BAHAMAS-Minnis denounces move by opposition party to prevent him from contesting upcoming elections.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC -Former prime minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said, “I have always taken seriously my duty to Killarney “and denounced the move by the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) to have him step down as a candidate for the next general election in The Bahamas.

“The reality is, not everybody is going to serve as a candidate for us to demonstrate that we value them,” said FNM leader Michael Pintard last week, surrounded by deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright, the party’s chairman Dr. Duane Sands, and its secretary general Serfent Rolle.

“Your services can be in any number of areas in the lead-up to and after the election. I have met with our former leader. I’ve indicated to him that we can benefit from his support, and I’ve asked him for his support in a different capacity,” he added.

Minnis was first elected in Killarney in 2007 and was elected FNM leader in 2012, when the party, led by Hubert Ingraham, was defeated.

But in a statement, Minnis, who led the party back into government in 2017, said Pintard’s statement last week was “unexpected and deeply unfortunate.

“I have always taken my duty to Killarney seriously. That work is not yet complete. I have heard from my constituents that their encouragement, support, and desire for continued representation has been overwhelming. In the coming days, I will continue to consult with them as I consider the road ahead.

“This moment is bigger than me. It is about the politics we wish to practice and the country we hope to build. I remain guided by conscience, principle, and an unshakeable commitment to the people of this nation,” Minnis 69, said, adding that “the Bahamas deserves leadership that listens, that respects and that serves, without fear, without favor, and without fail.”

Minnis watched last week’s press conference held by the FNM leadership and said that “for nearly two decades, I have given my all to the people of Killarney and the nation.

“As prime minister, I carried the weight of unprecedented national crises – from hurricanes to pandemics – and made decisions with one goal: to protect and uplift the Bahamian people, particularly the most vulnerable among us, our working families, and our youth.

“While I am heartened to see individuals I mentored and supported now preparing for national leadership, I must express – with clarity and conviction – that I do not support how this decision was taken.

“The attempt to forcibly end my service to the people of Killarney does not reflect the democratic traditions upon which our party was built, nor does it honor the spirit of respect and consultation that should define our internal processes,” Minnis said.

Minnis said he is a member of the FNM and believes in its founding mission, adding, “I also think that a constitution—whether of a party or a nation—must be followed, not selectively administered.

“When party leadership departs from the constitution for convenience or control, it erodes the trust of its members and the public.

“If those seeking to lead cannot uphold their own party’s constitution, how can they be entrusted to protect and administer the constitution of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas?”