Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham
AMID intense speculation about his future, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham seemed to permanently close the door to any possible return to frontline politics yesterday, writing in a letter that he will not accept a nomination for a position at the FNM convention later this week even if he is nominated.
His statement, sent to Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Sidney Collie yesterday, was a move to definitively dismiss rumours of his return and to discourage attempts underway from some in the party to nominate him for leader at the convention this week.
His statement brings clarity to the leadership race, especially for party Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis and his challenger Loretta Butler-Turner, as the camps for both had kept a keen and sometimes wary eye for signs of Mr. Ingraham’s possible return.
Mr. Collie read Mr. Ingraham’s letter during an appearance on the talk show “Hard Copy” with host Steve McKinney.
In the letter, Mr. Ingraham said: “Today I advise you as chairman of the Free National Movement, that I will not accept a nomination for any office of the party at the national convention this week. I remain retired. To be clear, should my name be proposed as a nominee to any position at the convention, you should accept this letter as the authority to declare that I have declined the nomination.
“Please, therefore, make this letter available to the convention chairman, the rules committee chairman, the convention session chairman at the time of nominations and to all and any other persons who would wish a copy of same.
“Further, I will make no exception if you choose to make this letter available to the public as soon as possible.”
Mr. Ingraham added that the party he led for 19 years has been a bastion of democracy in the Bahamas.
“Various personalities have often clashed during our 45 year history but when the dust settles we remained a party whose leaders aspire the best vision for a free and democratic Bahamas committed to the economic and social empowerment of all Bahamians. The Free National Movement is a noble organisation, a huge tent with many talented and dedicated individuals who are capable, committed and ready to lead the FNM and once again make us the majority party of the Bahamas. I pledge my full support for my party and for the leadership team which will emerge from our convention this week.”
In the lead-up to the convention, Mr. Ingraham often failed to definitively say whether or not he would enter the leadership race, raising speculation that he might make a surprise move on the convention floor like he did in 2005 after a short period of retirement.
At the same time, he displayed no obvious sign of mounting a comeback, and the fact that such speculation became a huge narrative in the lead-up to the race highlights how large his presence continues to loom over his party’s politics.
In earlier interviews with The Tribune, some FNM delegates expressed a desire to see him return while others had an opposing view, often blaming him for the fractured state in which the party currently finds itself.
Some insiders in the campaigns of Dr. Minnis and Mr.s Butler-Turner said they thought Mr. Ingraham would wait to see if he could mount a successful comeback before officially ruling one out.
Nonetheless, there was concern that his potential comeback would derail the efforts of their preferred candidate to win the race.
Questions will likely remain about Mr. Ingraham’s decision thus far not to endorse either candidate in the leadership race.
His letter to Mr. Collie highlights the way his public life continues to diverge from that of his former law firm partner, Sir Lynden Pindling’s protégé and colleague, Prime Minister Perry Christie.
As Mr. Ingraham, 68, chooses to remain retired, Mr. Christie, 72, has stirred controversy after saying recently that he will continue to lead the PLP in the foreseeable future, citing the support of young members of his government and a desire to ensure party stability.
By Rashad Rolle, Tribune Staff Reporter
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