The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

I advise that I will not seek nor will I accept a nomination as the Free National Movement candidate for St Anne’s or any other constituency in the forthcoming General Elections.

I have so advised the Leader of the FNM, Dr Hubert Minnis and the Chairman of our Party, Sidney Collie. I took this action following consultation with the members of the Constituency Association of St Anne’s.

I began my involvement with the Free National Movement nearly 45 years ago. I joined the party in 1972 as a 19-year-old because I was concerned about the cult of personality and one-man rule the country was headed in under the Progressive Liberal Party.

I have worked for the FNM in every election since 1972, working with candidates such as Basil Nichols, Anthony “Boozy” Rolle, Frank Watson and Dr Jacinta Higgs, to name a few.

I was inspired by leaders like Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, Sir Arthur Foulkes and other ‘freedom fighters’, who dedicated their lives to building the FNM and to fighting for freedom and democracy.

My involvement included working with the party to ensure and entrench a two-party democracy in our country and the eventual election of the FNM in 1992.

During our time in office under the leadership of Hubert Ingraham I was privileged to serve on various boards. I have served on the party’s Executive Committee for a decade. I am proud of the great success of the FNM in reforming and modernising the Bahamas.

I did not seek to become an elected Member of Parliament but in 2012, it was a singular honour to be invited by the then incumbent MP Brent Symonette and the then Leader of the FNM, Hubert A Ingraham, to pursue a nomination for the seat.

I was pleased to be nominated by the FNM as the candidate for the St Anne’s constituency, which I have been proud to serve in the House of Assembly for the past almost five years. Along with my Constituency Association we have a record of accomplishments. Allow me to name a few.

• We held after-school programs for kids needing help with homework and preparation for BGCSE and BJC;

• Playground equipment was installed on the park on Johnson Road;

• A gazebo and grill was installed on Sapphire and Sunset Park;

• The park in Nassau East was fenced in;

• The basketball court in Johnson Road was refurbished;

• We held five back-to school events for school children, providing back packs and school supplies;

• We held annual Christmas events for children in St. Anne’s and every child received a gift;

• We ensured that all areas were clean and the streets lights were working;

• We ensured that all potholes were fixed on a timely basis;

• We held summer school for children for each of the last five summers where they were taught math and English;

• We donated computers and printers to St Anne’s Church after-school program;

• We held constituency meetings on a regular basis to hear the concerns of the people;

• We also had several guest speakers present on topical issues such as National Health Insurance, VAT, general health issues and the equality referendum;

• We installed a computer lab for constituents to complete projects for school and general use;

I maintained a constituency office from February, 2012, to date and was available to meet with constituents at any time. In particular, regular office hours were held from 4 to 7 pm every Thursday.

Because of the good work we did together, the Constituency Association expressed their confidence in me by writing to Dr Minnis and the Candidates Committee on September 5, 2015. The letter was signed by all of the executives of the Association.

That was over a year ago. The Association’s letter was never acknowledged.

During the first week of March of this year, I met the Executive of my Association. We then met with the Leader and then Chairman Michael Pintard during the first week of March, 2016.

My candidacy was discussed at length. We were assured that I would be re-nominated.

The Association again wrote to the Leader on September 21, referring to its earlier letter and our meeting. To date we have heard nothing, which I consider a tremendous sign of disrespect toward the Association.

I have taken note of various commentaries in the media concerning my re-nomination and in particular to the Leader’s refusal to confirm whether I would be re-nominated for the forthcoming General Election.

I initially voted for and supported Dr Minnis as Leader of the FNM. Over time I had differences with my party’s Leader and the direction he was moving the party.

Political parties committed to democracy typically have such debates and disagreements. But under the current leadership of the FNM such disagreements are far too often met with resentment.

I remained loyal to the party and continued to work to improve the FNM for the benefit of the Bahamian people. But sadly, the FNM that I have supported all of my life has become an organisation that I barely recognise.

It was my privilege to serve St Anne’s and the Bahamian people in the House of Assembly. Sadly, the work I did as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee was constantly obstructed by the government, which is the most non-transparent and unaccountable government in the modern Bahamas.

Unlike under the FNM and former Prime Minister Ingraham, the Christie government has consistently refused to provide certain information to the Committee.

I must also acknowledge that I did not have the full co-operation of my Leader as Leader of the Opposition in pushing the government harder on a number of key issues, including the work of the Public Accounts Committee.

It is clear that under the leadership of Dr Minnis my contribution to the FNM as a Member of Parliament is no longer desired, required or wanted. Accordingly, I am withdrawing from consideration as a candidate for the St Anne’s constituency.

I pledge my continued support of the FNM and will serve faithfully in the House until the end of my term.

Through my church and in other civic organisations, and through public service and political life, I have sought to serve our country, which I love with all of my heart and soul. At this time, I can best serve the FNM and the country in other capacities.

The Bahamas has so much potential. But under the PLP we have squandered much of this potential. We are headed in the wrong direction.

I wish the FNM and its candidates well in the upcoming election.

I close by thanking the good people of St Anne’s, and my Constituency Association and executives, who are an amazing, caring and dedicated team of people. I am proud to have served with many fine men and women in the FNM and within our parliamentary caucus.

I end by thanking with a full heart my mother, my daughters and my dear wife, who are my bedrock and who have offered me overwhelming support and love. To them I owe so very much.

In my remaining time in Parliament I will continue to seek to hold the government accountable, to speak on a variety of issues, and to be the voice of the wonderful people of St Anne’s

HUBERT CHIPMAN

MP for St Anne’s

October 2, 2016

• Constituents unhappy, see page 13