FNM sends strong message to old guard
I have watched with interest the rumblings in the Free
National Movement (FNM) since the departure of Hubert Alexander Ingraham. There
has been much trouble in this party, inclusive of leaked communications, bad
press, infighting and another bi-election loss.
But on Thursday, November 15th, 2012, the FNM
council decided to put some of these rumblings to rest as they voted for the
national and deputy chairman of the party. Darron Cash, despite his well
publicized debacle in the press which noted that he could not work with
embattled leader Dr. Hubert Minnis, soundly beat Dion Foulkes for the party’s chairmanship.
Additionally, Phenton Neymour was beaten by Brensil Rolle for deputy chairman.
Both of these vanquished men were extremely loyal to Ingraham.
Back in October, Minnis said that the Ingraham era is over.
This did not sit well with many in the FNM who apparently have an unwavering
loyalty to Ingraham. Even Zhivargo Laing who some said was being groomed for
the party’s leadership under Ingraham has resigned from the Senate effective
December 31st, 2012. Minnis knows that if he is to survive as FNM
leader for the next general election, he has to form a team that will be loyal
to him and not anyone else.
The differences between Cash and Minis seem to have been
resolved. It seems that the FNM is now poised to effectively oppose the
government on issues affecting the Bahamian people and it also seems that they
have retired some members of the old guard in the process.
Minis did his best to send a clear message to Ingraham so
that there would be no confusion as to who the current leader of the party was;
and now the FNM council has sent clear messages to Foulkes and Neymour. There
are still a few members of the old guard left who await their opportunity for
one last shot at relevance in this new FNM. But if Minnis is as shrewd as he
needs to be, it seems unlikely that these individuals will be major players in
2017.
It is unlikely that Perry Christie will offer again for a
possible third term in office. He will be almost 74 years old. Additionally,
Christie currently has no clear successor if he decides to retire in 2017. This
bodes well in the FNM’s favor and they now seem battle ready to put up a
formidable fight to contest the next general election. We will have to wait and
see how the saga unfolds.
Dehavilland Moss
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