It’s Official. Pintard Joins FNM Leadership Race

After weeks of speculations, Marco City MP Michael Pintard has officially announced his leadership bid for party leader of the Free National Movement.

In an official social media post, Pintard is set to launch his campaign on Wednesday at the British Colonial Hilton at 8 pm.

The poster says, “Be a part of the movement to rebuild, reconnect and reignite.”

This announcement comes after two FNM Members of Parliament Kwasi Thompson and Iram Lewis announced their bid for the party leadership.

Pintard, Thompson and Lewis are all members of parliament from Grand Bahama, and are seeking election to replace Party Leader Hubert Minnis who stayed on as party leader. Minnis leads the opposition in Parliament until the party’s convention is held on November 27.

Fifty-six-year-old Pintard is said to be a strong contender for the position as reports say he has gathered support from delegates as he seeks to reunify the party and bring FNMs back into the fold, many who may have strayed.

Following the FNM’s defeat at the polls on September 16, it was suggested many of its voters stayed home and may have lost confidence in Minnis. Only 7 FNM candidates returned to the House of Assembly. The other 32 seats were won by the Progressive Liberal Party.

Pintard was a former Cabinet minister in the Minnis-led administration where he served as Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.