Hubert Ingraham Returns?

Today as jockeying intensifies for position and power in leadership within the ranks of the Free National Movement, we counsel and caution against political fratricide in that great party. The schism brewing in the FNM is unnecessary and uncalled for.

While fights over leadership are legitimate, parties to these contests should always be mindful that they should not resort to winning no matter the cost.

Mr. Ingraham’s supporters give every impression that they are working from a ‘first-things first’ agenda. As the public now knows the first thing the public had for its delight was a prolonged period of waiting, which was filled with the question, Has he left?

And after that, there was the other question, Is he returning? And more recently, the question that has been put concerns whether or not the former prime minister can pull it off. This time around, it is quite evident that Hubert Ingraham’s staunchest supporters believe that his return to the fore is a done deal.

And well it might well be. But what will be the cost to the organization in real terms?

From where we sit, this entire saga has been extremely interesting on two scores. On the one hand, it is today quite evident that the forces that are today galvanizing the Ingraham leadership bid are doing so because they think that they can win with Ingraham.

On the other hand, very many of those people who currently support Senator the Hon. Tommy Turnquest are being mightily discomfited by what some call the cruelty he is being obliged to suffer. He is not only being castigated, he is being demonized.

As the Ingraham Machine barrels along, some FNM’s are treating Senator Turnquest as if he was already in the past tense. We are today quite convinced that this is how it must be.

As we have previously suggested, there are times in life when pretense will just not do. One such time is now for the Free National Movement as it tries to put its leadership affairs in order. No Bahamian voter will be deceived by any show that suggests that there is any FNM leader who does not have supporters and detractors.

That said, no would be Leader of the Free National Movement should be afraid to struggle and fight to persuade a majority that they have what it takes to lead; which brings us to what seems a moment of truth for Senator Turnquest, the FNM’s current leader.

Our unsolicited advice to the Senator is that he should fight. If he wins, he wins. And if he loses, he loses. At such a happenstance, another would don the FNM mantle of leadership. But stand as a man and fight. We promise the sky will not fall.

We seem to be at that point where so-called ‘sources’ are talking about this or that political matter. What is so dreadfully predictable about these sources is that they all seem to be perfectly in the know about practically everything.

Sources are today chatting about what they characterize as the imminent return of Hubert Alexander Ingraham. This erstwhile Leader of The Free National Movement is being treated as if he was some kind of political savior; a messiah.

Our surmise today is that if things continue to go as they are currently going for those FNM’s who would have Hubert Ingraham as their leader, he will soon and very soon be in the saddle.

And thereafter, they will prepare him for his part in the battle royal that must take place any day now. Even now, some of Mr. Ingraham’s nemeses say that he will lose the next one, fair and square.

On the other hand, his supporters are today quite convinced that the Progressive Liberal Party’s current leader will not be up to the challenge of facing a re-energized Free National Movement and a ferociously focused and experienced Hubert Ingraham.

No one should dare underestimate the extent of his arsenal and the accuracy of his aim.

But we also remind all and sundry that while the Free National Movement in Convention can do whatever it wishes, the Bahamian people will have the last word.