The current leadership team of the Free National Movement (FNM) will lead the party into the 2017 general election, FNM Chairman Michael Pintard declared yesterday.

Pintard made the statement amid widespread discussions about the state of the party's leadership following concerns raised by former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson in an interview with National Review. During that interview, Watson said he was not pleased with the state of the party and the performance of the Official Opposition. Seeking to shore up the party's support and address the doubts surrounding whether FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis will prove to be a formidable leader heading into the next election, Pintard insisted the party is moving forward with its current team in place.

"I would simply say that in every political organization there are differences of opinion," the chairman said.

"Certainly, the Free National Movement has been no different. The fundamental question is, are we executing our job as the official opposition party? Well yes. So yes persons can express their views.

"We may not always arrive at the same conclusion, but the leadership of the Free National Movement is united in terms of what the plan of action is going forward. The leadership team is clearly the team that will lead the party into the next general election. All of the other pieces are in fact being put in place."

However, several senior sources within the FNM told The Nassau Guardian that there are still serious concerns about Minnis' leadership and discussions are ongoing about whether any changes should be made in this regard. Several senior FNMs are reportedly meeting internally to discuss the leadership matter. One told The Guardian yesterday that a final decision needs to be made by the fall. Reportedly, the party is also facing financing concerns.

Minnis was re-elected leader in November, securing the vast majority of the votes cast for leader. He pummelled Loretta Butler-Turner in that race. Following that convention, Watson said Minnis had six to eight months to prove himself.

"I don't know whether it will be six months, seven months, eight months, but he has now, having won that victory, he has to begin performing to the standard that would result in victory at the polls," Watson said at the time.

Asked what would happen in six to eight months if the party did not see improvements, Watson also said in November, "I think we would have problems. We would have serious problems, very serious problems."

He also said back in November that Minnis could be "much more effective" in Parliament. When he spoke to National Review last Friday, Watson focused his comments on the opposition as a whole, suggesting its performance has been disappointing.

On Friday, Watson also described Minnis as a "work in progress" and acknowledged that in the months following convention, the Official Opposition has continued to be lackluster, failing to generate much excitement and failing to take advantage of numerous missteps on the part of the government.

"The government has been throwing issues in front of them, giving them all kinds of opportunities," Watson said. "I do not believe that they are reacting to it and taking advantage of it in a way the people of the country, especially FNMs, expect of them. I hope that they will begin to understand that there has to be a viable opposition if we are going to win the next election."

Party insiders said Minnis and Watson were scheduled to meet to discuss these issues. Many in the party reportedly agree with Watsons' assessment that Minnis is a "work in progress" and that the opposition has continued to be lackluster. However, others feel that Watson should not air such concerns openly.

On Wednesday, Pintard said he would have to "begin to raise suspicions about what your (Watson's) real motivations are" when such concerns are not first raised internally. Watson responded that he has always raised his concerns with Minnis. Multiple insiders within the party said Watson was a big supporter of Minnis during last year's convention.

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