The Tribune

The battle for the Progressive Liberal Party’s Free Town seat took a personal turn on Thursday as aspirant Ormanique Bowe announced plans to protest the ratification of incumbent MP Wayne Munroe.

Ms Bowe also accused Mr Munroe of making ‘petty and selective’ remarks about her as she insisted she has "the people's support and the skills to make a difference".

Her comments come as the incumbent and Minister of National Security is expected to be ratified by the party tonight alongside 13 other candidates.

“Freetown's residents deserve leadership that's present and accountable, sir and this I have been displaying, and reaching out to you to follow suit,” she said.

“Yes we are, or should be family, but I am clever enough to know that we can speak many words, and in many ways but they must be coming genuinely from the heart.”

Mr Munroe was asked on Monday about Ms Bowe’s renewed bid for the party’s nomination in Free Town. He noted that Ms Bowe had also sought the nomination in the last election cycle and said he did not take her challenge personally.

“She is a PLP, as far as I know it. After the election, I was pleased to sponsor our application to become a justice of the peace,” he said. 

Mr Munroe continued: “I had her appointed to the Rehabilitation Offenders Committee, which is a committee in my ministry. I work with whoever I have to work with. That's just the nature of the business. It is not something that you should get personal over."

Mr Munroe added that internal challenges are a normal part of party politics.

In her response, Ms Bowe confirmed Mr Munroe’s role in facilitating her appointment as a justice of the peace but rejected any suggestion that she was being ungrateful.

"Minister Munroe's comments on my appointments are petty and selective,” Ms Bowe continued. 

“As a QC/KC, Minister of National Security and the member of parliament for Free Town you should know better. Yes you have facilitated my JP appointment, and I am appreciative of that.”

She said: “Now what you need to do Sir, is focus on Freetown's needs. It's unfair to paint me as ungrateful when the Rehabilitation of Offender Board stipend is just $300/month. 

She added: “Ormanique Bowe, Sir, has the people's support and the skills to make a difference.”

Mr Munroe is among more than a dozen candidates expected to be ratified today, with several prospective nominees already circulating flyers noting their anticipated official ratification.

Among them include: Kirk Cornish for North Abaco, Bradley Fox for Central and South Abaco, Leonardo Lightbourne for North Andros, Wayde Watson for Bain and Grants Town, Patricia Deveaux for Bamboo Town, Sylvanus Petty for North Eleuthera, Clay Sweeting for Central and South Eleuthera, Lisa Rahming for Marathon, Ronell Armbrister for MICAL, Michael Halkitis for St Barnabas, Owen Wells for St James, Dr Michael Darville for Tall Pines, and Zane Lightbourne for Yamacraw.