A convoluted statement issued by former prime minister, Hubert Ingraham, yesterday is being interpreted by many political observers as his intension to accept a nomination for the leadership of the Free National Movement in the party’s convention, which begins today.
Those observers said the former prime minister’s nomination would evoke a certain amount of controversy and acrimony in the organization given that Mr. Ingraham would be going head to head with Senator Tommy Turnquest, his handpicked successor in 2001.
For several weeks, Mr. Turnquest, the current leader, sought to convince the media that Mr. Ingraham would not seek the leadership.
Mr. Turnquest told the press on several occasions that Mr. Ingraham had informed him that he was not interested in the position.
In his statement – which broke his silence on the whole leadership issue – Mr. Ingraham did not offer a straight yes or no answer, but made it clear that he would accept “the will of the people.”
Mr Ingraham said: “I have steadfastly maintained that I was not seeking the leadership of the FNM. I also maintained that if it was the will of the people that I lead, I would listen. I accept that it is and must be the will of the people which ultimately determines who is best to lead, and that the will of the people should prevail.”
While some political observers were interpreting Mr Ingraham’s statement as ambiguous, a senior party source told The Bahama Journal that the statement was a clear indication that if nominated, Mr Ingraham would run, and if elected he would serve to the best of his ability, “and he is ready to serve now more than ever.”
Mr. Ingraham’s statement came the afternoon before the party’s nomination and appears to confirm speculation by some political observers that although Mr Ingraham ultimately does not wish to return to politics, he would not decline the leadership nomination. The statement was also faxed to all FNM MPs and party officers.
“I think Mr Ingraham’s statement is a clear indication that he intends to have his name put into nomination (Tuesday) for leadership of the FNM,” Montagu MP Brent Symonette told The Bahama Journal last night.
Mr Symonette said that he thought Mr Ingraham’s return would be good for the party because popular opinion had been asking for the former prime minister’s return to the leadership post. “You have to consider that while the convention is the highest arm of the party, the entire populace makes up a greater part of the community than delegates of convention.”
The FNM MP also did not believe Mr Ingraham’s nomination would split the party.
“I think whoever is elected leader on Thursday the party will rally around and fully support because at he end of the day, once the democratic process of electing the leader is over, the main objective then will be to win the next election, and that will be the party’s main focus,” he said.
Mr Symonette said that he would support Mr Ingraham, who he feels would be a “very large” threat to the PLP.
Mr Ingraham said that the “crescendo” of voices throughout the nation compelled him to make a statement.
“It has been a humbling experience to realize that so many members of the Free National Movement, together with thousands of other Bahamians, on all sides of the political divide, want a better Bahamas, see a brighter future for our country, under my leadership, and that is why they have been agitating for my return to the party’s leadership,” he said in his statement.
The former prime minister thanked all of those who have written, campaigned and spoken words to encourage him to return to lead the FNM.
At the weekend, scores of Ingraham supporters pushing for the prime minister’s return as party leader took part in a motorcade through New Providence, weeks after the FNM council sided with FNM MPs who wanted the former prime minister to lead them in the House of Assembly
Leadership contender Dion Foulkes told The Bahama Journal yesterday that Mr Ingraham’s statement would not affect his decision to run for the party’s top post.
“I have said from the beginning that I am nominating, no matter who is in the running, until the last ballot is counted,” Mr. Foulkes said.
He said that he is confident he has the majority support of the delegates and said that he is the only candidate who has come up with a reform programme for the party.
“I believe that I am the only leadership candidate that can unify the party at this time,” he said. “I will be campaigning for as many votes as possible and I am confident that I will get the majority.”
Mr Turnquest could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Source: The Bahama Journal
