Brent Symonette said yesterday he is seriously considering a bid for the deputy leadership of the Free National Movement when the party convention is held in November.
The MP for Montagu told The Tribune that he has given the matter serious thought and will probably announce his decision when the House of Assembly meets in October following the summer break.
Mr Symonette said he is aware that Sidney Collie may also plan to contest the position, but is not sure who else might be in the field.
He said the leadership of the party is still “very much up in the air” but did not say how much of an impact that could have on his decision to run as deputy.
He said he had been approached to run for the deputy’s position by a number of persons.
Considered
Mr Symonette, the only FNM candidate to win a seat in New Providence in the May 2002 election, has considered the post of leader twice. This created speculation on whether the country would accept the possibility of a white prime minister.
At the party’s last convention, Mr Symonette decided against running in the interest of party unity, claiming it had not sufficiently recovered from its 2002 defeat at the polls.
In August, Mr Symonette announced again that he would not contest the leadership. Yesterday, he explained that his decision not to run for leader this time was based more on the fact that he wanted to focus his attention on serving his Montagu constituents.
However, both times he said his decision had no bearing on the colour of his skin.
In August, he hinted on a possible deputy bid by saying: “Today was the post of leader, tomorrow is another day. I am not ruling out the possibility that I may run for another position in the party.”
Candidates
Former education minister Dion Foulkes has already announced his intention to run against current leader Tommy Turnquest.
Although many have speculated on a Hubert Ingraham/ Brent Symonette ticket, both men have remained silent on that possibility.
Yesterday, independent MP Pierre Dupuch weighed in on the issue by saying there is no reason why Mr Symonette should not run.
However, he said he was disappointed with politicians playing cat-and-mouse games with the Bahamian people about whether they would run for office. He said it is a disgrace as people have a right to know.
By CARA BRENNEN Tribune Staff Reporter
