The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson yesterday denied reports that he was seeking a nomination from the Free National Movement.

Mr Johnson noted that while he has been approached by a political organisation, he was not considering a bid in front-line politics “at this time.”

He underscored the critical need for him to be independent and objective as head of the regulatory body that governs the country’s legal professionals.

“The only thing I’m trying to ratify myself into now is heaven,” he said.

“Being Bar president requires me to be independent and objective and when I decide that I am going to run, or place myself to run and accept a nomination, one of the first things I will do is resign. Until then no I haven’t accepted anything.”

Mr Johnson added: “If I decide that I’m going to run for the Free National Movement or Progressive Liberal Party, if they make that approach and today I decide I’m going to take it, then once I make that decision the next thing I have to do is bring that to the attention of the Bahamas Bar Association and Bar Council and say farewell, and then I make my announcement.”

Mr Johnson was said to be vying for a nomination in the Yamacraw constituency on the FNM’s ticket in an article published by the Bahama Journal last Friday.

The party is expected to ratify a handful of candidates on Thursday.

Yesterday, Mr Johnson said: “Advancements have been made, but at this time I’m not minded. The day I decide to do that, the proper and correct thing would be to resign. What I am encouraging people to do, whether in a party or not, the time for committed patriotic service to this country has passed - it’s time to do it.

“Whatever situation you find yourself with, fishing, teaching, media, do whatever you can. I’ve decided that my service, in terms of leadership in this country, is by way of the Bar Association and leadership of the Bar,” he said.

Speculation over the pace of FNM’s rollout of candidates has heightened after ratified candidates Leonard Sands and Howard Johnson, for the Bain and Grants Town and South Beach constituencies respectively, ended their campaigns recently.