Former Free National Movement leader Dr. Hubert Minnis ducked out on a ceremony at Police Headquarters on Monday as new FNM leader Michael Pintard received his instruments for the Office of the Opposition Leader.
Minnis was noticeably absent during the presentation attended by the other members of the FNM’s parliamentary team, including East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson, Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis, St. Anne’s MP Adrian White, St. Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright and Long Island MP Adrian Gibson.
After he led the FNM to an embarrassing defeat on September 16, Minnis promised to step down as leader and work with his successor to help the party heal.
However, Minnis secretly plotted to seek re-election as leader at the party’s convention on November 27.
This plan was foiled by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham who publicly declared that whether Minnis ran or not, the FNM would have a new leader after the one-day convention.
Minnis voted during the leadership race but refused to stick around for the announcement of the winner or Pintard’s victory speech.
Though he is still a FNM MP he missed the opportunity on two separate occasions to show his political maturity and officially pass the baton to Pintard.
Party insiders fear Minnis is only looking out for himself even if it is to the detriment of the party.
Minnis became FNM leader following the 2012 General Election. He became the country’s shortest serving prime minister when he called the General Election almost a year early and lost.