Dear Editor,

FNMs who go by the sobriquet Ingrahamites due to their unflinching devotion and fealty to former prime minister and FNM leader, Hubert Ingraham, are reported to still be fuming over current leader Dr. Hubert Minnis' pronouncement to the media on October 15, 2012 that the ''Ingraham era is over.''

Minnis' declaration came shortly after Ingraham had conceded to the media that the FNM's standardbearer Greg Gomez had lost the North Abaco by-election to the PLP's Renardo Curry. There are some politicos who are of the view that Ingraham shouldn't have preempted Minnis by being the first to address the media after the by-election, seeing that he was no longer FNM leader. He should have showed deference to Minnis, by allowing him to be the first to concede defeat.

Based on Minnis' comments that night to the effect that ''there is only going to be one leader going forward,'' some believe that he may have been a bit peeved over being overshadowed by his former leader. He seemed to have been frustrated, which was understandable, considering the precarious situation he was thrust into. His candidate, Greg Gomez, lost the by-election by 852 votes, which was astounding when one considers the fact that North Abaco was FNM since 1990, the year Ingraham amalgamated to the party after FNM founder Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield's untimely demise.

What's more, Gomez, who was probably handpicked by Ingraham over FNM prospective candidates Perry Thomas, Jackson McIntosh and Cay Mills, was an unmitigated disaster as a candidate, notwithstanding Minnis' opinion that he was a fine candidate. At the time of the North Abaco by-election campaign, The Nassau Guardian alleged that there was some discrepancies with Gomez's claim that he taught at Lawton Chiles Middle School, Thomas Jefferson Middle School and Carol City Middle School in the United States. He was also embroiled in a firestorm of criticism over charges that he had incorrectly filed his asset declarations on nomination day.

Bear in mind that Ingraham had deferred resignation from Parliament in order to give Gomez the chance to sort out a residency issue which would have prevented him from successfully nominating, as per the July 24, 2012 edition of The Nassau Guardian. The outcome of that election seems to have been more a rejection of Gomez than an acceptance of his counterpart. It may have also been a rejection of Ingraham. I understand that many FNMs in Grand Cay voted PLP in that by-election. This is a cay which was at one time teeming with Ingrahamites.

As an outsider looking into the FNM, I seriously doubt Gomez would have gotten the nomination without Ingraham's massive influence in the FNM. At the time, Minnis was still very young in his tenure as leader. He was hardly in any position to challenge Ingraham. Had that election taken place in 2016, Minnis, I believe, would not have chosen Gomez. At the time, Ingraham, even though he had stepped down as leader, was still overshadowing Minnis, as mentioned above.

The North Abaco by-election loss was the third consecutive loss the FNM had suffered in two and a half years. The party was only able to win nine of the 38 seats in the 2012 general election. Thousands of its supporters had defected to the DNA -- a party which was formed after Ingraham and Branville McCartney had a falling out.

The party had also lost the 2010 Elizabeth by-election. This was the hot mess Minnis inherited when he became FNM leader in 2012. In addition to the two election defeats the FNM suffered in 2012, its chairman, Charles Maynard, died unexpectedly on August 14 (2012) while on the North Abaco by-election campaign trail. His death had left a huge, gaping void in the FNM, as he was both chairman and by-election coordinator. Minnis and Co. were then tasked with replacing Maynard.

In light of the foregoing, one can understand why Minnis declared that the ''Ingraham era is over.'' He may have been frustrated over all that had transpired within the FNM. Ingrahamites must stop hounding Minnis over what he had said. His words must be taken in context. It has been three and a half years since Minnis' declaration, yet Ingrahamites stubbornly refuse to forgive the FNM leader. How long does one bear a grudge?

I am of the view that Minnis should pick Ingraham's brain on political matters, as he has been the best prime minister The Bahamas has ever had. Minnis should consult him. After all, it was Ingraham who led the party to three nonconsecutive general election victories. In this regard, Ingraham is still a great asset to the FNM. But his era as FNM leader and prime minister of The Bahamas is over. Ingrahamites cannot bear to hear this, but it is the unmitigated truth. Minnis reminded them of this, and is still paying the price to this very day.

- Kevin Evans

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