The Tribune

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis and Exuma MP I Chester Cooper toured Family Islands on the weekend, courting delegates for support as an apparent team ahead of the organisation’s October convention.

In a recent post on Mr Davis’ Facebook page, a photo caption referred to support for a “Davis-Cooper” team as leader and deputy leader respectively.

While Mr Cooper has not made a formal announcement about vying for deputy leader on a ticket with Mr Davis, insiders told The Tribune yesterday there are many who support the move.

Mr Cooper has previously said he would run for a leadership position at the PLP’s convention but did not specify which post.

Meanwhile, Mr Davis and Mr Cooper visited San Salvador and Rum Cay along with PLP Senator JoBeth Davis-Coleby and party Vice-Chairman Obie Roberts.

“PLP frontline youthful female Senator backs Davis-Cooper team,” Mr Davis’ Facebook post read. “San Salvador - the youngest woman in in the Upper House, PLP Senator JoBeth Coleby-Davis has thrown her support behind PLP Leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and Chester Cooper for the top posts of the party.”

It continued: “Coleby-Davis represents the new talent now filling the top inside the party who will bring lasting transformation to the opposition. The female senator called on millennials to work with and stand by the party’s leadership team to ready the organisation for victory at the next general election.”

The PLP will hold its National Convention at the Melia Nassau Beach hotel on October 22 – 25.

Former Cabinet minister George Smith is one PLP supporter who believes a Davis-Cooper team is the right move for the opposition party.

“They would make an excellent team and have what it takes to restore the party’s image,” he said during an interview with The Tribune yesterday.

“I think once people get to know Philip ‘Brave’ Davis on a one-on-one or face-to-face basis they would find out that he has a talent that a lot of politicians lack.

“He listens and he contemplates and people many times just want you to listen to them.

“Also, his legal success in the courts suggests that he has a very good brain and I think that he is committed to the well-being of the Bahamian people and I really don’t believe he is egotistical.

“I think Chester brings freshness and intelligence to politics and to the party. I was greatly impressed with the campaign he conducted in Exuma. He was very one-on-one, listened to and interacted with people and he got to know the people of Exuma on a very close level.

“He understands the problems, particularly the financial problems, and understands the concept of business. I think he would be able to play a very important role in what must become outside of the natural things to deal with like crime and the other immediate pressing problems the country faces,” Mr Smith continued.

Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin is the only PLP member so far to announce her intent to challenge Mr Davis for the PLP’s top post in October.

Last month, Mr Davis told The Nassau Guardian he doesn’t discourage ambition as he spoke about leadership races in the party.

The PLP convention will come five months after the party’s devastating defeat in the May general election and nine months after its January convention.