Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has listened to the voice of the crowd and has put to rest the months of speculation about his possible return to seek the leadership of the Free National Movement. Mr Ingraham voluntarily stepped down from the leadership in 2001 after serving two terms as prime minister.
Mr Ingraham’s reconsideration of taking over the direction of the party raises the question going into the start of the FNM’s convention business sessions today, of what will this mean for Tommy Turnquest, the man who Mr Ingraham backed for the leadership in August 2001 and who subsequently won the leadership at the party’s 2003 convention.
“I have steadfastly maintained that I was not seeking the leadership of the FNM,” Mr Ingraham said in a statement issued to the Guardian yesterday. “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.”
And so with Mr Ingraham conceding to the “crescendo of voices” throughout the country calling for his return to a leadership role in the FNM, there is now the possibility of a three-way race with Mr Turnquest and Dion Foulkes, who has indicated that he would be “the best man for the job of leadership of the country.”
Mr Foulkes, who was endorsed by Mr Ingraham in 2001 to be deputy leader to Mr Turnquest, said earlier that he would be in the race until the last vote is counted. He is also an advocate for party unity and clarity, so with this new twist, it remains to be seen whether the walk and the talk are the same. He can easily stand down from the race, with no harm done.
That may not be so easy for Mr Turnquest, who could be seeing his political career and prime minister’s aspirations come to an end, if he runs the race against Mr Ingraham and loses. In any event, Mr Turnquest has stated categorically that he will not be stepping aside for anyone.
“I firmly believe that I am the person to lead the Party and our nation at this time,” Mr Turnquest said earlier. “I am firm, strong and assertive and I take action only after careful thought, so that I choose responsible action.”
It is no secret that the FNM parliamentary members have asked Mr Ingraham to be the Opposition Leader in the House of Assembly, where Mr Turnquest as leader of the party, does not have a seat. The current parliamentary leader Alvin Smith had indicated his willingness to let Mr Ingraham take over command in the House, a move which the Party’s Central Council also favoured in a majority vote.
However, with Mr Turnquest being adamant about not stepping aside for Mr Ingraham, it was determined to let the decision rest with the convention, which got started yesterday with a prayer breakfast and registration of convention delegates, and which will get down to serious business this afternoon with the nominations for party officers.
Mr Ingraham said yesterday that it has been a humbling experience to realise that so many members of the Free National Movement together with thousands of other Bahamians “… have been agitating for my return to the Party’s leadership.”
FNM timetable
3:15pm: Nomination of Party Officers
8:00: Call to Order
8:20: Remarks, Mr. Carl Bethel, party chairman
8:45: Remarks, Ms. Caron Shepherd, President, Women’s Assoc.
9:00: Remarks, Mr. Reece Chipman
9:10: Remarks, Mrs. Pauline Nairn, Deputy Treasurer
9:20: Remarks, Mr. Anthony Musgrove, Deputy Secretary General
9:35: Remarks, Ms. Chewauki Symonette, Torchbearers
9:40: Remarks, Dr. Dexter Johnson
9:50: Address, Mr. Lindy Russell, MP
10:20: Keynote Address Sen. OAT (Tommy) Turnquest, Party Leader
By: ANTHONY CAPRON, The Nassau Guardian
