The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

Free National Movement (FNM) chairman Dr Duane Sands said he believes the party’s next convention should take place within a few months, arguing that the October 2027 timeline is unreasonable and too far away.

Dr Sands made the comments while appearing as a guest on Our TV’s “On the Record” last week. He discussed the party’s defeat in the May general election and the way forward. However, he stopped short of saying whether he believed Michael Pintard should remain leader.

“If you ask me whether the decision, initial decision, to have convention pushed back as far as October 2027 is a reasonable idea, in my opinion, no, it is not,” Dr Sands said.

“Because I think it’s far too long and already I think the party is moving to adjust since the Central Council of the Free National Movement is the second highest body save convention. So, we made a determination of the process and the process was: let us do a post mortem evaluation of what went wrong. Let's make sure that it's objective.

“Let's make sure that we're not just talking to ourselves, but that we have other people that say, ‘Why I didn't vote for the Free National Movement? Why I didn't come out to vote?’ Because if you only have FNMs talking, then you have an echo chamber. So the idea was let's get some objective information as we prepare for what I hope to be an early convention.”

Asked when he believes the convention should take place, Dr Sands said: “Within a few months.”

He stressed, however, that his personal position is subject to the authority of the party’s governing bodies.

“Understand that when you have the privilege of leading, as I do, and the CEO of the Free National Movement, my personal views are subject to the directives of the Council of the Free National Movement. But once a decision is made by Council, that is what I speak,” Dr Sands said.

The Nassau Guardian previously reported that the FNM’s Leadership Council met Tuesday night at the home of former party leader Tommy Turnquest to discuss the party’s future.

The meeting followed former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham publicly urging the FNM to “find someone who could win”, prompting a rebuke from Mr Pintard.

Mr Pintard said Mr Ingraham chose the wrong setting to raise questions about the party’s leadership, while maintaining that he believes he remains the best person to lead the FNM.

Dr Sands, however, said he did not interpret Mr Ingraham’s comments as being aimed specifically at Mr Pintard.

“I don’t believe it was directed specifically — that this was a Pintard-specific message,” he said. “I think it is a message that says, whomever you choose to lead, make sure that they bring whatever it is to the table that can get FNM supporters, disaffected PLPs, independents to vote in large numbers.”

Dr Sands also saw no contradiction between Mr Ingraham’s remarks and his public endorsement of Mr Pintard four months earlier, saying the former prime minister likely expected the FNM to perform better in the election.

Asked whether Mr Pintard should have resigned as leader following the defeat, Dr Sands said the FNM leader effectively placed his fate in the party’s hands.

“It was very clear that he felt that his fate was not predetermined; that he thought it only appropriate, given the circumstances, that the party determined whether or not they would wish him to carry on or not,” he said.

Dr Sands was less definitive when asked whether Mr Pintard should lead the FNM into the next general election.

“Can he? Yes, he can,” he said.

Asked whether he should, Dr Sands replied: “That’s a different question.”

He acknowledged that uncertainty over the party’s leadership could make Mr Pintard’s job more difficult, but said the FNM leader continues to carry out his duties.

“He carries on because he's a soldier. He carries on because he has a phenomenal and abiding love for this country,” Dr Sands said.

On the FNM’s election defeat, Dr Sands said several factors were responsible, including the party’s inability to get enough supporters to the polls.

“I think there are many different reasons why we were not successful,” he said. “One, I think a number of persons did not feel inclined to come out and vote, and you know when you have an inability to get out the vote, you suffer.”

Meanwhile, Dr Sands said Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright remains part of the FNM’s wider leadership and has a platform to speak on national issues despite not being appointed to the Senate.