By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins defied a recommendation from Acting Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis to meet with him yesterday. Nor did he resign as chairman of the Gaming Board.
A reliable source confirmed to The Tribune that despite Mr Davis’ call in the House on Wednesday night for the outspoken parliamentarian to meet with him and “do the honourable thing,” no meeting had taken place between the two men.
Mr Davis made the suggestion after Dr Rollins launched into a tirade against Prime Minister Perry Christie, calling for “new political leadership” in the country.
Dr Rollins emphasised on Wednesday that he cannot resign from a position he does not hold, insisting that he was not Gaming Board chairman because government board appointments had expired on June 30 and the prime minister had yet to announce reappointments.
However, Mr Davis said Cabinet had extended the appointments to August 31 and that a letter had been sent to Dr Rollins to that effect. Dr Rollins said he had not received the letter.
During his verbal assault on his own party, Dr Rollins said he is “sick and tired” of hearing the prime minister quote the same scripture in the House adding that he would “go to church” if he wanted to hear a sermon.
He also lashed out at Mr Christie for using a debate as “critical” as the one on Value Added Tax (VAT) legislation to “threaten” younger members of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) who have expressed divergent views from the party line.
He said: “The political threats uttered by the prime minister and the minister of finance this morning left me with one impression and that is, we need new political leadership in this country. When a leader and prime minister, a minister of finance, could take a debate as important and critical to the pockets of the Bahamian people as VAT and spend most of his contribution threatening members on this side, it is evident that we need new leadership. He spent more time and energy trying to threaten us rather than give comfort and hope to people that are leery and tired.”
Mr Christie was not in the lower chamber at the time because he was set to travel to Las Vegas for a work-related trip. However, Mr Davis rose to his feet to rebuke Dr Rollins for his “out of line” comments.
“It pains me to know that the member for Fort Charlotte crossed the line today,” he said. “When I say cross the line, I mean the fact that he is on that side, does not make him any different from us on this side. Perhaps because he is sitting there it has influenced him to think that he is (in the) opposition. He crossed the line. He called the prime minister’s leadership into question and it was not right to do that. . .
(Because of the large numbers of PLP members in the House, some of them, including Dr Rollins, have to sit on the Opposition side of the House).
“Dr Rollins crossed the line when he called into question the leader and his motives and in fact suggesting that he should no longer be leader. I will say no more, he (Dr Rollins) and I can meet, (Thursday) morning, as acting prime minister and acting leader of the party and we can discuss the manner in which he can do the honourable thing. I say no more.”
Dr Rollins was one of the “new generation” PLPs that were brought into the party shortly before the 2012 general election.
Before that, he was leader of the now defunct third party the National Development Party (NDP).
On Monday, the prime minister announced that Dr Rollins had resigned as PLP whip because he did not support some of the Constitutional Amendment Bills.
Dr Rollins has previously been outspoken about the government’s plans to introduce Value Added Tax and discriminatory elements of a draft Gaming Bill which would uphold the ban against Bahamians gambling in casinos.
Comments
TalRussell 10 years, 2 months ago
Does the Tribune have any credible evidence pointing to Dr. Andre having acted as a spokesman's on behalf of the gaming board - since June 30, 2014?
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 2 months ago
This is the PLPs 2nd term in office, do board appointments expire the same date every year? Or is it a grab bag and everybody is surprised when it's time to name a new appointee? Why is Christie always late?
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 2 months ago
LOL!! Das right! Make Perry fire you. Les see if he has the balls...
licks2 10 years, 2 months ago
Damn we PM cant even fire dis lil bouy from he government too!! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. . .WHAT ER BIG JOKE THIS GOVERNMENT IS?? SOME OF THEM YOUNG plp DEMBETTER START SALVAGING WHAT IS LEFT OF THE PLP AND REFORM DAT PARTY TO PRESENT ANY CREDIBLE REASON FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2017!! THE PEOPLE DEM ARE FOARMING AT THE MOUTH TO "PAY BACK" THIS KEYSTONE GOVERNMENT FOR SO MANY THINGS!!
A COUP IS IN ORDER IN THIS PARTY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PARTY AND THE COUNTRY!!! SPONGE BOB CHRISTIE AND SQUIDWORTH DAVIS AND PARTICK ROBERTS GIVING IDJETS DEM BAD NAME!!
mangogirl01 10 years, 2 months ago
Don't resign Mr. Rollins, let's see if the PM has the balls to fire you like it was said he fired Wells! Am sure when he returns on Sunday and read your comments he will throw another hussy fit, can't wait to see/hear that!
TalRussell 10 years, 2 months ago
Will the real prime minister kindly stand up? Dr. Andre has be forgiven for his confusion over whether he should be resigning to the PM or DPM? For the sake Jesus, lets all pray Comrade Dr. Andre doesn't show up in the House of Assembly or face the media - wearing one them special issue Minnis red ties? Comrades, now that would be something so politically temporarily lost control ya brain strange to witness, much less have to stomach?
TheMadHatter 10 years, 2 months ago
What does Davis mean by "do the right thing" ?
Rollins does not need to resign a position that he does not have. He can simply say that he will not operate in the position "by extension of the post", but instead that he will only operate as Board Chairman if he is appointed as such.
If Davis is suggesting that he resign his Seat in Parliament - or as a member of the Party - then that is an even bigger joke.
In all cases, Rollins should just chill and wait for them to act. The PM cannot fire him as an MP - only the people can do that. However, he can be expelled from the Party and would then become and independent MP, unless he joins the FNM - but I doubt he would do that.
An interesting set of events. I hope Dr. Rollins continues to stand his ground. He does not have to worry about losing his Seat as an MP. I believe if that were to happen (which would be illegal) the lazy half-dead half-asleep tv-watching pastor-following people of the Bahamas would finally wake up and realize they are living in a dictatorship (where your voting ballot has a number on it) and we would have a new Burma Road.
TheMadHatter
Honestman 10 years, 2 months ago
Davis should not dare to talk of Rollins "crossing the line". Davis and his PLP cohorts "crossed the line" a long time ago and have never turned back.
TalRussell 10 years, 2 months ago
Comrades what a difference from the day the lady with the green eyes, heavy handed Dr. Andre on floor of da House of Assembly? Now, they asking him wear they red tie, that is, if he doesn't show up on floor of da House sporting his new green tie? Let's see how this works. The red party wants him but they's the same reds who doesn't want their own duly elected leader Minnis? The green party has also made a sudden dash to grab Dr. Rollins but has neither an elected leader or deputy party leader? And, some of you still say this is not some kind of ongoing comedy show? If the doc joins the reds, sure hope he rushes out to buys himself a quality helmet. cause no telling, if the morning, day or night will arise where he will thanks his sweet Jesus, he head was so well protected. Comrades you know I ain't just make this silly stuff up all by my lone self...it for real. It taken place in real time.
MPs apologizes everyone...except each other.
.........../////https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-scL76fE_BM
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