Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to two letters that were recently printed in The Nassau Guardian and The Tribune taking me to task for calling on former Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Hubert Ingraham to defer retiring from the House of Assembly until 2017.
Let me make this clear: I fully support the new leader of the official opposition party Dr. Hubert Minnis (Killarney) and his deputy Loretta Butler-Turner (Long Island). I am glad that Dr. Minnis stepped up to the plate and accepted the leadership role of the FNM after many of its promising stars were wiped out in the May 7 general election. Had Dr. Minnis lost his seat to the Progressive Liberal Party's (PLP) Jerome Gomez, the FNM would have been in dire straits.
I believe that the FNM is in good hands. My only issue with Dr. Minnis is that he is not as dynamic as either Ingraham or Prime Minister Perry Christie. Still, I think he is an excellent member of Parliament who no doubt has brought his 21st century brand of leadership to the FNM.
It is his unique style of leadership which has caused him to win in convincing fashion in Killarney, despite the tidal wave of anti-FNM voters that had gone to the polls throughout The Bahamas. But I am still of the opinion that he and the remaining seven FNM members of Parliament may need help from an experience leader and parliamentarian.
I am not yet convinced that any of the FNM parliamentarians, except Butler-Turner, can go head to head with the prime minister, in terms of debating. What's more, the PLP has many other excellent debaters in the House who can run circles around the FNM's parliamentary caucus. I think that Dr. Minnis will only get better in the next several years.
But until then Ingraham should reconsider giving up his North Abaco seat, at least until 2017. Even after over two months since May 7 the FNM has yet to find a suitable replacement for Ingraham in North Abaco. This is all the more reason why Ingraham should stay on to help his party in the House. If there is any FNM representative who can go head to head with any of the 29 PLP members of Parliament when it comes to debating, it is Ingraham. He can hold his own. I am not saying that he should become the leader of the FNM. I understand that this is the post-Ingraham era. But the FNM members, four of whom are parliamentary rookies, can use his help and experience.
What is wrong with that? I think the FNM should give this some serious consideration before Ingraham officially retires. After all, what does the FNM have to lose by allowing him to stay on to assist Dr. Minnis?

- Kevin Evans

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