The Free National Movement (FNM) will not renominate former Bahamas Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis as its candidate for the Killarney constituency in the next general election, multiple party insiders confirmed to The Tribune.
FNM Leader Michael Pintard reportedly informed Dr Minnis of the decision, marking a significant shift in the party’s candidate strategy ahead of the next election, due September 2026. According to The Tribune, the FNM also does not plan to renominate Long Island MP Adrian Gibson, though it remains unclear whether Gibson has been directly notified.
The move signals a wider effort by the FNM to reset its electoral slate, with the first 20 candidates expected to be ratified by May 1. The party’s internal vetting process is already well underway, with sources saying strategic decisions are being made to position the FNM for a stronger showing in the next general election.
Dr Hubert Minnis, who led the party to victory in 2017 but stepped down as leader after the FNM’s crushing 2021 defeat, challenged Pintard for the party leadership in 2023. He lost decisively, securing just 163 votes to Pintard’s 486 — a contest that exposed enduring rifts within the party and set the stage for the current transition.
While Minnis retains strong support in Killarney, party insiders told The Tribune that his unwillingness to fully support Pintard’s leadership was a key factor in his removal. Gibson, meanwhile, has faced growing unease in Long Island amid ongoing legal troubles, further complicating his standing within the party.
The Tribune also confirmed that Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis has left the FNM to join the Coalition of Independents, reportedly due to expectations he would also be dropped. Sources cited a lack of support from his constituency association as the reason behind that decision.
Despite these shakeups, several MPs are expected to secure renomination, including Shanendon Cartwright (St Barnabas), Kwasi Thompson (East Grand Bahama), and Adrian White (St Anne’s).
Speaking on The Rundown with Clint Watson, FNM Chairman Dr Duane Sands acknowledged the speculation surrounding the party’s candidate selections but stopped short of confirming individual decisions, saying only that Dr Minnis has “served this country and served this organisation with distinction.”
He hinted that Minnis may still have a role in the party but offered no specifics.
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