FNM parliamentarians have voted against making any changes to the party’s structure before its national convention in November.
Party leader Tommy Turnquest said the decision was taken at a meeting at his Dowdeswell Street office yesterday.
“We decided that we will not make any changes and that Alvin Smith will remain as leader in parliament and that we will move towards the convention where we will discuss that and other issues at that time,” he said.
Observers
Last night, political observers were interpreting yesterday’s events in different ways. One said it could mark the end of the Hubert Ingraham era, with the former prime minister finally deciding to withdraw from the race.
However, another said: “It could mean that Hubert is leaving his challenge until the convention after all.”
During the last FNM council meeting over two weeks ago, former prime minister Hubert Ingraham was voted in by 88 to 40 to assume the House opposition leader role, replacing Mr Smith.
Mr Smith had stated publicly that he would step down to allow for Mr Ingraham’s return, but he did not formally relinquish his position. As a result, during the last sitting of the House on October 5., he and other FNMs were grilled by Independent MPs Pierre Dupuch and Tennyson Wells for allegedly dragging the party “into the- gutter”.
Prime Minister Perry Christie also attacked the opposition, saying it was disgraceful how they were trying to “assassinate” Mr Turnquest’s career.
Many FNMs thought the move to have Mr Ingraham as opposition leader in the House would create a “snowball effect”, resulting in him ultituately assuming the party leadership.
As election time draws near again, it has been speculated that such a move was being orchestrated to bring back Mr lngraham in an attempt to garner more support within the party following its humbling defeat in 2002.
Despite this, Mr Turnquest said he will be offering himself once again for leadership of the party during its convention in November.
“The FNM is a democratic organisation and we have democratic principles.
“We are resolved to keeping our internal issues internal and our focus is to return an FNM government to the Bahamas and ridding ourselves of the PLP government,” he said.
By PAUL G TURNQUEST Tribune Staff Reporter
