The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Democratic National Alliance will hold its first convention this fall, party Leader Branville McCartney said yesterday.

He added that party executives are “working to arrange a slate of candidates focused on bettering the Bahamas”.

Mr McCartney said voters will be “pleasantly surprised” at the candidates the party will roll out at the upcoming convention. He added that Bahamians have moved beyond traditional party politics and are demanding governments be held accountable.

He also stressed that he has no plans to re-enter the fold of the Free National Movement.

“I am not going back to the FNM,” he said.

His party, he said, is focused on putting together a platform that will move the country forward.

“That is why I left the FNM and that is why the DNA was born. Here in the DNA we aim to show Bahamians that there is more for the Bahamas, we can build and develop first world infrastructure here in the Bahamas. We can have a quality healthcare system and a quality education system.

“We want to give the Bahamas a government it can be proud of, accountable leaders, respectable representatives and most of all progressive thinkers.”

Mr McCartney indicated that the DNA had originally hoped to hold a convention in May of this year but backtracked on those plans due to the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.

He said his party decided not to rush a convention, but has opted to consult citizens on issues facing them and then assemble the best party possible.

“It is our party’s motto that elections are won on the ground,” said Mr McCartney. “We are going to let constituents guide us. We are going to arrange and select candidates based on how the communities perceive them.”

Mr McCartney suggested that the country is “in for some surprises” during the DNA’s convention. He shed some light on possible candidates saying that high profiles and backgrounds would play a major role in who the party selects.

He said the party has had talks with a number of prospective candidates and has plans to add persons from other parties to the DNA’s 2017 team.

“People sometimes prefer to see a popular face, but with that said we have a candidate committee in place that continues to work on developing a slate of qualified, national minded candidates.

“We will have some high-profile persons running in 2017 because we understand the nature of Bahamian politics. There are several constituencies where there are four to five persons positioning themselves to become candidates in those areas.”

Mr McCartney resigned from Cabinet in 2010 amid struggles with then-Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. He formed the DNA the following year.

His party fielded a full slate of candidates in the 2012 election and while it did not win any seats, it was considered by some observers to be a spoiler in that vote. Many Bahamians believed it was his splinter group that gave the government to the PLP.

Mr McCartney lost his seat in Bamboo Town by 917 votes to PLP newcomer Renward Wells.