The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Deputy Chief Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

LESS THAN a week before the Democratic National Alliance convenes its first convention, party Leader Branville McCartney said he welcomes challengers to his position, one that he has held since the organisation was formed in 2011.

Mr McCartney, who has been criticised by pundits for appearing to operate the party as if he were a one man band, said he not only welcomed United Democratic Party Leader Greg Moss to contest the post, but others should certainly do the same.

He was responding to questions from The Tribune in relation to the party’s convention scheduled for September 29 to 30.

Earlier this month Mr Moss claimed that discussions about third party alliances between him and DNA executives broke down because the parties could not agree on certain things.

However, Mr McCartney has asserted the talks were not successful because Mr Moss expressed a desire to want to lead the DNA, but was informed that he would have to follow proper protocols in order for this to happen.

“I certainly welcome it,” Mr McCartney said during a press conference at his office on Village Road. “Several weeks ago Mr Greg Moss brought to the public’s attention to a conversation that he had with me, the deputy and the chairman of the DNA where he indicated that he wanted to be leader of the DNA. He wanted to fold up his party and come to the DNA and be leader.

“Well, we indicated that there is a process for that and the process is coming up on the 29th of this month at Breezes. The elections start at 8am. So I welcome Mr Moss who indicated he wanted to be leader. The option is there and anybody else certainly (is welcomed).”

He added: “I will campaign to keep my position, but I certainly welcome it. It’s not me who welcomes it. By our constitution and by the convention everybody who becomes a member and who is financial can run for leader of the party.”

Asked if he expected Mr Moss to throw his name in the race, Mr McCartney said: “I would expect that. (It) would be the right thing to do. That is the right way of going about it. You don’t just jump in and leave one party and come to the next and say you want to be leader. The right thing to do is go through process and the process is right here. It’s upon you and I welcome it. I think Mr Moss is a good man.”

Mr McCartney said the idea was put before the party’s congress, which also agreed that Mr Moss would need to follow the process.

Earlier this month Mr McCartney, said the party’s two-day convention would “re-write” all political norms in this country.

According to the former Bamboo Town MP, the DNA will roll out a convention and campaign model “unlike anything ever seen before”, insisting that Bahamians have grown tired of the “promise the world and deliver the bare minimum” style of governance offered by successive governments.