An expectant throng of Bahamians awaits that long-anticipated moment when this nation’s former Leader the Right Honourable Hubert Ingraham makes good on his promise to resign his seat in the House of Assembly.

Today must be a bitter-sweet one for a man who has served so long and so well. As in the case of others who have been called to serve in difficult times – this man’s tenure on office has been strewn with both applauds and jeers.

Hubert Alexander Ingraham first bolted onto the Bahamian political scene as a protégé of the late and also fiercely beloved Father of the Nation, the Rt. Hon. Sir Lynden O. Pindling.

When that relationship soured one thing led to another and the two men parted political company.

The breach between the two men became – as it were – the basis for a slew of differences and divisions between any number of Bahamians.

It is only now in the first decade of the twenty first century those things are trending in another direction.

Highest in this regard would be any number of generational changes that have – when taken in their entirety – conspired to deflect attention from stories about who did what to whom and for whom in days ago, now long since gone with the wind.

Today the Bahamian people – in their decisive majority- decided in recently held general elections that they were sick and tired of Mr. Ingraham and his style of governance in hard times.

They rejected him because he seemed – in his last days- to be quite out of touch with reality as they experienced it; with their homes on the auction block; with their sons and daughters hungry – and with their future prospects seemingly dim.

These people voted Mr. Ingraham and his FNM crew out.

Indeed, once the vote had been done and the numbers tallied, we learn that the preponderant majority of the nearly 156,000 persons who cast their votes — a turnout of 91 percent of the registered voters — rejected Hubert Ingraham and all that he stood for in these hard economic times.

What is today so very remarkable has to do with not only Ingraham’s immediate reaction that consisted of his decision to be gone, but also in the decisive manner by which the book has been closed on this man and what he seemed to represent as the reins of power slipped from his once-sure grasp.

Having had the tables turned on them in the last general elections, the Free National Movement has not only a new leader in Dr. Hubert Minnis, but must also now come to grips with realities that always arise in the immediate aftermath of disappointment.

This might well explain some of yesterday’s information in media that spoke of infighting and intrigue at the highest level of that once-triumphant organization.

There is some hint afoot to the effect that recrimination is rife and that blaming fingers are pointing first to this and then to that as reasons behind the party’s defeat.

Defeat is one thing; demise another matter all together.

There is no doubting the clearest of possibilities: The Free National Movement can and will rise again!

In the meantime, they have a major part to play as Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition; and clearly then, this role matters a hell of a lot.

For the record we also take note of Dr. Minnis’ solemn pledge – “… to work with the Government in the best interest of the Bahamian people…”

This is precisely how things like this should be done.

This transition in the leadership of the Free National Movement signals the end of an era and the beginning of a newly minted leadership.

Interestingly, this is today being signaled not only by people who identify themselves as supporters of the FNM, but also by any number of other politically conscious Bahamians.

Once the dust had settled on Election Day, the once high and mighty Free National Movement had won only three of the 23 seats in New Providence, both seats in Abaco, two of the five seats in Grand Bahama, and two of the eight seats in the other Family Islands. 

One FNM Minister who did prevail was Dr. Minnis – this because he remained connected to the people who called him forward; and clearly also, they reciprocated.

We remain convinced that FNM’s chose well when– by acclamation – they called on Dr. Hubert Minnis to lead them through what must be a treacherous time.