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Ingraham resigns Today's Front Page

Hubert Ingraham resigned as leader of the Free National Movement. Edward Russell III / TNG

Krystel Rolle Guardian Staff Reporter [email protected]

Published: May 08, 2012

Hubert Ingraham resigned as leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) last night and said he Share This: will not take his seat as a member of parliament after the party suffered an embarrassing loss at the polls, winning only 9 of the 38 seats. Rate this article:

"I shall return to private life from whence I came," a Add To Favourite somber Ingraham said at FNM headquarters on Mackey Street.

That means that there will have to be a by-election in the North Abaco constituency, which was one of the few seats the FNM won.

Ingraham thanked the people of North Abaco, whom he represented for over three decades.

He conceded defeat around 9:50 p.m., addressing a small group of supporters, some of whom cried when it became clear that the FNM had lost.

There was a tremendous swing toward the Progressive Liberal Party with several FNM heavyweights losing, including outgoing ministers Tommy Turnquest, Zhivargo Laing, Phenton Neymour, Desmond Bannister, Dion Foulkes and Charles Maynard, in addition to FNM Chairman Carl Bethel and outgoing Parliamentary Secretary Brensil Rolle.

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30749&Itemid=27[08/05/2012 17:35:59] The Nassau Guardian

However, the FNM has retained several familiar faces, including Loretta Butler-Turner in Long Island,

Edison Key in South Abaco, Dr. Hubert Minnis in Killarney, and Neko Grant in Central Grand Bahama.

FNM candidates Hubert Chipman in St. Anne’s, Peter Turnquest in East Grand Bahama, Theo Neilly in North Eleuthera and Richard Lightbourn in Montagu also secured victories.

In his concession speech, Ingraham said he did the best he could while in office.

"I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Bahamian people for giving me the opportunity,” Ingraham said.

“I have served them as prime minister for almost 15 years. I now leave you and say thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart and good night and goodbye.”

Ingraham was joined by Turnquest, who lost to the PLP’s Arnold Forbes, FNM Deputy Leader Brent Symonette and several FNM candidates.

Going into the general election, Ingraham expressed confidence that the FNM would win at least 30 seats, including 12 of the 15 Family Island seats.

However, the opposite occurred.

Some of the issues that dominated the campaign trail included crime, high unemployment, foreclosures and the lackluster economy.

The government's handling of the New Providence Road Improvement Project was also a key issue.

FNMs at the party’s headquarters were initially jubilant after the first victory was declared to Butler- Turner, but they quickly turned somber.

Several remained hopeful until it became clear that the FNM was soundly defeated.

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