finally, whether any or none of these persons seek a nomination for 2017, there is still the possibility that the Hon Dr Minnis might consider appointing one of them as Government Leader in the Senate, which would be a good idea.

If none of the former cabinet members mentioned are candidates in 2017 and if at least one was appointed as discussed, that would mean an FNM government with at least six persons with governmental experience and that would provide the necessary balance between fresh/new faces and candidates with the requisite experience.

A CONCERNED FNM

Nassau,

June 4, 2015.