Sending a young senator home

Tue, Jan 27th 2015, 12:39 AM

Heather Hunt is no longer a senator for the Free National Movement (FNM). Last week Dr. Hubert Minnis, leader of the opposition, asked her to step down. And she did.
Minnis is of the view that he should rotate his senators. This is not common but the FNM leader thinks it is what he should do.
Minnis spoke of his plan in 2012.

"Our senators, some of them would have been informed that the policy we are moving with going forward is that we would have a rotation-type procedure," he told The Nassau Guardian. "They may only be in the Senate for two or two-and-a-half years. So, when we reach the rotation, those other 10, one can choose two or three out of that group depending on how many we're rotating.

"All senators would have been told that in advance, so we would not have to go through this because we'll know who the senators are going forward."

Hunt is a rising presence in Bahamian politics. She is an attorney who worked her way into the profession. In the 2012 general election she ran against a wealthy Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate, Jerome Fitzgerald, and narrowly lost the Marathon constituency.

Hunt was appointed to the Senate after the general election. In her short time in politics she has been a good communicator and an attractive candidate for the party. Being in her early 30s, it was thought by those with good political minds that she would be increasingly featured by the FNM in the years to come. Minnis, however, seems to have a different idea.

When asked about the speculation surrounding her resignation, Hunt was polite and said while she understands the protocol behind the move she would have preferred to stay on.

"I don't believe that I'm in a position to say whether it was a mistake or not," she said. "I can say that I would have loved to continue to serve. The past two-and-a-half years provided me several opportunities.

"... I think I was just getting to building a very good network with female parliamentarians throughout the region with the view to pushing even move aggressively the agenda of achieving as close to equal representation in Parliament as possible. So for those reasons... I would have wanted to continue to serve. But, at the same time, it is not a matter for me to say whether it was correct."

Internal party politics likely played a role in Hunt being forced to step down. She works in the Cable Beach office of former FNM Leader Hubert Ingraham and is assumed to be in his political camp. Minnis and Ingraham have had a rocky relationship at times since Minnis became FNM leader.

Additionally, Hunt, according to FNM insiders, supported Loretta Butler-Turner for leader in the recent race between the Long Island MP and Minnis. The FNM leader may now be cleaning house of those not fully loyal to him. We hope that is not Minnis' sole motivation. Established political parties that function well are big-tent organizations. Many disparate voices coexist and bring their divergent personalities and views together to form a group capable of governing.

Hunt did not seem to be flagrantly hostile toward Minnis. She is someone he should look to advance in the next election. There is a shortage of women in politics in The Bahamas. Yet, Minnis is sidelining one of the younger women to have come forward. But, the deed is done.

We hope Minnis uses the new appointment to advance a member of his party who is vibrant and full of potential. The FNM needs a shot in the arm to help it in the fight against a disappointing PLP government. While forcing Hunt out was a bad move, Minnis can redeem himself somewhat by selecting someone to replace her who can draw people to the party and help articulate well the FNM's message.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

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