The Tribune

“WE are in a very curious time when people are looking for a new kind of vision for the country and obviously in terms of what is available to us in terms of leadership, Dr Minnis comes out above the rest, I believe that is saying something,” commented FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest over the weekend.

Mr Turnquest was commenting on a recent political poll, which gave FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis a hair’s breadth lead over other political contenders, including Prime Minister Perry Christie and DNA Leader Branville McCartney.

We don’t know what the results of this poll was saying about leadership for Mr Turnquest and others, but for us whose memory stretches further back than theirs, it certainly did say much.

Under the leadership of Dr Minnis, the once strong and vibrant FNM, was starting to sound more like the PLP under Lynden Oscar Pindling than the FNM of its founder, the late Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, and Hubert Alexander Ingraham. Six members of the FNM, whose objective was to make certain that the FNM was led by a person with the political agility to oust the PLP and become the next government in 2017, had the temerity to tell Dr Minnis, that in their opinion he was not that man. In an eight-page memo sent to the FNM’s Central Council on May 31, they outlined his failures.

They accused Dr Minnis of knowingly and intentionally distorting facts, saying one thing then doing another. They also claimed that he misrepresented the words or views of his colleagues.

They pointed out that he was a “political neophyte” when he was unanimously elected to lead them, but was supported by “legacy” leaders of the FNM along with his parliamentary team that wanted him to succeed. They claimed that Dr Minnis had not taken advantage of this support team and had failed to lead. Despite this, wrapped in the security blanket of his hand-picked delegates, Dr Minnis was re-elected to take the party into the 2017 election.

The six members, who had put their reputations on the line in an attempt to get an earlier party convention for a second chance to vote in a seasoned and strong leader for the 2017 election, were Mrs Loretta Butler-Turner (Long Island), Hubert Chipman (St Anne’s), Neko Grant (Central Grand Bahama), Richard Lightbourn (Montagu), Theo Neilly (North Eleuthera) and Dr Andre Rollins (Fort Charlotte).

Unlike Sir Wallace-Whitfield on the night that he delivered his letter of resignation from the Pindling government to Government House, declaring, “Free at last. My soul is dancing”, today’s six FNM had to face the wrath of their party leader.

They had dared go against the “Chief”. Their political futures were on the line. The political sparring between Mrs Butler-Turner, Dr Minnis’ chief rival for leadership, was such that it would have been a reflection on Dr Minnis had he failed to reinstate her as the FNM’s candidate for Long Island. There had to at least be a show of unity within the much troubled party. However, as those who are politically savvy watched the political outsiders circling the wagons in Long Island, they believed her appointment was just a face saver for Dr Minnis. It was left to the “outsiders” to settle the political scores in Long Island. If successful, it was claimed that at least one would be well rewarded.

There are so many rumours that it is difficult to know what to believe. However, Mrs Butler-Turner seemed confident of her support.

In the past few days, FNM party “spokesmen” have been weaving and dodging the press about the fate of Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn — would he be ratified to continue to contest his Montagu seat? Well, the shadow boxing can stop. Mr Lightbourn will not be on the party ticket for Montagu, although he has served his constituency well. We understand that he was told in no uncertain terms that Montagu was no longer his - we do not know if he was even thanked for his services

It is speculated that he will be replaced by outspoken, and political savvy Dionisio d’Aguilar. We are pleased that Mr d’Aguilar has offered his services. We wish more like him who have something to offer would stand up and be counted. However, there are so many other districts that need competent representation that Mr d’Aguilar could have been placed elsewhere. As he told a Tribune reporter: “Wherever the party places me as a candidate I would devote my attention and effort.” Obviously, he will replace Mr Lightbourn in Montagu. Mr Lightbourn had the temerity to oppose the “Chief” and so now at the end of this session of the House he will be gone as MP for Montagu.

Messrs Grant and Neilly did not wait to get the “order of the boot.” They opted to step down. Andre Rollins, also bowed out announcing that he would run as an independent, only to later say that if offered an FNM seat, he would reconsider.

The only MP of the six still left cliff hanging is St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman. He has been a good MP — we are in his constituency — and his St Anne’s Association is fully behind him. Will he too be dropped, thus confirming our opinion that the FNM under Minnis is becoming more like the PLP under Pindling? Remember, in Pindling’s day you never went against the “Chief” if you wanted to remain in the inner circle.

The late Carlton Francis, a Pindling cabinet minister, learned the hard way. After the PLP waged a vicious campaign against casino gambling in the 1968 election campaign – which introduced majority rule – Pindling wanted his government to take over the casinos. Development Minister Francis, who was also a Baptist minister, defied Pindling on the floor of the House making it clear that his vote against gambling casinos was a vote of conscience. He refused to support the measure and was forced from office.

Carlton Francis, a former teacher, a man who had much to offer, was finished, not only politically, but also in his private life. One day when he was crossing the public square, Pindling who was speaking from a platform spotted him. He interrupted what he was saying to point him out to the crowd. “There goes Francis,” he jeered, “but all I see is suit!” Carlton Francis was dying of cancer. He was one of many who had been tossed on the political garbage pile for daring to defy the “Chief.” After almost 50 years is history starting to repeat itself?

We are now watching Mr Chipman’s St Ann’s seat with a great deal of interest to discover whether his political demise will confirm our belief that the FNM is rapidly transforming itself into a second PLP of the early days when a member toed the party line or else…