Former prime minister Hubert Ingraham was met with a roar of approval from hundreds of FNM delegates and supporters when he arrived at the Convention Centre shortly after 9 o’clock last night.
Mr Ingraham, who has accepted the nomination for the party’s leadership post, stopped and greeted excited FNM delegates and supporters in the lobby, shaking hands and stopping for photographs before entering the ballroom, where he was met by a large crowd clamoring to greet him.
“Hubert – It over, Hubert – It over,” was chanted over and over again as Mr Ingraham, who had to be protected from a mob of people, made his way to his seat at the North Abaco constituency table near the front of the ballroom for the second night of the party’s convention.
Many convention delegates commented that the reaction to Mr Ingraham’s entrance was the most enthusiastic response to any of the leadership contenders so far.
Mr Ingraham had just returned from Grand Bahama and Grand Cay, Abaco, where six homes were destroyed by Hurricane Wilma.
He did not stop to speak to reporters outside the Wyndham Nassau Resort, but promised to comment today.
Today, 290-plus delegates will vote for the leader of the FNM, and 51 other party posts, but the leadership race is by far the most watched.
The former prime minister is up against incumbent Senator Tommy Turnquest and former deputy leader Dion Foulkes, who addressed the convention last night. Not long after Mr Ingraham’s entrance, Mr Turnquest entered the ballroom surrounded by supporters, and as Mr Foulkes made his way to podium he was escorted by a Junkanoo rush-out with supporters in tow.
Mr Ingraham had remained silent during the run-up to today’s vote, but on Monday he released a statement that said “he would accept the will of the people” if they wanted him to lead, the day after reportedly indicating to Mr Turnquest that he had no plans to lead the party.
By Wednesday, fliers bearing his signature began to surface, saying that it has been a humbling experience to realize that so many members of the FNM, and thousands of Bahamians, wanted him to return as leader. He said that if elected today, he would serve to the best of his abilities.
Montagu MP Brent Symonette, incumbent deputy leader Sidney Collie and outgoing chairman Carl Bethel are contesting the deputy leader post.
As Mr Ingraham entered the lobby, Senator John Delaney was addressing the convention, and as he made his way closer to his seat, people stood up on tables and chairs to see over the crowd surrounding the former prime minister.
“I am so excited, and as you can see just about everybody in that hall feels just as excited as I am. I am so happy that he has decided to come out tonight and that he has accepted the nomination for leader,” supporter Marisol Morley told The Bahama Journal last night.
Another supporter, Pearl Baker, was also excited about Mr Ingraham’s return.
“The reaction from the delegates speaks volumes about how they personally feel about him and I certainly believe that he will get (the majority) of votes (today),” she said.
“He has the love of the people and a lot of people realize that he has that take-charge ability. We want someone who can be decisive and make a decision on issues that will affect the Bahamian people.”
Miram Musgrove of the Marco City constituency said, “I am happy that Ingraham decided to come back to take us out of the wilderness for five years; I done serve three-and-a-half and Lord knows I don’t want to serve any more.”
Said Leo Foulkes: “That’s his right and privilege as a member of the party.”
Kevin Collie described Mr Ingraham’s entrance as “awesome.”
“He is a strong leader and will do whatever is necessary to bring this country back to the way it should be,” he said.
A supporter who only wanted to be identified as Margot said that no matter what the results are today, the party will support them. “I feel it shows democracy in FNM and whoever comes out on top, trust me, we will support them,” she said.
By: Erica Wells, The Bahama Journal
