The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Deputy Chief Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

MAURICE Moore, considered to be one of the Free National Movement’s founding fathers, insisted that the seven MPs’ shocking move to revoke Killarney MP Dr Hubert Minnis’ appointment as leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament could have been avoided had he fired the “rebels” ahead of the party’s July convention.

He said the group of seven continuously flaunted “personal ambitions and desires,” which had no place in a party that desperately needed to portray unity.

Mr Moore was referring to the threat of six FNM MPs earlier this year, at the time excluding Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key, to write to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling expressing no confidence in Dr Minnis if he did not agree to hold an early national convention.

Dr Minnis gave in to that request and a convention was held in July, from which he re-emerged as leader. Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner waged a bitter campaign against him, but dropped out of the race citing victimisation and irregularities in the process.

Now that the MPs have made good on their threat, having on Wednesday submitted a letter of no confidence to the governor general and House Speaker Dr Kendal Major, Mr Moore said “things will play out now and they will play out right.”

Meanwhile, former FNM cabinet minister Tennyson Wells yesterday questioned what was the “end game” of the MPs’ plot, pointing to their limitations to accomplish anything of merit in the run up to the next general election.

While the move further illuminates a deep divide in the party, Mr Wells said he doubted it would harm the FNM’s chances of securing a win in the 2017 general election.

“Most of them said they were not running,” Mr Wells said when he was contacted.

He quit the FNM back in 2001 after contention with then party leader former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

“They just want to destroy the FNM. They have this view that if they can’t have the party then nobody can have it. That’s all it could be. It has nothing to do with the good of the country for them.

“(To do this) right after a convention with a man you was contesting but then backed out because you believed you were getting beaten and he was re-elected by acclamation, you decide that you are not satisfied by that anymore so you are going to move against him. The Bahamian public they are not stupid, they see what is going on.”

He continued: “It’s really selfish, petty and shows no regard for the FNM supporters or the country. That is what they have demonstrated there because I can’t see what the end game is.

“But I think there are ulterior motives. There are other people who knew what was going on and were organising this. Those people are pulling the string and are just sitting back while those seven are being manipulated.”

Member of Parliament and the country were stunned on Wednesday when Dr Major revealed during the morning session that the seven MPs submitted a letter of no confidence, which stated that they voted to be led in the House by Mrs Butler-Turner.

While the petition to rescind Dr Minnis’ post as leader of the Official Opposition was accepted by Dr Major, it remains unclear whether the governor general has given the nod of approval to their request.

It bore the signatures of Mrs Butler-Turner, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn and Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins.

FNM members Renward Wells, the Bamboo Town MP, and East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest did not sign this request to remove Dr Minnis.

Dr Minnis remains leader of the FNM.