Dr. Hubert Minnis

DESPITE a leadership term defined by infighting and party division, the “Roc Wit Doc” campaign yesterday debuted a video celebrating Free National Movement Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis as a man admired by party supporters who fuelled unity and growth within the organisation since taking control of it in 2012.

The nearly six-minute long video, which highlighted the testimonials of five of the party’s 2017 general election candidates, acclaims the Killarney MP as a strong and competent leader with “a soldier’s heart”.

Its release is perceived to be a strategic move to shore up the support of the majority of the FNM’s 410 delegates who will gather on Wednesday to begin the organisation’s highly anticipated three-day convention.

Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells, FNM Southern Shores candidate Frankie Campbell, Halston Moultrie, the party’s Nassau Village hopeful, Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador candidate Gadville McDonald, and Fox Hill candidate Shonel Ferguson are featured in the video.

Dr. Minnis and Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest will defend their positions against Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and her running mate Senator Dr. Duane Sands. The remainder of the party’s executive posts also will be up for challenge.

In the campaign video, Mr. Wells said Dr. Minnis’ work over the last four years has impressed the electorate to the extent that they now see him as the next prime minister of The Bahamas.

“Now some would say that it is because of the failings of Prime Minister Perry Christie. That’s a part of (it),” Mr. Wells said. “But you see whereas the prime minister could create moments in history, the leader on the other side has the opportunity to make the moment.

“That is what Dr. Minnis has been doing. That is why the Free National Movement is where it is today as a result of the leadership Dr. Minnis has shown over the last four years.

“This man would have stood there and took the whippings and led the Free National Movement back to a sense of wholeness. This is my view. You could disagree with me. I am a recent comer and this is my view,” Mr. Wells said.

Meanwhile, Ms Ferguson went on to insist that there was a general feeling among Bahamians that Dr. Minnis deserved the chance to bring a transformational change to the country. This kind of change, she said, was what the FNM was known for.

She said: “I walk through the constituency of Fox Hill and people – women and men and children – give me messages to take to Dr. Minnis. One mother said to me ‘my son wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Dr. Minnis. Take him my blessings. Give him my good will.’ This is what I hear on the ground time after time.”

Ms Ferguson added: “They are with Dr. Minnis. They want Dr. Minnis to have this chance to bring this transformational change in the tradition of the FNM. The FNM is known for transformational change and Dr. Minnis carries on that legacy.”

Mr. Moultrie pointed to Dr. Minnis’ plans for the inner city community. He said Dr. Minnis impressed him with his strong vision.

“I was impressed with Dr. Minnis from the very beginning in that he had the discipline that is required of a leader and in that he knew what he wanted for himself in terms of his self-actualisation,” Mr. Moultrie said.

“He knew what he wanted for the Bahamas. He possessed a vision particularly as it related to the Over-the-Hill communities, the black belt grass root communities. He spoke of those things frequently from way back before he was thrust into the spotlight of the leadership of the Free National Movement.”

You may view the video here.

By Khrisna Virgil, Tribune Staff Reporter

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