National

FNM Killarney Association: Dr. Minnis Was Treated Unfairly

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Unfair and a breach of the party’s constitution, that’s how the Killarney FNM Association is describing the party’s decision not to run former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis in the upcoming general election.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 9, 2025

Berthony McDermott

The association’s executive team met with Dr. Minnis at the West Bay Street office Tuesday evening hoping to chart the way forward.

Association First Vice Chairman Cardie Cox says despite the tension, they believed Dr. Minnis would’ve still been ratified.

Cardie Cox – First Vice Chairman, FNM Killarney Constituency Association
“Upon hearing this message and this news that they are not going to run Dr. Minnis in the Killarney constituency in the next general election, that was very depressing to us and the whole executive.”

Cox says the association informed the party that they support Dr. Minnis wholeheartedly.

The party’s constitution reads that a constituency association may submit to the executive committee the names of persons it considers suitable candidates in any election for parliamentary or local government seats.

It continues, in the event that the executive committee of the party shall reject or fail to ratify any of the candidates whose names have been submitted by the constituency association, the executive committee shall forthwith communicate with the constituency association in writing to ascertain whether there may be other persons whom the constituency association may consider to be suitable candidates, and the executive committee shall not ratify any such candidate until it has consulted.

Antoinette Nesbitt – Secretary, FNM Killarney Constituency Association
“The constitution is clear and this was not done.”

FNM Leader Michael Pintard made the announcement Sunday in front of a packed Mackey Street headquarters.

Pintard, however, admitted that Minnis did not agree not to seek reelection. Dr. Minnis did not speak to us following the meeting, but he did say he would release a statement this week.

The association says the party has not identified another candidate for the area.

Antoinette Nesbitt – Secretary, FNM Killarney Constituency Association
“We will not support another candidate. We support Dr. Hubert Minnis. There is no reason under the sun why he should not get it. He has maintained his seat, he has never lost his seat, the people love him.”

Cardie Cox – First Vice Chairman, FNM Killarney Constituency Association
“My heart wouldn’t allow me or us to do that party politics, so we will support Dr. Minnis 100 percent.”

“I just feel they need to stop the division and bring unity and put right where right is. Once you follow the constitution, you won’t have a problem, ya know, everything moves smoothly, but once you go against it, it’s a problem. And we will not go against Dr. Minnis or any undermining of him and our association.”