Despite a widespread perception in the Free National Movement (FNM), Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn told National Review he does not hate FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis, but he admitted he does not "drink the same Kool-Aid" as some within the party, and so he is branded as a "troublemaker".
Lightbourn also admitted in a candid interview with us that he sought answers regarding the controversial letter of intent (LOI) signed by new FNM member, Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells, when he was parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works last year. We spoke to Lightbourn amid growing reports from multiple sources within the FNM that the recent entrance of Wells and his political twin, Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins, into the Official Opposition party had worsened divisions within the party. The issue of unity is critical to the FNM.
Many Minnis supporters get enraged when it is raised publicly. But that will not make the issue go away. Many believe that if they present a united front -- even if at its core it is not genuine -- then the next general election would be a clean sweep. They recognize that as lousy as the administration of Perry Christie is, a fractured FNM could have an extremely difficult time beating a well-funded Progressive Liberal Party.
As we noted last week, by bringing Rollins and Wells into the fold, Minnis successfully thwarted a plan that some members of the FNM's parliamentary team were considering. We understand that a letter had already been drafted for the governor general, expressing a lack of confidence in Minnis' leadership.
While Minnis was able to block that move, he still faces a larger issue of disaffection among some members of the opposition's parliamentary team. Even if they are not able to get rid of him as leader, this lack of confidence is not good for Minnis' already fragile leadership.
We asked Lightbourn whether it is his view the party is united at this time.
"As I said, the party is united with our primary goal of becoming the next government of this country," he said. "I'm already perceived as an enemy of the people, not that that's something I have issue with."
We needed to be clear who the "people" are he was referring to. Lightbourn clarified, "FNM people". We assured him that he is not generally perceived as an enemy of members of the general public. Lightbourn then added that among FNMs, he is seen as an enemy "of the leader". He said this is "unfortunate".
Never afraid to speak his mind, Lightbourn said, "I don't know who portrays that type of sentiment.
"Nobody hates Minnis that I'm aware of. It's not a question of hating anybody. It's just a question of leadership. So if one has different views and perceives that someone may make a better leader than Minnis, it's not saying I hate the person because I feel like somebody might be a better leader. We're trying to do what we perceive would be the best for our party and for the country."
The FNM is facing a very serious dilemma. Minnis is uninspiring. He is ineffectual. He lacks the capability of uniting a team around him. We admit, we often shudder to imagine the kind of country we would have under him. Many FNMs know this. Many whisper it quietly. But because there is no clear answer to the question "Who else?", they are determined to limp ahead with a far from formidable candidate.
In keeping Minnis, they are blindly throwing a rock into the crowd and hoping, praying even, that it hits the right target. And yes, there is a very real possibility that Dr. Hubert Alexander Minnis could become the next prime minister of The Bahamas, but we ask again, what kind of Bahamas are we likely to have?
One astute political observer we had this discussion with recently seems to have already written off the next seven-year period in The Bahamas. Sadly, the elderly gentleman said he does not expect to see a progressive Bahamas "getting it right" before he leaves this earth.
Options
Many people -- PLPs included -- are unable to stomach the thought of another five-year term of Perry Christie. Christie has been far from dynamic this term. While he and his crew delude themselves into thinking the country is on the right track, moving steadily, with big and wonderful things ahead, many, many Bahamians are anxious, and more eager than ever, to see the backs of Christie and the PLP. Members of the current administration seem to think they are doing a phenomenal job.
Speaking in Parliament last Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said, "Notwithstanding our trials and challenges as a country, the objective eye can only agree that our country is well on the road to transformation.
"It is not an accidental transformation, but one foreshadowed in our Charter for Governance. The charter is our document of commitment, the yardstick for objective measurement."
We cannot imagine what message the PLP would attempt to package ahead of the next general election. What could they possibly say to capture the hearts and minds and votes of the Bahamian electorate in sufficient numbers to return to the seat of power? Crime is out of control. Their pie-in-the-sky promises have not materialized. There is no mortgage relief.
There is no jobs boost. There is no transparency or accountability. And so, many people are ready for change. But change to what?
The FNM presents Hubert Minnis as the change agent. It is sad indeed that in a 21st century Bahamas the Christie-Minnis options are our best options for leadership. Of course, the Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney holds onto his dream of becoming prime minister. But we find it difficult to view the fledgling party as a viable alternative to what we have today.
Essentially, that brings us back to Minnis and whether Bahamians will be so disgusted by and fed up with the Christie-led PLP they are willing to take their chances with someone as underwhelming as the FNM leader. It is likely that the fractured party issue will continue to haunt him.
LOI
This brings us back to Lightbourn and our discussion with him about the state of the party. We acknowledge, many people have long grown tired of hearing about Renward Wells and the LOI he signed with Stellar Waste to Energy for a $600 million plant at the New Providence Landfill. The matter died after Christie finally found the courage to fire him last year from his post as parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works, more than three months after asking him to resign.
But in inviting Wells to join the FNM, and in having Wells accept that invitation, Minnis resurrected the issue given that he previously accused Wells of creating a financial nightmare for the country.
As we wrote last week, many FNMs are nervous and uncomfortable with Wells being a member of the party given that critical questions surrounding the LOI were never answered. Lightbourn told us the FNM's Central Council "seems to have accepted the explanation provided by the leader" but he admitted that he did not accept the explanation. We asked him whether he raised questions about the LOI in the recent council meeting.
Lightbourn said, "I had raised some questions, yes."
"Are you satisfied that you got the right answers?" we asked.
He responded, "No. I don't consider what I received a full explanation. No."
Lightbourn also insisted, "The party is united on the understanding that there will be a convention in the early part of 2016."
We then asked him, "Would you say you are a generally united force?"
After a pause to consider his answer, Lightbourn said, "In every party people have issues... There are one or two troublemakers -- and I think they put me in that category -- that don't all drink the same Kool-Aid."
Asked whether he is a troublemaker, Lightbourn said, "I'm not a troublemaker. I am a thinking member. I don't simply accept everything that somebody says to me without questioning what I feel should have been taken into consideration before arriving at positions that [we arrive at]."
He was also asked whether he is comfortable with Wells being in the party given that there are so many unanswered questions on the LOI.
"I think it's important for everyone that has the goal of changing the government of this country to unite to ensure that our objective will be achieved and this will entail accepting persons into the ranks who were previously PLPs or independents of some variety and Wells is someone who is one of the, as Christie said, the [new generation leaders].
"I would have felt it would have been preferable for the LOI issue to have been fully discussed so that it could finally be put to rest."
We also asked Lightbourn what impact he thinks the unease toward Minnis that exists in the parliamentary grouping is having in the wider public in terms of how the FNM is generally perceived.
Lightbourn said, "I think it's unfortunate that persons take exception to persons having differing views on topics within the party.
"I think it's healthy that we are able to have differing perspectives, and I think that it must be remembered that whatever differences we may have, we all have the same major goal and that is to ensure that the PLP does not win the next election."
But the Montagu MP suggested that people who talk about unification often think this means everyone in the party must have the same views on everything.
While Lightbourn acknowledged the ongoing tensions in the party and its trouble with being a united, cohesive force, he was careful not to draw the ire of FNMs by calling for new leadership. Or perhaps he wishes to stick with Minnis. We doubt the latter is the case.
When asked what he thinks would be best for the FNM right now, Lightbourn said, "The leader of the party is determined by the party at a convention, so the best thing for the party right now is to continue to make every effort to provide an alternative to this so-called government and move toward convention at which all of the issues relating to leadership within the party will be voted on and more particularly the party will have an opportunity to show its candidates and show the public the different policies and programs that we would propose putting in place to change the direction of this country."
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