博客

In a striking political development, former Bahamian Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has publicly criticized members of his former party, the Free National Movement (FNM), for abandoning their original constituencies to seek election in different electoral districts. The remarks came during his Monday appearance on ‘Beyond the Headlines with Shenique Miller,’ where he simultaneously confirmed his intention to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election from his long-held Killarney constituency.

Dr. Minnis drew sharp contrasts between his own consistent representation of Killarney since 2007 and what he characterized as politically opportunistic movements by fellow FNM members. ‘Regardless of how they cut it, I’m staying in Killarney unlike many others who have ran from one constituency to another,’ he stated during the broadcast interview.

When pressed to identify specific individuals, the former Prime Minister declined to name names but pointed to extensive media coverage of these constituency changes. He suggested psychological motivations behind these electoral moves, remarking, ‘I don’t know if individuals are running. They must be afraid of something. So they’d have to inform us what that fear is all about, but I’m not afraid of it.’

The phenomenon appears widespread within FNM ranks. Dr. Duane Sands, the party chairman and former Elizabeth constituency representative who lost to Progressive Liberal Party’s JoBeth Coleby-Davis in 2021, is now seeking nomination in Bamboo Town. Similarly, Travis Robinson, who previously represented Bain and Grants Town from 2017-2021 before losing his seat, is now pursuing the Fort Charlotte constituency. Even FNM deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright, currently representing St Barnabas, has been officially ratified as the party’s candidate for the newly created St James constituency.

This public criticism from the former party leader signals deepening fractures within FNM leadership and highlights the strategic repositioning occurring within Bahamian politics ahead of the next general election.

The Free National Movement’s ratification of former NBA star Rick Fox as its Garden Hills candidate has ignited significant internal dissent within the party ranks, exposing deep divisions regarding leadership decisions and candidate selection processes. Prominent party figures have publicly condemned the move, characterizing it as symptomatic of the organization’s broader decline under current leadership.

Ricardo Rolle, a former constituency chairman and nine-year president of the Garden Hills association during the Ingraham administration, delivered scathing criticism of both the party hierarchy and Fox’s nomination. The veteran FNM supporter, who has maintained party allegiance since 1985, asserted that the decision to bypass established political figures like former MPs Dr. Hubert Minnis and Renward Wells in favor of a political newcomer represents a fundamental misjudgment that has disillusioned long-standing members.

‘This constitutes the most poorly managed period in FNM’s history,’ Rolle declared to The Tribune, emphasizing Fox’s lack of local political knowledge. ‘He cannot even delineate Garden Hills’ boundaries despite seeking to represent the constituency.’

The controversy emerges amid revelations that this year’s general election will mark Fox’s first-ever electoral participation in The Bahamas, a fact that has raised eyebrows among party traditionalists who expected longtime aspirant D’Angelo Ferguson to secure the nomination after extensive campaigning.

Kendal Culmer, an FNM meritorious council member, echoed these concerns, noting the absence of proper consultation regarding Fox’s selection. Culmer questioned whether Fox’s celebrity status and financial success qualified him for political office, criticizing party leader Michael Pintard’s communication on the matter.

Despite the substantial opposition, some party voices have expressed support for Fox’s candidacy. Former area MP Brensil Rolle endorsed the decision, describing Fox as a qualified Bahamian who merits opportunity and predicting that Garden Hills voters would prioritize performance over political rhetoric in their electoral decisions.

In a significant political realignment, Karen Shepherd, a longstanding Free National Movement (FNM) figure, has publicly severed ties with her party of 33 years to pledge allegiance to Prime Minister Philip Davis and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). The formal induction ceremony occurred at PLP headquarters on Farrington Road, where she received her membership credentials alongside senior officials including party chairman Fred Mitchell.

Shepherd, who previously held multiple leadership roles including three terms as president of the FNM’s Women’s Association and party trustee, attributed her defection to fundamental philosophical disagreements. She asserted the FNM has deviated from its foundational principles, noting a disconnect between the party’s rhetoric and its operational conduct. “Their words are saying one thing, yet their actions show another,” she observed, referencing the erosion of the FNM’s traditional ‘all together’ motto.

The former Englerston candidate revealed that FNM leader Michael Pintard failed to initiate contact following her resignation announcement. She described a party experiencing substantial grassroots erosion while focusing disproportionately on visible leadership positions, metaphorically noting that while “the party was filling their spaces from the front, the back is hemorrhaging.”

Shepherd detailed how her decision crystallized during constituency canvassing, where she repeatedly encountered dissatisfied supporters whose concerns were systematically ignored by party leadership. She framed her move as ethically motivated rather than opportunistic, emphasizing her commitment to national interest through “holy courage” and clear conscience.

Citing her political heritage as the daughter of late PLP MP James Shepherd, she invoked historical continuity by referencing her father’s advocacy for price controls, housing initiatives, urban renewal, and labor reforms during the transformative 1967 general election. She specifically highlighted his role as the first House of Assembly Whip and his association with former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling.

Shepherd concluded with an explicit endorsement of Prime Minister Davis’s reelection bid, urging undecided voters to “join me on the winning team” committed to Bahamian service. PLP leadership welcomed her as a valuable organizational asset, with Women’s Branch chairwoman Calverna Small recognizing her as a formidable campaign operative.