drumecoarcher

Fort Charlotte MP Mark Humes said he still does not know why he was not renominated by the Free National Movement to run in the 2022 General Election.

In what could be his last contribution in the House of Assembly on Monday, Humes said he continues to smile because “these things are just a part of life.”

“So what if I didn’t get a nomination for the next general election, that doesn’t mean life is over.”

The big picture

The Free National Movement ratified Drumeco Archer to run in the 2022 General Election, surprising Humes who said he was expecting to run again.

When Prime Minister Hubert Minnis alluded to Archer as the next MP for the area, in the House of Assembly last week Wednesday, Humes stood to his feet demanding that Minnis respect his position as the sitting MP.

What Humes says

Humes said he is grateful that Minnis called to inform him that he will not be ratified.

“The Prime Minister did call me following the exchange. It was the right gesture.

“But if he didn’t call or reach out to me, it would not mean my life is over,” he said.

Humes said contrary to speculations, he has not accepted any offers from his party nor any other political group.

Photo Courtesy: The Nassau Guardian 

Ft Charlotte MP Mark Humes broke his silence in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, requesting that Prime Minister Hubert Minnis respect his position as the sitting MP, after Minnis in a speech, alluded to the party’s newly ratified candidate Dremeco Archer as the next MP for the area.

Humes said, “I think it’s quite disrespectful that, as I am the current member of parliament, sit here in the HOA, the duly elected, and unceremoniously deselected member of parliament. It’s quite disrespectful that my party would speak to or refer to him (Archer) as the next member of parliament.”

His response came after Minnis said, “I call Dremeco Archer, the next Member of Parliament for Fort Charlotte,” before being interrupted by Humes.

“There’s no guarantee. The people still have a say in that matter. I would ask for more respect for the current sitting member of parliament until such time as I graciously decide to move aside, if that is what I’m going to do.

“But until such time, I would just ask my dear Prime Minister to give me a little more respect,” Humes said.

Archer was ratified by the Free National Movement in April to run in the 2022 General Election.

Archer is a lawyer by trade and presently serves as president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA).

Back in March, speculation stirred that Humes may not have been renominated for the area. He told Eye Witness News at the time that he would respect his party’s process, stating that he will “let the party do what it has to do,” then he will “see what happens after that.”

But today in the House, he said, “Typically, I’m very quiet here in the House. I listen quite intently to what is taking place. And most of the last few months, I sort of graciously kept silent on most matters, actually for the last four years, [on] most matters that have taken place in Fort Charlotte.”

Minnis said he intended no disrespect or ill intent toward Humes.