The Executives of the Democratic National Alliance claim to be fully behind the ‘deal’ between Loretta Butler-Turner and Branville McCartney; the question that I would like to ask is does Branville and the Executives speak for all of the 8.48 percent of persons that voted for the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) in the 2012 General Election; and is this really the sentiments of the entire Executive body of the DNA?

What I find interesting and what I am more curious about is how Loretta Butler-Turner, Leader of the Opposition Free National Movement in the House of Assembly, now makes Branville McCartney, Leader of the Democratic National Alliance, Opposition business in the Upper Chamber; and I must ask what has been promised to him and under what terms and conditions, as revelations of the failed deal between Dr. Hubert Minnis, leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) and Branville McCartney now come to light.

DNA wanted 14 seats uncontested during coalition talks with FNM” – The Tribune

Excerpt from this article; “During negotiations for the union between their two parties earlier this year, Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney wanted the Free National Movement to leave as many as 14 seats uncontested to clear the way for the DNA candidates in those constituencies, sources familiar with the talks said.

But the negotiations broke down during the summer after FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis refused Mr. McCartney’s request, The Tribune understands.

The two parties aroused national interest in May when they appeared open to a coalition to challenge the Progressive Liberal Party.

Mr. McCartney and Dr. Minnis negotiated terms for the union over several months, meeting face-to-face multiple times with advisors and high-ranking officials in the party, The Tribune understands.

The pair had several meeting prior to the FM’s convention in July and just after that.

However the talks feel through after the two failed to compromise on two key issues: the number of seats the FNM would leave uncontested and he question of whether the DNA would disband and join the party.”

In my humble opinion, the both of these men erred in this ‘standoff’ and I can see why the ‘deal’ then fell apart.

I cannot see how Dr. Minnis would find it conceivable and could reasonably except Mr. McCartney to disband this party and join the Free National Movement and there should be no reasonable expectation for Mr. McCartney to except Dr. Minnis to acquiesce to his demands of leaving fourteen seats uncontested for the DNA; what does the party, realistically, really bring to the table to make such a demand?  Because as Ms. Loretta Butler-Turner once said when defending her position of not wanting the FNM to form a coalition with the DNA; “Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday rejected a coalition between the FNM and DNA as ‘not a good idea’ given the third party’s fledgling status.” (23^rd May 2016), this then brings me back to my original point, what has been promised and under what conditions; as Mr. McCartney seems to find it appropriate to make proclamations for  “…..Minnis to quit”?

By any rate, I cannot image the Executives of the Democratic National Alliance being too pleased with the new ‘deal’ being struck between two persons who were not only adamantly against a coalition when it was proposed at one time or another but by two factions of two parties that saw themselves as better off without the other but not the tides have seems to have turned as the ‘common enemy’ has changed but quiet as it is kept.

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