Sometimes the best thing that a person can do is strip something that does not seem to be working properly back now to its bear essences and totally rebuild it.

This may be the point where the Free National Movement (FNM) finds itself again as a political organization, the question is can they undergo and survive a “rebuild” at this time to ready themselves in the eyes of the public and garner support to win the next general election?

 “Bannister calls for FNM convention – Former minister writes to FNM leader” – The Nassau Guardian

Excerpt from this article;

“As tensions continue to mount in the Free National Movement (FNM), former FNM Minister Desmond Bannister in an open letter to FNM Leader Michael Pintard yesterday urged him to call a convention.

Bannister wrote, “… I am respectfully urging you to call a national convention for the party at the earliest possible date.

“Any convention will be a referendum on your leadership, but all political conventions are referenda on political leadership.

 “If you cannot retain that leadership post after more than two years serving in that capacity, then this is simply not your time.

“Once a convention is held and party members have been permitted to participate in free and fair leadership elections, the party leader will emerge with a national mandate on behalf of the FNM.

“Members will appreciate that they have had the opportunity to freely campaign and vote for their chosen candidates during a national convention.

“The losing candidates will be bound by the party’s mandate to coalesce with and support the elected party leadership team.

“The FNM will then have in excess of two years to earn the confidence of the Bahamian people once again, and to regain the government.

“To delay calling a convention will diminish confidence in your leadership. Party members will question your confidence in remaining party leader, as well as your ability to raise the requisite amount of funds that will be required to hold a convention and to successfully contest a general election.”

Bannister opined, “Should you win, your mandate cannot be subjected to legitimate questioning.”

Some seem to have a problem with the leadership of Free National Movement Leader Mr. Michael Pintard especially in light of the recent Western Grand Bahama and Bimini bye-election loss; and it would also appear that just as some party supporters were toward former leader the Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis after the last general election lost, wanting him gone ‘yesterday’; some are toward Pintard but the odd thing is that some of these people seem to be calling for the return of Dr. Hubert Minnis.

There are parts of this communication by Mr. Desmond Bannister wherein he seems to be pushing for an early convention, that seems to suggest that the Hon. Michael Pintard was appointed and not duly and democratically elected which is also odd;

“If you cannot retain that leadership post after more than two years serving in that capacity, then this is simply not your time.

“Once a convention is held and party members have been permitted to participate in free and fair leadership elections, the party leader will emerge with a national mandate on behalf of the FNM.”

First, the next convention is due, by the party’s constitution to be held next year and after this “new” emergence will the party really be satisfied with [the] “national mandate” set by this convention?  As this was supposed to have been the case in ousting Minnis and electing a new leader, right?

I have an odd feeling of déjà vu.

The Leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), the Hon. Michael Pintard, has a huge task ahead of him, as he is being asked to unite a party that does not seem to want to be united; and as some are fine with the leadership of Mr. Pintard and look to stand with him going into the next election; what would then become of these people if a new leader is appointed at the next convention?

With all of that being said; is this history repeating itself when Minnis had to fight off rumors of the former leader returning and others to retain the leadership of the party; which he did successfully and then became prime minister or are there those within the Free National Movement (FNM) organization willing to “slash and burn”, just to get what they want?

Actually what do they want?

Do they really know?

This is not an indictment on Dr. Minnis and his accomplishments as prime minister, as I have always defended his record, as I still do to this day.  But rather this is simply my view of what is occurring within the Free National Movement to date and asking if it really makes sense in the long term?

There a lot of questions to be asked and answered and realizations to be made as the Free National Movement (FNM) moves forward, but just how much time do they have?

END