The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest defended the FNM’s vetting and candidate selection processes yesterday in the wake of recent decisions by previously ratified candidates to drop out of the race.

Leonard Sands and Howard Johnson, both respectively ratified to represent the FNM in the Bain and Grants Town and South Beach constituencies, have decided not to run.

After being announced as an FNM candidate in January, Mr Sands, a construction engineer, officially ended his campaign last week, citing “significant personal reasons” as his decision.

Furthermore, in a statement yesterday to the press, Mr Johnson also confirmed his intention not to run in South Beach, also citing “personal reasons.”

His statement came after The Nassau Guardian reported that he will go to the United States to be with his son for his final school year.

The decision of both men to drop out of the race just months before the campaign season heats up has raised questions about the strength of the FNM’s candidate vetting process and the party’s ability to adequately assess whether candidates are prepared to remain in the race for the long-haul.

To this, Mr Turnquest said: “You can only do as much as people are transparent with you. As much as they are willing to concede and to provide information, that dictates what we are able to do. We do a very thorough vetting process to ensure people are financially capable and are of good character and sometimes circumstances just change in their lives. In this particular instance (of Mr Johnson), circumstances changed for multiple reasons that reflect the personal outlook of the candidates. You have to respect that and honour that. I’m proud of these men and see them as patriotic Bahamians for having stepped forward out of a desire to serve their country.”

In the FNM, the Candidates Committee, constituency branches and the general council play a role in determining which candidate is selected to represent particular constituencies.

However, the final decision ultimately rests with the party’s leader, Dr Hubert Minnis.

Nonetheless, former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette said yesterday that the decisions of the men were neither unusual nor “a big deal”.

“These kinds of things happen,” he said. “Sometimes they make appeals to people and find there are reasons (not to run) that they weren’t aware of. It’s nothing sinister and it’s not a reflection on anything but their own personal situations.”

Both Mr Symonette and Mr Turnquest conceded, however, that financial considerations may have factored into the decision-making of Mr Johnson, Mr Sands and North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, who has also indicated that he won’t run for office next year.

“Being involved in politics involves a lot of personal sacrifice,” Mr Turnquest said, though he cautioned that he doesn’t know specifically if money factored into the political decisions of the aforementioned men.

“It is personally taxing in The Bahamas. If you don’t have a secure means for providing for yourself and family it becomes difficult. This calls for desperate need for campaign finance in this country. No one should be made or barred from participating because of the level of financing request.”

Although the FNM’s problems raising money have been well documented in recent months, Mr Turnquest said funding campaigns is not an issue that arises at this time.

“That issue doesn’t arise at this stage,” he said. “We are progressing with our election plan and we are confident that the resources will be available when the time comes.”