The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

NEWLY-ELECTED Free National MovementChairman Sidney Collie has been accused of orchestrating a series of “underhanded political tactics” all geared towards ensuring that party leader Dr Hubert Minnis “is placed in the best position” ahead of the organisation’s November national convention.

Sources within the party last night claimed that Mr Collie, whom they characterised as a “lapdog” installed to do the bidding of Dr Minnis, has “worked endlessly to contravene the laws of the party to stack the deck in (Dr) Minnis’ favour.”

An irate party insider lambasted the current leadership regime, saying that Dr Minnis’ fear of losing at the convention has forced him to use “stupid strategies” that will ultimately doom the FNM.

“This is a calculated and insidious conspiracy by Minnis and his lapdog Sidney Collie. What they are attempting to do is elect association slates that will yield to the directive of them.

“This leadership wants to end all form of challenges prior to the convention because they are afraid,” the insider noted.

“What they did in Fort Charlotte tonight is something they have done in other constituencies. They want to make sure that their people are in place, their candidates are supported; this regime wants to make sure that Minnis has no issues.

“Effectively, there are two factions and (Collie) is working to make sure that Minnis has his way. They are manipulating the vote to make sure of that. This isn’t democracy. This is a tragedy. This is horrendous.”

According to reports, members of the Fort Charlotte constituency branch of the FNM that oppose the current leadership have been restricted from participating in the branch’s voting process out of fear that they would circumvent the ratification of a pro-Minnis candidate in the area.

The Tribune understands branch members attempting to vote in the Fort Charlotte association election were informed moments before the vote that they had to be “financially current” with the party to vote at noon on Monday, May 16. After a protest lodged by those members a decision was made to delay the vote until 6 o’clock that evening,

At 6pm, a large percentage of those members returned with outstanding balances in hand, but were informed that no national party officers were present to accept the payments. As a result, the vote was again postponed to Wednesday, May 18, with the stipulation that all members become “financially current” by 5pm on Tuesday, May 17.

However, The Tribune understands that the association members were informed on Tuesday that Mr Collie had decided to revert to his original decision – barring all members not current prior to 6pm on May 16 from the vote. That decision left more than 60 constituency members unable to cast ballots.

Subsequently, another protest was lodged, pushing Wednesday’s vote to May 31.

“Why have we gotten at least more than three different versions of what the rules are,” questioned one association member. “After complying with all stipulations, sir, can you tell us why those members are being unfairly and unconstitutionally disfranchised and not eligible to vote? For a new chairman this disorganisation, indecisiveness does not inspire confidence.

“Everyone who has signed up and became financial in order to participate in the election process should be empowered to do so. Just like the last time, they are playing by the rules. It has been a longstanding tradition in the FNM Fort Charlotte Constituency Association that we give everyone the best opportunity to become financial. Your unreasonable cutoff date makes it appear that you are intentionally trying to disfranchise the people,” the association source added.

When contacted by The Tribune, Mr Collie denied the claims, stating that the FNM was conducting association processes in the way it has for the last 40 years. He said the notion that he was “working some conspiracy” could not have been further from the truth. He contended that transparency and democracy was present for all to see.

“This is news to me. You have to understand that allegations are made every day, but these are baseless and I am not going to respond to them. The FNM is doing things now, just as we have in years past. What you are seeing played out in Fort Charlotte, like all our other associations, is the way we have done things for the last 40 years,” he said.

This is not the first time Dr Minnis has been accused of these tactics. In January, a former council member in a scathing letter accused the Killarney MP of an “underhanded” move to oust former election candidates who are a part of the Council and replace them with new hopefuls to “stack the odds” in his favour.