Despite reports in another local daily, Free National Movement (FNM) Candidate for Bamboo Town Cassius Stuart denied the notion that he will be offering himself for the party’s leadership position at its upcoming convention.

When the FNM hosts its one day national convention on May 26th, up for grabs will be the party’s leadership position, which the Bahama Journal understands may rest with official Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis.

The deputy leader post will also be contested.

But reports surfaced last week that Mr. Stuart is preparing himself to be a serious contender for the party’s leadership when the convention is held in the coming weeks.

However, Mr. Stuart told the Bahama Journal an entirely different story.

“The reports [last week] were a bit mischievous,” Mr. Stuart said as he sought to set the record straight.

“What I really said was that I am considering how I am going to play a role in the leadership of the party and that consists of the leader, the deputy leader, the chairman, the vice chairman, the secretary general and there are scores of other positions that can be held in the leadership of the party.”

Mr. Stuart said he never specified which position he would be offering for. And according to Mr. Stuart, the FNM supports the present Opposition leader to also lead the party.

“First and foremost, the FNM has enough strong, young and dynamic leaders to lead our party moving forward. But I would like to say that we are all in support of Dr. Hubert Minnis as the leader of the party and the leader in the Opposition,” he said.

And although the party was defeated in a landslide victory by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) a week ago, Mr. Stuart said the FNM will use the next five years to establish a clear philosophy and begin restructuring.

“I never joined this party to take a back seat,” he said.

“I believe I have a role to play and I will play that role if the party wants me. I believe I have a lot to offer. The country is crying for young, dynamic and energetic leadership and I think that is what we need to put forward. I think our party needs to restructure and it needs to rebuild.
Mr. Stuart continued, “We need to be more nimble, fluid and we need to address the needs of the nation in a timelier basis. I’ve been in opposition before leading a party for 12 years so I know what it takes.”

“I want to lend my support, energy and talents to the party and I will give that. I am in 100 per cent so I will be offering for a leadership position and not the position of leader because we have already supported Dr. Minnis in that.”

Questioned about any known contenders for the deputy leadership position, Mr. Stuart simply said “stay tuned”, perhaps signalling a run for that position.