Scores Turn Out For Ingraham Motorcade

(Photo by Stephen Gay)

Scores of Ingraham supporters participated in a motorcade on Saturday.

But Mr. Ingraham, who was not on the motorcade, made disparaging and insulting remarks to a Bahama Journal reporter when contacted yesterday.

The former prime minister cursed at the reporter and said there was no need to contact him for reaction to the motorcade and abruptly hung up the phone

It has been typical of his behaviour in recent months when contacted for comment on the FNM leadership issue.

The issue is one that is expected to be closely monitored during the convention, with nominations set for tomorrow.

Around 1pm Saturday, several dozen cars, trucks, jeeps and buses – decorated with posters of Mr. Ingraham, and FNM flags, left the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre winding through the streets of New Providence for just over two hours.

As the procession made its way through the capital, Bahamians from all walks of life could be seen waving and cheering in support of Mr. Inghrahm’s return as party leader.

The most prominent FNM official on the motorcade was the Member of Parliament for Montagu Brent Symonette, who said the turnout spoke volumes about what the public thinks of Mr. Inghrahm.

"At the end of the day it will be a great convention to see that we have three very capable people all vying for leadership, and the popular support is displayed to each of them in different ways," Mr. Symonette said. "This motorcade is in support of Mr. Inghrahm and I’m sure the others will have their day as well."

Despite numerous calls for Mr. Inghrahm to return as the FNM leader, so far only incumbent Senator Tommy Turnquest and former cabinet minister, Dion Foulkes, have declared their intention to run for leadership of the FNM.

"The big day will be Tuesday with the nominations and we will see who comes forward," Mr. Symonette said "I’m sure there will be some people who will put their names in the hat at the last minute, but wait and see."

Mr. Symonette was joined by Dr. Earl Deveaux, a former minister in Mr. Ingraham’s cabinet.

But no other senior party members were spotted on the motorcade, not even other FNM MPs who in September won the support of the party’s Central Council to have Mr. Ingraham replace Alvin Smith as leader of the Official Opposition. It was a decision that was eventually shelved.

Mr. Smith said yesterday that he was in Eleuthera on Saturday. When asked if he would have attended the motorcade had he been in New Providence, he said, "I have no comment on that."

Party supporters observing the motorcade on Saturday had mixed reaction to the event.

"We are not ready for Inghrahm," one supporter said. "He just left office a few years ago and he could bring back some of those bad habits that he had. We need some fresh blood running the party and ultimately the country."

Another FNM supporter, Marvin Morley, who participated in the motorcade, said, "The problem with my FNM party is that we air out our dirty laundry too much.

"It’s good to get the general public’s support, but they can only vote in the general election and not at the party’s convention. Only the delegates, the council and the national party officers vote and can decide who becomes the leader [of the party]."

Meanwhile, another FNM supporter, D.W. Dorsett, told The Bahama Journal that he definitely supported the effort of the motorcade’s organizers.

He too said the purpose of the motorcade was to let Mr. Inghrahm know what type of support he has within the community.

"I think the Bahamian people on a whole are really prepared at this time to put Mr. Inghrahm back in office," Mr. Dorsett said.

"The country at this point in time is at the crossroads and we need a new leader, somebody with political momentum, somebody with drive and gumption to bring about a new feeling in the hearts and minds of Bahamians."

But some FNMs said the event was more of a "mass failure" than a "mass motorcade", noting that the fact that the organizers could not get more people to participate indicates that there is not widespread support for the former prime minister’s return as FNM leader.

Mr. Ingraham has not indicated whether he intends to run for leader of the FNM, although Senator Turnquest has said repeatedly that Mr. Ingraham has told him in private that he has no plan to seek the leadership of the FNM again.