The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson yesterday forecast that former MP Sidney Collie would emerge as the new chairman of the Free National Movement.

Mr Watson said he would not be in town for tonight’s vote at the party’s headquarters, but noted that Mr Collie held wider support than contender Rodney Moncur.

“Moncur is a very good demonstrative fellow but I don’t expect him to get any real support in the party,” Mr Watson said.

“I expect Sidney Collie will win. He’s more of a regular fellow in the party.”

Responding to whether Mr Collie would be able to energise the party, he said: “When he campaigned with me back in the ’80s and ’90s he was running his own campaign so he should have an idea of what should be done. There will be a campaign committee running the campaign for the party anyway.

“But I expect him to match up,” he said.

While former FNM Chairman Carl Bethel declined to comment on his pick for the post, he underscored that the former MP was a longtime FNM that was “eminently” qualified.

He also hit out at criticism that more people did not offer for the post.

Mr Bethel said: “I never remember a situation where there were more than two people running for chairman.

“I think it’s silly criticism. (PLP Chairman) Bradley Roberts, he should know better, politics is what politics is. I can’t recall a time in history when more than two people ran for chairman.”

Mr Bethel said: “He (Moncur) joined more than two years ago, he like any other member is entitled to stand for any post they wish to, that doesn’t mean he will win.”

“Sidney Collie is a member in good standing, very experienced in politics. He has been an FNM since Torchbearers. He’s eminently qualified to serve as chairman.”

Candidate Rodney Moncur yesterday said he was confident in the lead up to the chairman race, despite uncertainty over the electoral process.

Mr Moncur believed there was a need for future legislation to govern political party elections that would increase transparency and disallow “gangsterism.”

“The party needs some fundamental changes as it relates to elections of officers,” he said, “it’s not transparent. Perhaps one day we will have legislation to govern political parties to ensure you can avoid the kind of gangsterism.”

“I feel confident, yes,” he said.

“Nobody has said to me how it’s going to be done. They are saying to me that those who are on the advisory council but are on the list will not vote and some are saying that they will vote so I’m not sure.”

“Whatever the results are, I feel good.”

The former DNA candidate for the Bain Town and Grants Town constituency said he has canvassed eligible voters and also tried reaching out to his opponent Mr Collie, the former Blue Hills MP, but was unsuccessful.

“The feedback has been positive,” he said, “but elections being what it is everybody are kind and sometimes even people who are going to vote for you don’t want you to know out of fear you will talk it.”

“Everybody I’ve not been able to reach I’ve went through the list and have been calling people. It will be exciting to see what happens.”

Mr Moncur said: “I have attempted to see if I could reach him (Collie). I went to his office, but they said he was not in.”

The FNM council will vote at a special meeting at its headquarters tonight.

There are 183 members eligible to vote, according to Acting Chairman Brensil Rolle.

Mr Rolle said the short period he served as chairman was a “wonderful experience”, adding that the constant challenge of the post was to increase public visibility and unify the party.

“I’ve been in the post of deputy chairman for a long time so I know the functions of chairman, and I know that the constant challenge of the office will be to get more FNMs involved and seek to unify the party to get more FNM out in public domain, especially young FNMs, and to continue to unify the party to be one cohesive unit going into elections.

“Meaning to get everybody on the same message, to get the choir singing on the same song - which is to defeat the PLP.

“We’re not all singing different tunes but some people are offbeat a little bit, but that happens in a very democratic party, that’s not strange to the FNM. Once election is called I’m hopeful and sure members will be on the same page,” Mr Rolle said.

Mr Collie could not be reached yesterday.