FORMER Bahamas prime minister Hubert Ingraham says he will resign as leader of the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) on May 26, when the party holds a special convention to formally elect a new leader.
Speaking at a “Thank You” meeting over the weekend, Ingraham, who led his FNM into defeat in the May 7 general elections, said that he has spent more than half of his 64 years in politics.
“I ran again this time to head the government for a fourth time; the Bahamian public rejected my message and denied my request. I accept their determination and in the Westminster tradition of electoral democracy which we adhere to, I have determined to end my public life which has spanned more than half my own lifetime,” he said.
Ingraham told the party faithfuls that he hopes they would “accept my determination to retire from public life and to return your seat to you”.
He said he would be supportive of whoever emerges as the party leader, adding, “I leave with my reputation intact; I gave you decent, honourable and incorruptible service. I did my best for you and I leave you now much, much better off than when we began”.
