“[My good name] is not something that I am willing to surrender,” she told The Bahama Journal, but did not speak to any specific situations.
In a statement to the press, Senator McCartney said, “I have determined that sacrificing or compromising one’s reputation and integrity ought not to be a pre-requisite to public service.”
She later added that FNM Leader Senator Tommy Turnquest was “saddened” by her announcement.
“It was not a decision that he welcomed, but he accepted my reasoning and he understands my position,” said Senator McCartney, an attorney who works in the financial services.
Senator McCartney, whose resignation becomes effective on October 31, also said that her resignation had nothing to do with the recent vote taken during an FNM Council meeting in favour of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham becoming the new leader of the Official Opposition, replacing Alvin Smith.
However, Mr. Smith up to Wednesday had not yet resigned.
Mr. Ingraham appointed Senator McCartney to the Senate in 2001.
Senator McCartney, who lost to Progressive Liberal Party candidate Agatha Marcell in South Beach in the 2002 election, also told The Bahama Journal that she does not plan to run for a seat in the next general election.
But she said she is still an FNM.
She added, “Knowing what the political game is about and how easy it is to attack people’s character and become involved in treachery, I’ve decided to remove myself from that context.
“No political position is more important to me than my good name and in the context of politics one’s good name and one’s integrity have the tendency of being sullied whether or not what is being promulgated is true or not, and in most instances it is not.
“Nonetheless, it persists, but I have determined that I had to weigh what is important to me at this time in my life and it’s my focus on my profession and other civic activities. I am not ruling out perhaps in the future being involved in politics and I will continue to give service in other contexts.”
This is the fourth resignation from the Senate since early 2004 when PLP Senator Edison Key resigned. Prime Minister Perry Christie replaced him with Caleb Outten a year ago.
Several months ago, the Opposition Leader appointed John Delaney to replace Desmond Bannister.
The prime minister still has to decide who will replace Senator Cyprianna McWeeney, who resigned from the upper chamber following the most recent budget debate.
By: Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
