NASSAU, The Bahamas – KENYATTA GIBSON, Minister of Parliament (MP) for Kennedy, recently announced he has joined the governing Free National Movement (FNM).
According to Caribbean Net News, the move comes after his resignation from the Opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) last year and his subsequent declaration that he was an Independent.
With Gibson’s switch, the FNM now has a 24 to 17 seat majority in the House of Assembly.
In his statement to Parliament, Gibson said, “I have been brought to a place where I am compelled to say that the Party that is presently best placed to govern the affairs of state...and the Party that is best placed to care after the needs of average Bahamians...and the Party that is best placed to be the caretaker of the Bahamian dream is no longer the party with which I was formerly affiliated, but instead is today the FNM.”
He further stated he had “weighed the leadership of both parties in the balance and I believe that the FNM is best placed to lead us at this time”.
“My primary focus has always been the advancement of the people of Kennedy (his Constituency), the fulfilment of the Bahamian dream, endeavouring each and every day to be their soldier, acting in their best interest while defending their causes,” pledged the Minister.
He then crossed the floor of the Bahamas House of Assembly to thunderous applause.
Prime Minister and FNM Leader Hubert Ingraham issued a statement following Gibson’s move, welcoming the Minister into his party and noting that his decision “follows in the footsteps of many distinguished Bahamian political personalities who, over the years, came to the conclusion that their membership in the PLP was no longer tenable”.
Bahamas News