Free National Movement (FNM) delegates yesterday casted their votes for 52 positions in the party that did not include the party’s top five posts namely leader, deputy leader, treasurer, general secretary and national chairman.

Those positions would not be voted on until Friday.

FNM Chairman Sidney Collie spoke with The Bahama Journal just hours before the closed door nominations were set to take place.

“The campaign will start in earnest and after nominations elections will take place Friday afternoon,” he said.

“Hopefully by 6:00 p.m. on Friday the new slates of officer core meeting would be over and we would know who those people are.”

Some 400 plus delegates swarmed the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel resort yesterday morning to register before the first exclusive delegate afternoon session at 3:00 p.m.

Mr. Collie was very optimistic about the first day of the national convention calling the atmosphere competitive but unity mindset driven.

“As I went up stairs to check on the registration for the guests checking in I could sense things are going well, all the jitter bugs, the same excitement you see down here I can see upstairs,” Mr. Collie said.

“People are in great anticipation because we have hotly contested position. The delegates who are also voters are all in that campaign mode and excitement mode but apart from the elections our delegates are looking forward to a great time.”

He further stated the first night of the convention would be an evening for the FNM to lay out the party’s accomplishments in making The Bahamas a better place and how they will plan to do it again in the future.

“The values and beliefs of the FNM give expression to the freedom and economic opportunities for the whole country. We are the party that believes in the highest ethical standards, promoting and respecting our Constitution and our history proves this.”

The first night of the convention began last night at 8:00 p.m.