Minnis: I've never felt so good

Tue, May 31st 2016, 10:12 AM


Dr. Hubert Minnis

DESPITE the Free National Movement parliamentary caucus’ attempt to remove leader Dr. Hubert Minnis from the helm of the organisation, he insisted yesterday that he “has never felt so good” and was not concerned about the “noise in the market”.

Despite the fact that it appears as though the majority of his parliamentary team want him gone, the embattled Killarney MP told The Tribune that he had no “bad blood” with any of them. Dr. Minnis said his focus remains on the social ills plaguing the country, adding that like other Bahamians, he was only concerned with crime and unemployment among other challenges facing the country.

However, he would not directly respond to the turmoil that is gripping his party.

Asked about the likelihood of the organisation convening an earlier convention than was originally planned, the FNM leader said “anything is possible”.

“What made me feel so good, when I watched TV yesterday,” Dr. Minnis said referring to the US presidential race, “I was watching (Bill) O’ Reilly interview (Donald) Trump and he said to Trump, you don’t have the black support, how are you going to turn that around and the economy is not doing well?’

“Trump’s response was this has been the worst period (economically) for the blacks even with a black president and to stimulate and help the middle class I will introduce tax free zones.”

Dr. Minnis said this showed him he was on the right path because introducing tax free zones in the Over-the-Hill area is one of his key ideas.

When pressed to respond to the criticism from his own members of Parliament who have lost confidence in him, Dr. Minnis said: “All I can say now is I have never felt so good in my life. I spoke to all my grandkids and they made me feel even better.”

He said he intends to spend some time with his grandchildren before Parliament meets to debate the budget.

This comes after Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner on Sunday said that the FNM’s parliamentary caucus does not want to resort to petitioning Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to have Dr. Minnis removed as leader of the Official Opposition, but prefers to reach an “amicable” decision on an earlier convention date.

And while some view the MPs’ threat to express no confidence in their leader as a mutiny against Dr. Minnis, Mrs. Butler-Turner said the parliamentary caucus was not planning a “coup”, but was simply pushing for an early convention to put the FNM on the best footing to win the next general election.

Last week, The Tribune reported that the FNM appeared to be “teetering” on the brink of a leadership meltdown following an “explosive” council meeting on Thursday, which saw serious threats levelled at Dr. Minnis to have him removed from the post by way of a petition to the governor general.

The Tribune understands the matter was raised in the council meeting by Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins after the issue was discussed in an earlier parliamentary meeting.

When asked about this, Mrs. Butler-Turner said: “For him (Dr. Rollins) to say something like that was leverage for persons who felt they don’t want to wait until November.

“Even if that becomes an option... we don’t want to use such a position, we want to agree in an amicable way and to respect the returns (of the convention).”

She added: “We felt, the majority of the parliamentary caucus felt, that the November convention date does not give the party a sufficient amount of time to fully regroup all elements of machinery to take on a general election.

“The parliamentary caucus told Dr. Minnis to consider an early convention to have the best possible strategy to take on the PLP. Some people have taken that to say the parliamentary caucus wants to (oust) Dr. Minnis.”

She did not specify if the parliamentary team gave Dr. Minnis a deadline to decide on a new convention date before they make good on the ultimatum, but said the group does not want to see this matter “protracted”.

Mrs. Butler-Turner maintained that the FNM’s parliamentary caucus wants the party to regroup, pick a vibrant leadership team and galvanise support to boot the Christie administration out of office.

This latest effort from the parliamentary team has the support of six of the opposition’s 10 MPs.

This includes St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, Mrs. Butler-Turner and Dr. Rollins.

By Khrisna Virgil, Tribune Staff Reporter

Click here to read more at The Tribune

 Sponsored Ads