Loretta Butler-Turner
By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
AS the start date for the Free National Movement’s convention nears, Long Island MP and party leader hopeful Loretta Butler-Turner proclaimed in her latest campaign ad that she has “stronger leadership abilities” compared to incumbent Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
In the nearly three-minute long video circulated on social media Monday, Mrs Butler-Turner insisted that while both she and Dr Minnis learned at the feet of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, she was by far better suited for the “big chair” of leadership.
“We have a country to win and a party to save. We are going to unify our party. It is not about getting rid of anybody, it’s truly about choosing the best person,” she stated.
Mrs Butler-Turner, in the video clearly aimed at the 410 delegates expected to vote in the party’s convention later this week, said she is prepared to stand up for all FNMs the way she did for Dr Minnis in the House of Assembly - seemingly taking a shot at the passive nature of her leader in Parliament.
“Our country is in a crisis, and FNMs and Bahamians are feeling marginalised, disenfranchised and are feeling that governance is truly not about them.
“So what I say to the delegates today, what we truly need is a leader. A leader that will stand up and fight for your rights the same way I stood up and protected our leader in the House of Assembly.
“That’s the kind of courage and energy that I am going to bring to the table to make sure that FNMs across the length and breath of this Bahamas are once again integrated. The level of victimisation that we see hurled at FNMs and the marginalisation that Bahamians are feeling, I am that leader that is going to stand up to turn it around.”
Mrs Butler-Turner implored delegates to consider her as the best candidate for the job, insisting that her political fate was in their hands.
“We’ve got to be able to have an individual and a team of persons that get it and say, ‘you know what, enough is enough, time for us to turn this country around. Time for us to make opportunities available again to FNMs who have been shut out of this economy.’ It is time for us to make Bahamians, and young people in particular, part of what the Bahamas truly is.
“This is the change that I bring, this is the plan that I want to share with you. Because at the end of the day, if we have five more years of this incompetent, nepotism, cronyism and greed displayed by this PLP government there will be no turning back.”
The Long Island MP said her bid wasn’t about ostracising anyone. She maintained that she only stepped up to the challenge after being spurred on by supporters.
“It is not about getting rid of anybody, it’s truly about choosing the best person. You know that there is an old adage that says, ‘sometimes the best man for the job is this woman,’” said Mrs Butler-Turner as she pointed at herself.
“This woman understands your pain. She has heard your cry. And like I said, she has been a follower just like our current leader. We both followed, followed under our former leader and he imparted some very strong lessons to us.”
“But for this big chair we now need someone who displays stronger leadership abilities and that is why I am asking every FNM delegate to think and pray and vote for Loretta Butler-Turner and Duane Sands; not only to unite our party, but to turn it around.”
Heading into Wednesday’s convention, Mrs Butler-Turner’s “Forward Together” campaign has relied heavily on social media platforms to extend their plans and views to the country.
The Turner-Sands team has held several community forums in recent weeks, which have been streamed live on Facebook.
There has been some modest support to the campaign’s tech savvy approach to reaching voters. However, despite this strategy, one party insider told The Tribune that the campaign stands very little chance against the ‘Roc wit Doc’ campaign.
The FNM’s convention will be held Wednesday through Friday at the Melià resort, Cable Beach.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 8 years, 3 months ago
Obviously....
licks2 8 years, 3 months ago
In which way? Doc has been taking heat for four years. . .while she has been giving it. . .AND HE STOOD LIKE A ROCK. . .BUILD HIS FOUNDATIONS. . .TOOK THE PARTY FROM UNDER LBT AND PAPA. . .BROUGHT THE PUBLIC ON BOARD THE BIG RED SHIP. . .STOOD AGAINST MANY GIANTS. . .HE STOOD IN THE "POWER" OF HIS GOD HE SAID. . .NOW SEEN AS THE ROCKING DOC BY MANY. . .NOW THE MAN TO HAVE IF THE FNM WANTS TO WIN THE NEXT ELECTION IN 2017! NOW PAPA IN A ROUND-ABOUT WAY IS TELLING THE FNM AND THE PEOPLE THAT HE WILL NOT RETURN. . .AND WILL SUPPORT THE ONE WHO WINS LEADERSHIP COMES CONVENTION!
NW WHAT HAS LBT DID? ???????????????????????. . .I WAITING!
Honestman 8 years, 3 months ago
Minnis has "BROUGHT THE PUBLIC ON BOARD THE BIG RED SHIP".
What are you smoking??? I can hardly find anyone who is "On Board" with Minnis and I have been looking hard!!
licks2 8 years, 3 months ago
I SUGGEST THAT YOU GO AT THE RALLY TONIGHT. . .OR JUST JUMP ON ANY JITNEY TO ANY DESTINATION. . .WALK DOWN BAY STREET. . .GO IN THE STRAW MARKET. . .OR GO AT THE LIL HUT ON ARAWAK CAY. . .GET SOME DOWN HOME BREAKFAST AND JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS. . .ASK FOR "MR SPEAKER". . .THEY NORMALLY HAVE A FREE-FOR-ALL POLITICAL DISCUSSION GOING ALL THE TIME OVER BREAKFAST! SAY WHAT YOU LIKE. . . PEOPLE SEE DOC AS THE FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE. . .THE PEPRSON WHO WILL BRING IN THE "NEW" BAHAMAS!
THEY KNOW THAT HE CAN BE TRAINED TO SPEAK. . .BUT NOT TRAINED TO BE A GOOD MAN. . .THATS WHERE HE "CONNECTED". . .UNLIKE YINNA WHO WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE AND DON'T EVEN KNOW THEM! Why do you think that LBT is not connecting with the people in general. . .she come across as a fake and scripted. . .NOT CARING ABOUT THE PEOPLE. . .
Honestman 8 years, 3 months ago
THEY KNOW THAT HE CAN BE TRAINED TO SPEAK!!!!
He has had four years to learn how to speak and to inspire. He has failed miserably on both counts. Some things you just can't be trained on.
Honestman 8 years, 3 months ago
If LBT loses the "dissident six" need to leave before they are kicked out.
licks2 8 years, 3 months ago
No. . .all she needs to do is stop listening to you. . .let you go and start your own party!!
SP 8 years, 3 months ago
................................. Same modus operandi, different pirate ................................
"Time for us to make opportunities available again to FNMs who have been shut out of this economy"
BLT failed miserably as minister of social services. Where did these sudden "leadership abilities" materialize from?
Just saying she has “stronger leadership abilities” means nothing. Nobody with sense will trust anyone who expressed persistent strong anti Bahamian sentiments as minister!
TalRussell 8 years, 3 months ago
Comrades! The shameless gall of this woman surprises few. It will be a bittersweet watch if they video Loretta’s explanation before her jury of 410 Red Movement convention delegates to justify why since 2012 she has exposed for the public's entertainment ridicule the inner workings business of the party for her own selfishness? How she worked to cause deep division within the Red Movement? How she will portray her true role doesn’t help her case that she and her 5 inward-looking parliamentary colleagues were involved in a secret coup to do a Her Excellency Dame Marguerite dance on Minnis? That had the coup succeeded, she and the the PLP’ party of Milo's Governor- general would have remove the Leader of the Red Movement in secret and without seeking the voices of the 3 to one majority of convention delegates who voted for Minnis, nor the General Council members - by having forced Minnis out as parliamentary leader in the Honourable House of Assembly?
What Loretta along with her 5-parliementay House colleagues attempted to do to Minnis has left many reds shocked, saddened and angered, including red members who never supported Minnis?
Only after the public get’s view Loretta’s testimony and cross examination by her jury of 410 convention delegates – can the public know for sure if the delegates believed her?
Comrades if you misinterpreted something I said, or didn’t say, you might try reading Papa’s, Cooper’s Town’s tea leaves to better understand the understated footsie role of Papa Hubert with Loretta than during his long recorded interview did he once bother to condemn the 6 red MP’s behind the attempted coup to remove Minnis. In fact, Papa clearly maintains how it "still remains an on the table possibility, should Minnis, who has done twice defeated Loretta for the leadership, do it for a third time July 27-29, 2016.
Comrades, fear not, for I made nothing up to enhance my case. Its for real!
Arrow 8 years, 3 months ago
Go Doc!Go Doc! Loretta and Sands please sit small. The country not ready for leaders who put Bahamians second, Loretta if this shoe does not fit you speak with your running mate and be surprised by his response.
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