Marco City MP Michael Pintard won the leadership position of the Free National Movement following its one-day convention that saw three candidates go head-to-head to vie for the post.
In an exuberant gathering at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church on Saturday, hundreds of delegates convened to cast their vote.
At the end, Pintard was declared the winner. In his victory speech, he expressed gratitude to former prime ministers and his supporters.
“…By the will of God, we will be back on 2026.”
To former parliamentarians, he encouraged, “It’s about the journey, make connections and change the course of people’s lives.”
Pintard promised that as leader of the Opposition, he will be careful in his deliberation. “We will speak in a measured way to get the result we need.”
Pintard, the favourite to win the post, competed with Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis and East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson.
Pintard won with 297 of the votes. Thompson received 103 votes and Lewis got 44 votes.
The three Grand Bahama parliamentarians made up the seven parliamentarians who retained their seats in the early election in September.
Pintard garnered support from former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and former St Anne’s MP Brent Symonette, and some of his former parliamentarians and Cabinet members in the Hubert Minnis led administration.
Minnis did not reveal who he voted for but said he will support the winner, in hopes that the party regain its footing to win the next general election.