The Free National Movement (FNM) is poised to become a party with "new ideas, new energy and new vision," said Official Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis on the eve of the party's one day convention.
The nominations for the positions of leader, deputy leader, chairman, secretary general and treasurer will all take place today at the convention at the Holy Trinity Activities Centre in Stapleton Gardens.
Nominations for the other posts took place Thursday night at a specially called Central Council meeting for party officers. Elections for all posts will take place today.
In total, there are 47 positions up for grabs at the convention.
"We are the party of the future and invite all the young people who represent the future to join us and help to ignite our torch and take it even further, but we must not forget our foundation," Minnis told The Nassau Guardian yesterday.
Minnis, who was unanimously voted in as leader of the Official Opposition by the FNM parliamentary team after the party's election defeat, is expected to go unchallenged for party leader in today's election.
However, there is a three-way contest for the post of deputy leader and a two-man race for the party's chairmanship.
Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, Senator Desmond Bannister and former Senator Gladys Johnson-Sands will vie for the post of deputy leader.
Defeated Golden Isles MP Charles Maynard will face off against incumbent Chairman Carl Bethel for the post.
Yesterday, Butler-Turner suggested that a vote for her would help the party connect with the large number of female voters.
She urged party members to vote for her not simply because of her gender, but because of her competence and experience as a Cabinet minister.
"My detractors are saying, 'Oh, we can't vote for her just because she's a woman," said Butler-Turner while a guest on the 'Darold Miller Live' show on Guardian Radio yesterday.
"I agree with them, not because I'm a woman should they vote for me. They should vote for me because I am a competent female, individual that is going to bring that attraction to the team of a Hubert Minnis.
"I would be able to bring to the table a level of commitment to the rebirth and renewal of the Free National Movement."
Johnson-Sands, a past president of the FNM's Women's Association, also has said she can attract women voters to support the party in greater numbers.
Bannister believes he is the best choice for deputy leader, however.
"We have many outstanding members of the party who have given everything, exposed themselves... to take the party forward and I believe I have something to give back at this stage," Bannister told The Nassau Guardian last week.
Darron Cash, Kay Forbes-Smith, Colin Ingraham, Phenton Neymour, Dr. Duane Sands and Michael Turnquest are all vying for the two available deputy chairman spots.
Shonel Ferguson, Mavis Johnson-Collie, Brad McPhee, Basil Moss, Jamal Moss and Winston Pinnock are all nominated for the five available vice-chairman spots.
Troy Rahming, Margaret Rodgers, Lonnie Rolle, Francis Sawyer, Caron Shepherd and David Thompson are all hopefuls for vice-chairman as well.
Karen Butler, Sandra Knowles, Winsome Miller, Charlyne Sealy and Ethelyn Stuart are all vying for the two deputy secretary general spots.
Outgoing party leader, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham is scheduled to make a farewell address at 9 a.m. The opening ceremony is open to the public, as is the night session, which starts at 7 p.m.

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