NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The daughter of the founder of the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM), Caron Shepherd, has joined the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) as the campaign continues for the general elections, constitutionally due in September but widely expected before then.
Shepherd’s father, the late Jimmy Shepherd, was one of the “Dissident Eight” and the founder of the FNM. The party was formed at his home in 1971.
“This is a very difficult decision for me, but it needed to be done,” Shepherd told supporters at the PLP headquarters, adding that “my decision is based on the mere fact that I have so many persons that I would like to be able to assist and be able to see people progress.
“And so that is why this decision was made. So it was not an easy one, but … it’s the holy courage that took me to be able to stand here today,” said Shepherd, who served with the FNM for 33 years before joining the Coalition of Independents (COI) in 2021.
“I don’t regret the decision I have made. I’ve decided with a clear conscience. I served 33 years in the FNM, three times as president (of the women’s branch), and people will tell you I was the best president that the FNM has ever had.
“And so I look forward to bringing that same tenacity here in the PLP and to working with males and females (so) that we forge ahead with more progress,” said Shepherd, who said she’s disappointed with the current state of the FNM.
“They have strayed from the goals our founding fathers set out to accomplish,” she said. “Their words are saying one thing, yet their actions show another. Our motto as the FNM used to be ‘all together,’ and today, the FNM is not all together.”
“Our motto from the dissident eight was all together. Unfortunately, the FNM, in my opinion, is not altogether. They are in a position where they are filling positions in the front, but the back is hemorrhaging. I’m not the only one who is quite disappointed by the direction the party is going in,” Shepherd said, urging undecided FNM supporters to join her in backing Prime Minister Phillip Davis for a second consecutive term in office.
“Join me on the winning team — a team focused on service to the Bahamian people. I pledge to work smart, hard, and diligently, focusing on securing a second term for the PLP in service to our people. I am here to serve and to serve with purpose for a better Bahamas. I have a heart for the people,” she added.
Earlier this week, the party said it would officially launch its general election campaign on Monday next week, after completing the ratification process for all 39 of its candidates.
In the last general election, the PLP won 32 seats, with the remaining seats going to the DNM.
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