Over this past weekend rumor swirled about that the Hon. Loretta Butler-Turner; new Leader of the Opposition in the House Assembly, appointing Branville McCartney, Leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) to the senate.  This morning dailies have since reported that the two had been in talks concerning this issue.

“Butler-Turner talks to DNA over Senate – McCartney ‘lined up for post in deal with rebels.” – The Tribune

Except from this article; “It was claimed last night that newly appointed Opposition leader Loretta Butler-Turner has offered a Senate seat to the Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney.

However, Mrs. Butler-Turner declined to comment on the report, saying she had made no decision, but would announce her Senate appointments within the next 24 hours.

On the heels of her historic appointment as the first female leader of the official Opposition, according to well-placed sources, Mrs. Butler-Turner was expected to name her one-time Cabinet colleague during the last Ingraham administration leader of Opposition business in the senate this week, if he accepts the offer.

The Tribune understands that after a weekend of ‘high level talks’, Mrs. Butler-Turner, the Free National Movement’s MP for Long Island, has offered a deal to the DNA ‘guaranteeing’ the third party an official voice in the build-up to the 2017 general election.”

Well, as of 1 pm today, Mr. Branville McCartney, DNA leader, has been sworn in to the Senate, appointed by Mrs. Butler-Turner, the Official Opposition’s leader in the House of Assembly as the leader of Opposition Business, which in light of her explanation makes perfect sense and is perfectly logical but it begins to build a ‘soft’ coalition between the Free National Movement (FNM) and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA); even if some would say it does not necessarily have to – let us be adults here and try not to insult one another intelligence.

This has been a ‘painful road’ and both parties involved; Mrs. Butler-Turner and Mr. McCartney at one point or another adamantly denied the possibility of this ever happening.

“FNM Coalition with the DNA ‘not a good idea” – The Tribune, 23 May 2016

Excerpt from this article; “Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday rejected a coalition between the FNM and DAN as ‘not a good idea’ given the third party’s fledgling status.

Mrs. Butler-Turner suggested that the way forward is a merger of the two parties and the disbanding of the DNA, whose only appeal she said was the ‘Branville McCartney brand”, my question now is if the DNA is actually in the process of disbanding, if you were to listen to its leader; of course not! But then he too has given some ‘double talk’ on this issue’.

“DNA: No plans for FNM talks – McCartney say FNM in state of disarray.” – The Nassau Guardian, 10 December 2016

Excerpt from this article; “Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney yesterday said the party has ‘no plans to enter talks with the beleaguered Free National Movement (FNM), and has no time to be distracted by the Official Opposition’s current state of ‘complete disarray”, but yet today Mr. Branville McCartney proclaims “Patriotism over Partisan Politics”, as he enters into a deal with Mrs. Butler-Turner to enters the Senate.

Now a lot of factors may have gone into this decision and only time will tell us what they may have been; somewhat like the Baha Mar deal.  Then I can be far off in left field and over thinking this entire situation and Ms. Butler-Turner could have just offered him the position with a few months left to elections to give the DNA a voice and also Mr. Branville McCartney could have accepted on the grounds of ‘patriotism over partisan politics’, but as I said earlier; let us be adults about this.

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