Loretta Butler-Turner accepted her instruments of appointment to become the first woman to serve as leader of the official Opposition on Sunday.
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By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis confirmed yesterday that the FNM has started to search for a new Long Island candidate to represent the party in the 2017 general election.
The seat is currently held by Loretta Butler-Turner, who is one of seven FNM MPs who ousted the Killarney MP last week as leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly.
While Dr Minnis would not say much about this, he told The Tribune that the party was “going through the process” and was resolute in declaring that he would ensure disciplinary proceedings – now underway against the “rebel seven” – would be handled as “expeditiously as possible”.
This also comes amid harsh criticism from some in Long Island who insisted that there is “no place” in the constituency for their current representative.
Mrs Butler-Turner, who was already ratified to run on the party’s ticket in 2017, along with six other FNM MPs, orchestrated Dr Minnis’ removal as leader in the House of Assembly last Wednesday. She was also chosen to replace Dr Minnis in the lower chamber.
On the heels of this stunning move, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie confirmed yesterday that the party received a petition from voters in Long Island who say they do not want Mrs Butler-Turner to represent them in 2017.
Mr Collie would not say how many signatories were on the petition, but he said it, along with the opinions of constituents, would play into whatever decision the Executive Committee makes.
“The Executive Committee of the party commenced a procedure prescribed by the FNM constitution,” Mr Collie told The Tribune. “So the voices, opinions and positions of the constituents of Long Island at some point during this procedure will be factored in. You could never ignore what the people in the constituency are saying.
“We have started a procedure (to look for a new candidate). Immediately (after Dr Minnis’ removal) the Executive Committee commenced an investigation and by the constitution, the procedure is a five-step process, and we have completed two steps so far.
“The first step was a debate first of all to discuss the move, which was the letter for revocation. So we debated it following the constitution in regards to what the Executive Committee deemed a breach of the constitutional provision. I won’t go into the provision, but the Executive Committee deemed it a breach. The Executive Committee took and preferred a charge and took that to the council the same night.”
He continued: “The council approved the letter to be sent to each of the seven offending members and they have seven days to reply to the charge that has been laid out in the letter.
“So if they choose not to reply in writing as they are invited to do or they choose to reply in writing, but the Executive Committee does not in its absolute discretion deem that they have exculpated themselves from the charge then the executive committee has another step that it takes but that step will go into discipline.”
Rejection
Former Cabinet Minister Tennyson Wells insisted yesterday that Mrs Butler-Turner and her colleague’s efforts were “going nowhere.”
He said: “She wouldn’t even get her deposit back. Mark my words. Whoever controls the torch symbol, the name and the council will be the winner in this. At the end of the day, all of this will lead them nowhere.”
Meanwhile, Dillis Smith, former FNM Long Island constituency association chairperson, confirmed to this newspaper that a petition was completed and sent to party executives on Sunday night.
She said it was formal notice that “Long Island don’t want lazy Loretta.”
According to Ms Smith, contention between certain constituents and the MP has been building since 2012. However, she said the “stunt” the MP pulled last week was all they could take.
“Let me tell you,” Ms Smith said when she was contacted, “This didn’t just start. I am the chairperson, or the former, actually I am still the chairperson by the constitution.
“In 2014 Loretta and (former FNM Chairman) Darron Cash came here and had an election of officers behind our back because she wouldn’t listen to us here,” she claimed.
“This started way back in 2012 when she came in here because we weren’t really having meetings after she came in. So I said to her, ‘Loretta we are up for re-election and we need the party to come in and have the election’ because I wasn’t going to run for the position anymore, since I had the seat from 2002. But she said when she was ready for an election she would call it. That didn’t sit well with me because I’m not no lazy person and our association isn’t lazy.
“She met us here working and she is a lazy person. She don’t like to work. She came in here and she took advantage of us. Now because we stood up to her that’s when 2014 convention came and she had Darron Cash to come up and have the election behind our backs and throw all of us out of the association,” she further alleged.
“All I know now is Long Island is shut down and if she come back in here she ain’t coming on the FNM ticket,” Ms Smith continued.
“The torch is the only symbol we know in Long Island. Whatever she decides to do, she could go where she going because she carrying the whole six with her. This is the end of her political career.”
Another constituent told The Tribune the party should “move with haste” in finding another candidate.
The resident, who requested anonymity, said there was no reason for Mrs Butler-Turner to seek any support in Long Island because voters wanted change.
Mrs Butler-Turner, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key and Ft Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins each signed a letter of no confidence last Wednesday in Dr Minnis as the leader of the Official Opposition. The letter was submitted to House Speaker Dr Kendal Major and Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling. The group also voted to be led by Mrs Butler-Turner in the House of Assembly.
She was officially sworn in as leader of the Official Opposition on Sunday.
Comments
Economist 8 years ago
The old has been T. Wells says this and that. He is another of the old die hard Whitfield followers.
These are the ones who could only win an election with Ingraham.
They are back in control with their old "never win" ideas.
Minnis resign and let the rest of us move on to develop a real opposition.
sheeprunner12 8 years ago
Why is there "seeking" written in this caption??????? .......... It should be "already has" ...... LBT is a registered undertaker ............ she knows where to buy the best quality coffin(for herself) because she is politically "dead" in Long Island ................ Adios LBT .................. Hail Adrian Gibson!!!!!!!!!!!
Greentea 8 years ago
"On the heels of this stunning move, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie confirmed yesterday that the party received a petition from voters in Long Island who say they do not want Mrs Butler-Turner to represent them in 2017. Mr Collie would not say how many signatories were on the petition, but he said it, along with the opinions of constituents, would play into whatever decision the Executive Committee makes." This is utter BS. The same lack of transparency that cause you to be in this position in the first place- FNM will NEVER learn. Six people? Twenty people? Who are these people? But more than that THIS is the response to your political beat down? Petty, dumb and painfully obvious. LBT probably knew what was coming from those old heads. Watch what happens...
sheeprunner12 8 years ago
Greentea, please get on Bahamasair or Southern Air and come to Long Island and see and hear that for yourself .............. Adios LBT!!!!!!!!
Space 8 years ago
You saw the petition? How many signatures were on there?
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years ago
Most Bahamians fail to understand that a UK styled Westminster parliamentary system of government has been ill-suited for an independent Bahamas since July 10, 1973. Pindling quickly realized that it was all too easy for the leader of a political party to gain absolute control over the party by fully stacking the party's leadership apparatus with small minded loyal supporters and cronies who would always put their party leader above the well being of the Bahamas and its people. Our political parties do not have a true democratic purging mechanism for the party leader who invariably successfully hijacks the entire leadership apparatus of the party in order to cement his/her position as party leader with unquestionable and unlimited authority to remain in that de facto dictator role.
Hubbigity, Crooked Christie and the Dimwitted Doc are all from Pindling's school of thinking when it comes to gaining and retaining absolute control over the leadership apparatus of their political party, thereby capitalizing on one of the key weaknesses within our ill-suited system of government. Bahamians need to wake up to the fact that the political parties will always serve the hijacker's interests in obtaining unchecked power, with no built-in democratic mechanism for booting the hijacker when necessary for the good of the party and the Bahamian people. This explains why Pindling was not toppled by the findings of the 1980's Commission of Inquiry into his drug smuggler dealings, why Crooked Christie has refused to step down after two national referendums in which the Bahamian people have expressed a resounding vote of no confidence in him, and why the Dimwitted Doc is able to hold on to his leadership of the FNM party.
TalRussell 8 years ago
Comrades I must confess be setback by the way Minnis and the Red Party's Supreme Council have thus far taken the wait-and-see reaction to the Coup de théâtre.
I would have thought that since Loretta has not set her foot on Long Island - that since Loretta won't go to her constituents, the party will bring her Long island constituents to the People's Honourable House of Assembly? For tis only Long Islanders who can wipe that damn smile off her face by sending her back where she long had belonged - far away, off of their beloved Long Island.
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2016…
sheeprunner12 8 years ago
Tal ............ Long Islanders are not blind FNM supporters ......... they are quite savvy when it comes to politics ........... after all, we gave The Bahamas the PLP as well .......... until Pindling hi-jacked it and the rest is history
Economist 8 years ago
LBT has done more to solidify the opposition in 5 days than Minnis did in 4 years.
A smart person would sit back and wait a month or so to see what can be achieved.
This childish knee jerk reaction will only hurt the Country.
Does anyone know how old Dillis Smith is?
sheeprunner12 8 years ago
See my comment above ............ this not a knee-jerk reaction to LBT ....... She was Hubert Ingraham's "driftwood candidate" from Day 1 ......... Do not sit up in Nassau trying to make decisions for those who have to live with Nassau's stupid decisions everyday
TigerB 8 years ago
Agreed Economist, I am certain they know what will happen to them going forward, so its my guess they have a plan. I almost seem all going to DNA, no matter what McCartney says
TalRussell 8 years ago
Comrades! DNA Leader Bran is the guest coming up in few seconds live-on the Guardian's The Revolution Talk Show. Every red shirt, needs tune-in live o hear for yourselves exactly what the green party's leader and your Loretta has planned for your red party. Will be good be reminded directly from mouth man himself, all about his runaway ego.
www.guardiantalkradio.com
Economist 8 years ago
Sheeprunner12, I am not a Nassuvian myself so understand but, I would still wait and see.
It may be that a change of seats for the candidates can be negotiated..
Dillis Smith seems to have her own personal agenda, to get her vengeance, so to speak.
The old time FNM's may not like what LBT has done but the FNM had no chance with Minnis. The only thing he was going to do was drag everyone down.
The FNM really needs to have a majority of under 45 counsel members. At the moment the FNM is like its leaders, old and dying.
sheeprunner12 8 years ago
We have a two-party system that is entrenched ........ the DNA was a spoiler in 2012 .......... We do not need a spoiler in 2017 (nuff said)
Economist 8 years ago
More and more countries are developing multi party systems. I respectfully disagree that we have a two party system. The last election a third party polled a large number of votes and may even win a seat this time around. In the 1970's or early 80's we had three parties.
EasternGate 8 years ago
The fact that Wells speaks for Minnis, tells me that Minnis has got to go!
TalRussell 8 years ago
Comrades! STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING! Only been listening Bran few minutes and he's done tossed 4 grenades under red shirts big red tent and I don't think new "supreme leader" hasn't even started run out grenades. Now you know where the Chinese grenades ended-up.
DNA Leader Bran is the guest now "live"-on the Guardian's The Revolution Talk Show. Every red shirt, needs tune-in live to hear for yourselves exactly what the green party's leader and your Loretta has planned for your red party. Will be good be reminded as Minnis sure as hell was, directly from mouth man himself, all about his runaway ego.
www.guardiantalkradio.com
hnhanna 8 years ago
It’s time to get rid of the Westminster system and become a republic.
TalRussell 8 years ago
Comrade hnhanna, I am not ready go there with you but I need convincing that a Republic country will change much, if anything. The Queen is the least we problems.
sheeprunner12 8 years ago
Tal has a point .......... the out islands have to be freed of Nassau control (federalism) and the leader of the country must be elected by the citizens (republic) ........ but if we want to keep the same glorified dictatorship constitution (leadership powers) we have now, those changes alone will not work.
TalRussell 8 years ago
Comrade SheepRunner12, can you imagine if we had even just 15 years ago signed a Hawksbill type deal with say Abaco, that would have allowed the industries thinking Abacoians to have established their own Marsh Harbour Port Authority, the results would been the type of growth in Abacio that has never been realized for Freeport.
Imagine the degree of the growth that would be underway across the Abaco islands, had only the two former law partners Perry and Hubert, granted Abaco the same hundreds millions dollars in tax avoidance dollars schemes granted to Freeport in just the last months?
sheeprunner12 8 years ago
Hubert allowed the Chinese to build a port in North Abaco with no plan to build its economy ............. how foolish is that??????
But Long Island cannot get ONE international airport?????? Come on!!!!!!
TalRussell 8 years ago
Both Long Island and Abaco have such growth potential. If they don't curtail crime in the Nation's capital - it will become a third world little island among chain 700 islands.
sheeprunner12 8 years ago
We all know the PLP plan (Rob the Country Bone-dry).......... We know the DNA plan (Bran or nuttin) ............ What is the Sterling Seven's Plan???? ............ We need to know, as most of them seem to have reached their maximum political shelf life (no re-nominations)
This is the enigma that surrounds why Bahamians are baffled by this FNM coup ......... are they going to re-invent their political images and mount a comeback under a new name???
We may know this when the Parliament re-opens in January 2017 (after We March 2.0)
banker 8 years ago
Jokes, the lot of it. Minnis will be the next PM and the Bahamas will be the better for it.
Economist 8 years ago
Banker, how do you come to that conclusion? Perry has done nothing as Prime Minister and Minnis has done nothing as Leader of the Opposition, PLP=FNM=PLP
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years ago
Wow! All it took was a Senate seat to get Bran to turn over the DNA to LBT thereby abandoning and betraying all longtime supporters of that political party. Next will come a most interesting re-shuffling of the DNA's leadership apparatus along with changes to its slate of candidates for the next general election. It seems Bran was always about Bran and Bran alone as many of us suspected, explaining why his party was never able to secure a seat in the HOA. The implosion of the FNM now seems to have led to the implosion of the DNA, leaving only the PLP standing. Crooked Christie's enrichment of the Dimwitted Doc's pocketbook has bought Christie much more than he (or his Red China friends) could have ever expected or dreamed. Yes, it certainly looks like Red China has decided and made it possible (by dishing out the cash) for Crooked Christie to have another five-year term. And to think the Obama-led U.S. government is worried about the Russians having interfered with the recent U.S. elections! What a joke!!
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