The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

KEITH Bell, State Minister of National Security, said yesterday he will challenge MP Andre Rollins for his seat as MP for Fort Charlotte after Dr Rollins’ verbal attack on Prime Minister Perry Christie in the House of Assembly earlier this week.

Mr Bell told the Big T that he was “quite shocked” when Mr Rollins “challenged the leadership of (this) political party.“ He suggested that the fiery parliamentarian resign from both his government appointed and elected posts, or risk being challenged.

“The fact is that he has challenged the leadership of this political party, more importantly the honourable Prime Minister, who has gone beyond – far beyond – to bring him up, mould him and help him,” he said.

“The fact that he is able to say that the honourable Prime Minister has done a number of things, not only should he resign as chairman of the Gaming Board, but he should also resign as Member of Parliament for Fort Charlotte. And I challenge him. I challenge him for that seat.”

Mr Bell’s bold declaration came after a tumultuous week of heated debate in the House of Assembly that saw Dr Rollins go head-to-head with the Prime Minister during intense debate over the four Bills to amend the equal rights section of the Constitution and the debate and passing of an Act to introduce Value Added Tax (VAT).

The debate heated up on Wednesday night when, after listening to Mr Christie’s contribution on VAT legislation, Dr Rollins lashed out at his leader declaring that “it is evident that we need new political leadership” in the Bahamas.

He accused Mr Christie of “wasting the public’s time by quoting scriptures instead of focusing on the critical debate.” He also accused the Prime Minister of “threatening” him for not toeing the party line.

In defence of Mr Christie, who had to leave the debate to fly to Las Vegas for an appointment the following day, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis said Dr Rollins was “out of line” and “the Prime Minister and our leader is out of the jurisdiction.” He said he was willing to meet with Dr Rollins on Wednesday night on how to go about “doing the right thing,” but a reliable source informed The Tribune that no meeting took place between the two men. Nor did Dr Rollins resign as chairman of the Gaming Board.

However, one of the Big T’s reliable sources said that Dr Rollins was fired from his post as chairman of the Gaming Board on Friday.

Mr Bell’s superior, Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage, when questioned on his personal view of the Rollins-Christie clash said: “I’m not going to comment on any individual member of parliament, but all of us know what is respectful from what is disrespectful. You don’t need me to tell you.”

His additional comments, however, seemed to indicate that Dr Rollins might have had good intentions, but perhaps addressed them in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“We have a process in our party, where generally speaking, as leader of government business for the House of Assembly, I call meetings on a weekly basis,” he said.

“At those meetings we discuss matters that are coming before parliament.

“We discuss matters of importance for members of Parliament. Sometimes we do not agree. When I say ‘we’ some members of parliament might feel that we should be doing things another way or whatever.

“We talk about them, we come to a consensus, and then we proceed.

“There are times when there are just some things what people do not agree on, and nobody tries to stop them from expressing how they feel either to their constituents or to the parliament. There’s nothing wrong with that.

“The only thing I have a problem with is when people become disrespectful and express themselves in ways which do not bring credit to the party. But as far as people having a mind of their own or having an independent view, fine.

“But at some point the party, if it’s the government, or even if it’s the opposition has to make up its mind as to what its policies will be.”