WHAT BRENT SYMONETTE HAD TO SAY
The Nassau Guardian got a hold of Brent Symonette, the former Deputy Prime Minister and a council member of the FNM, one of its financiers following their leadership council meeting at Tommy Turnquest’s House on Tonique Darling highway on Tuesday evening 1 September 2026. The Nassau Guardian says that the meeting was a follow up to the meeting held a few days before at Hubert Ingraham’s house ( we reported that last week) to decide the fate of the leadership of the FNM. Michael Pintard is digging in his heels to remain leader of the party. The Leadership Council wants that decision taken earlier than the convention postponed to October 2027. They want a convention held now. It appears that the fix is in and Michael Pintard is a dead man walking as Leader of the FNM, He can count his reign in weeks. Here is what Mr. Symonette had to say in his own words. The reporting is by Travis Carroll Cartwright in the Guardian of 3 September 2026:
“I think they should hold an early convention and any and every post is available for a person to apply, and if the current leader wants to apply, I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t. Now whether he gets elected again is another issue.
“Usually in the Westminster system, if you look at [former Prime Minister Hubert] Ingraham …, for instance, Ingraham resigned as leader and then subsequently resigned his seat, but he lost as a prime minister, which is slightly different (from Pintard).
“Pintard took us into election and lost. [Former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert] Minnis took us into election and lost, and people wanted his resignation, so it’s only reasonable that we go into a convention with the leader seeking to either have himself re-elected or resign his post and not run, whichever is his decision.
“I see no reason for him not having an opportunity to run.
“I haven’t been following. When I retired, I retired. I think I’m on one committee of the FNM, which I can’t retire from because of a post I hold. Other than that, I haven’t been to council for a long time; I don’t go to any of the meetings, so I’m the worst person to ask.”