The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party trustee Valentine Grimes said the now independent MP Dr Andre Rollins has "little to no chance" of being re-elected in Fort Charlotte, insisting that "the PLP will regain that seat".

Mr Grimes told The Tribune the former PLP backbencher's political affiliation would not matter on election day. "It doesn't matter if he runs as a DNA, FNM or a independent," he said. "The PLP will win in Fort Charlotte."

When asked to explain his confidence Mr Grimes insisted that the poor representation experienced by the residents of Fort Charlotte under Dr Rollins' watch "would be the first of many reasons".

"He hasn't provided the best representation," Mr Grimes said. "That fact is widely known and many in the constituency have taken issue with his style of representation prior to his recent actions. "The record does show the residents of Fort Charlotte want more and expect more."

In addition to heading the PLP disciplinary committee responsible for determining the fate of Dr Rollins after the parliamentarian criticised Prime Minister Perry Christie last year, Mr Grimes also served as the PLP’s MP for Fort Charlotte from 1977 to 1992.

During the 2012 general election Dr Rollins beat Free National Movement candidate Zhivargo Laing by 151 votes, or three per cent, making it one of the closest margins of victory for a PLP candidate in that constituency in decades.

In mid-June, shortly after Dr Rollins announced his resignation from the PLP, the Tribune canvassed the Fort Charlotte constituency to gauge his support.

However, a large percentage of constituents expressed disappointment with Dr Rollins’ representation and, in addition, many called for the return of former Fort Charlotte MP Alfred Sears.

Mr Sears, who did not offer himself for nomination in 2012, in June told the Tribune he was open to a return to party politics “in any way the party wishes”.

When asked about the speculation, Mr Sears said: “I’m committed to the party and it knows I’m available to return in any way the party wishes. As a team player, the party has a representative and I won’t want to disrupt that representation.”

When pressed by reporters on the party's quest to select a new candidate for the Fort Charlotte seat in 2017, Mr Grimes would only confirm that the party was considering a number of potential candidates.

He said, while the determination process for the next candidate wouldn't be completed by the PLP's November convention date, he was certain that whoever the party selected would go on to be the next member of parliament for Fort Charlotte.