Dear Editor
Several weeks ago, Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner suggested that many persons want her to run for the party's leadership. In a Nassau Guardian interview a few days ago, she said there is nothing in life that we are entitled to and that if the people want her to run, she will carry out the wishes of the people.
If we remember back in 1990, then leader of the opposition Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield bestowed the party's leadership on Hubert Alexander Ingraham from his death bed. Ingraham would go on to win the next two general elections for the FNM.
In the 2002 general election, Tommy Turnquest and Dion Foulkes led the FNM to a sound defeat. Turnquest held the FNM together for the next few years only to be beaten out of his chance to become prime minister when Ingraham opposed him at the 12th hour and won the leadership in the run up to the 2007 general election.
In 2012, Ingraham again led the FNM into the general election. This time he lost. Looking back over the years, there were never any real challenges to his leadership. Algernon Allen and Pierre Dupuch were the only two parliamentarians in recent memory I can think of who outwardly opposed Ingraham. They did this at the expense of their political careers.
Ingraham was the undisputed leader of the FNM and some say he ruled with an iron fist. But since the 2012 general election, the landscape of the FNM has changed. The current leader, Dr. Hubert Minnis, recently entered politics and because of his stellar performance as a member of Parliament, he was able to retain his seat in the Killarney constituency. Many FNMs who were waiting in the wings like Turnquest, Foulkes, Zhivargo Laing and Carl Bethel were beaten at the polls again. A whole generation of experienced and more skillful FNM members were no longer to be in the House of Assembly.
Minnis emerged as leader and Loretta Butler-Turner as deputy leader. But for the first time in a long time, the leadership post is uncertain and it will be hotly contested in short order when the FNM calls a convention.
Minnis's leadership style appears to be inclusive, as he looks for the input of his team. I believe that he tries to lead by consensus and he will try to deepen our democracy. He is not nearly as outspoken as former FNM leaders Ingraham or Turnquest. And he does not have a flare for arousing the crowd, but he is a hard worker. He is not indecisive, but he is just too tolerant, even to a fault, and may be politically naive.
Butler-Turner's style is more direct. I truly believe that she is Ingraham reincarnated as a woman. She appears to be on a mission to become the first elected woman prime minister of the country. She has an in-your-face style and she won't back down no matter what the odds. I think this is what some FNMs like about her and quite frankly what some other FNMs dislike about her. She can get very tough if the need arises and all of us know that politics can be a rough game.
Butler-Turner is a chip off the old block whilst Minnis represents a new kind of leader, who I believe will attempt to change the status quo.
But standing on the sidelines is the more articulate Dr. Duane Sands. His arguments are balanced and, believe it or not, I am of the view that he has more national appeal than the other candidates, despite his two losses at the polls.
Also on the sidelines are Turnquest, Foulkes, Zhivargo Laing and Carl Bethel. Will they emerge out of the woodwork and attempt to resurrect their political careers? They may have been beaten at the polls again but they bring a wealth of experience to the FNM's political machinery. I am sure that they will not stand idly by, especially if Perry Christie attempts to win the most revered top post for a third time.
But who will win the leadership race? The race is wide open. In fact, this will probably be the most hotly contested FNM leadership race in recent memory. Already the deputy leader is saying that since she announced that she was thinking of running for the leadership, there has been a change in her relationship with party leader Dr. Minnis. Minnis refutes this claim.
The winner of this leadership race had better come out smelling like a rose garden and with a commanding majority. If Christie were to run again in 2017, then the FNM leadership race in 2016 would even be more intriguing. Will the FNM have a leader who does not command the respect of the party or a leader who has the party unified? If it is the former, you can bet that Hubert Ingraham will once again be asked to come out of retirement and return to lead the party to victory. Many FNMs still love their "Papa" despite his commanding style.
Bahamians love political dinosaurs and many would consider Christie versus Ingraham Round Three a race for the ages.
- Dehavilland Moss

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