By Cleopatra Murphy

Freeport News Reporter

cleopatra@nasguard.com

As the date nears for former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and current Member of Parliament for North Abaco to resign his post as MP, the Free National Movement (FNM) has named the four frontrunners for the candidacy.

Greg Gomez, Cay Mills, Jackson McIntosh and Perry Thomas were named as the potential candidates who will represent the FNM in the North Abaco constituency in the upcoming by-election. The party was scheduled to name the candidate Thursday night at a press conference at its New Providence headquarters, but the final decision was not reached.

Party leader Dr. Hubert Minnis said the decision of the candidate to replace Ingraham has been deferred to a later date to allow the council to carefully make its choice.

"We have never before to my knowledge had such outstanding candidates who want to represent the Free National Movement and we feel that through the democratic process - we are going through a methodical democratic process - and it's taking a lot longer than anticipated," he said.

The four candidates are all Abaconians that were recommended by the FNM North Abaco Constituency Association. Minnis also shared that the party has consulted with the former prime minister on the possible candidate to replace him.

"Members have agreed that all four are very, very excellent candidates and therefore they would like to review all four throughly because they are all running essentially in athletic terms neck . . ." he said.

Minnis remained confident that when the by-election is called, the FNM will once again secure the North Abaco seat secured by Ingraham eight times — twice as a member of Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) once as an independent candidate and five times as an FNM.

The leader of the FNM said the party anticipates winning the north Abaco seat by an even larger margin in the yet to be announced by-election.

"There is no if in this. We will win that seat," he said. "We are not only aiming to secure the seat, we're aiming to increase the margin of victory.

The former prime minister is set to resign his post as Member of Parliament for North Abaco less than a week from now on July 19, two weeks before his 65th birthday.

The date also marks the anniversary of his first election to office in 1977.