Member of Parliament for Long Island Loretta Butler-Turner confirmed yesterday that she will again run on the Free National Movement’s (FNM) ticket for Long Island in the 2017 General Elections.
“Long Island is, and must remain, FNM country, and if Long Islanders want me to, I will accept my party’s nomination, and continue to serve the wonderful people of Long Island,” she said in a press statement.
In the week following the FNM’s 2016 National Convention, Mrs. Butler-Turner remained hesitant towards Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis’ offers to her during the final night of the convention.
Mrs. Butler-Turner confirmed last week that she was offered a re-nomination in Long Island, the post of leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly, a senior position in a Minnis Cabinet and a prominent role in the general election.
On Sunday, Mrs. Butler-Turner made it abundantly clear that she throws her support behind Dr. Minnis and wants all FNMs to do the same.
“I urge those delegates who supported our cause during the recent leadership race, to offer their support to our Party Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis and his leadership team,” she said.
“It is my fervent hope that unity will be achieved through a spirit of collegiality, dialogue and mutual respect from all within the party. Mutuality will only be achieved when we all pledge to have our deeds resemble our words and so earn the public’s trust.”
Mrs. Butler-Turner along with her running mate Dr. Duane Sands threw in the towel in the early morning hours of the the third night of the convention after the party’s deputy Peter Turnquest snubbed her in his speech.
Mrs. Butler-Turner in a Facebook post, lambasted the organization of the convention making it clear that Dr. Minnis has been allotted more time to give his speech than she was.
Dr. Minnis was given 45 minutes while Mrs. Butler-Turner alleged that she was only given 10 minutes, however she spoke for over 44 minutes.
Towards the end of Mrs. Butler-Turner’s speech, supporters of Dr. Minnis started chanting “Roc Wit Doc”, to prompt her to end her speech.
During much of the convention, unity was highlighted as the unspoken theme of the convention, due to its importance in most delegates’ speeches.
During his victory speech on the final night of the convention, Dr. Minnis offered an olive branch Mrs. Butler-Turner and Dr. Sands.
In her statement, Mrs. Butler-Turner said the FNM’s main concern now, is not only unity, but ridding The Bahamas of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).
“While many countries in our region have recovered or are experiencing economic progress and growth following the Great Recession of 2008, The Bahamas is regressing because of the gross incompetence and spectacular failure of the Progressive Liberal Party,” she said.
“Instead of delivering 10,000 new jobs in their first year of office, the PLP wrecked the Bahamian economy and failed to rescue thousands of unemployed youth.
“This is likely the most corrupt government in Bahamian history, with questionable activities in numerous ministries, departments and public corporations. This is a government of massive waste. Many of its leaders live high off the hog while thousands of Bahamians continue to catch hell daily. Our task now as FNMs is to regain the trust and the confidence of our core voters and of non-aligned voters. This requires good leadership, the best and brightest candidates, a compelling vision and a viable policy agenda for the country.”
Mrs. Butler-Turner said that her “commitment remains to the common good of our country and to the greater good of the Bahamian people and the FNM remain unshakeable.”
