Minority party disbands, joins ruling party

The 13-year-old Bahamas Democratic Movement joins forces with the ruling Free National Movement.

NASSAU, Bahamas, Monday April 18, 2011 – Thirteen years after forming, the Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) has disbanded and joined the ruling Free National Movement (FNM). 

The move was given the unanimous consent of the FNM Central Council.

BDM Leader Cassius Stuart, who said the past 11 years has been “a long struggle” to bring about positive change in the country, explained that his party had joined the FNM because it believed that organization is willing to embrace new leadership, new vision and new energy. 

“While we know that this decision may be troubling for some of our supporters, we want to assure you that we believe this decision is in the best interest of our membership and for our country,” he said.

“The same massage that guided us in the wilderness over this past decade is the message that has been embraced by the Free National Movement. A message we believe, will touch the lives of every man, woman and child in our archipelago.”

The BDM was formed in late 1998 and was officially launched in February 2000.

Stuart, who was one of the founding members, said discussions leading up to the decision to join forces with the FNM had not been easy. However, he said, after many months of discussions and deliberations the BDM concluded the move was “the right one and at the right time”.

“Today our country is facing many cross roads, with the high rate in crime, unsettling unemployment numbers, and a slow rebounding economy. In the midst of all of this distress we believe that brighter days are ahead of us because of this union. We are confident that this union will bring about a more energized, focused and vision filled organization in the next general election,” he said.

He said the FNM leader, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, had assured him that the next five years would be dedicated to adding value to the lives of residents, just as the BDM had worked towards.

In welcoming Stuart and his colleagues into the FNM fold, Prime Minister Ingraham invited the new members to join in renewing the ruling party’s values during their 40th anniversary this year. 

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