Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner was quiet yesterday on whether she would again run for leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) if it calls a convention.

"I don't think that there is a venue for leadership challenge within the FNM," Butler-Turner said.

"I think the FNM right now needs to be as strong as it can possibly be and I am a part of that team and I think at the end of the day every team member has to be a very important part of that."
The former FNM deputy leader, who appeared on the Guardian Radio 96.9 talk show "Q and A", said she is not aware of any movement within the party to organize a convention.
She did admit that the party is trying to address many of the challenges it faces, including a lack of traction.
When asked about the declaration made by FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis in 2012 that the Ingraham era is over, she asked,
"Why should the FNM let the name of [former Prime Minister] Hubert Ingraham go?

"[Former Prime Minister the late Sir Lynden] Pindling is in his grave and the PLP hasn't let him go.

"Ingraham has a great legacy, which we in the FNM are proud of. He is still alive. Why should we not hold him up?

"He is the author, in my opinion, who helped to create this same modern Bahamas that the PLP is trying to take credit for.

"So no, we should never let Hubert Ingraham's name die. He has served his country well and I think we should continue."

Minnis made the declaration the night of the North Abaco bye-election in 2012, when the FNM's candidate Greg Gomez was crushed by the Progressive Liberal Party's Renardo Curry.

When asked if she still wishes to lead the party, Butler-Turner said, "I want the FNM to be the next government of The Bahamas and we will do everything in our power to make that happen."

Butler-Turner lost to Minnis at the party's convention last November.
The party did not release the results of the race, but party sources at the time said Minnis secured 290 votes and Butler-Turner got approximately 108 votes.

Senior FNM and attorney Michael Scott recently said the party's leadership issue should be resolved through a convention held by the end of the year.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson said in May that Minnis remains a "work in progress". He said the FNM was not ready for an election yet.

FNM Chairman Michael Pintard retorted that the current leadership team of the FNM will lead the party into the 2017 general election.

Minnis told The Nassau Guardian last week that the party will not have a convention this year.

He said he fully expects to be the leader of the FNM at the next convention.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian