The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

LANISHA Rolle, the Free National Movement’s new Senate pick, said yesterday she is “not concerned” about critics who feel she may not be qualified for the position in the upper chamber.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mrs Rolle said she is focused on seeing the FNM become the governing party in 2017 and she will “not be distracted”. She encouraged members of her party who feel she should not have been appointed to be “more united and look at the bigger picture”.

In a press release on Wednesday, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said he has advised Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to appoint Mrs Rolle, an attorney, to the vacant seat in the Senate.

However, some members of the FNM are reportedly angry about the move. One FNM insider questioned what assets Mrs Rolle would bring to the upper chamber and suggested that a better known person should have been appointed.

Another FNM source told The Tribune there would be “fireworks” within the party over the selection, which the source said took many by surprise.

“My only response is, let us focus on the issues and move on from this to build a better Bahamas,” Mrs Rolle said. “This is not about me, all I am and all I could be is a voice to echo the concerns of the Bahamian people and to present the position of the Free National Movement.”

She added: “Let’s unite and focus on the issues at hand: The fact that crime is too high and is continuing to escalate, the fact that our social dilemmas have not changed. These are the things we need to concentrate on. Let us not be sidetracked and allow small things to take away from the bigger picture and that is to be the government. So we should unite and focus on that.”

Mrs Rolle said her background in law enforcement and human resources management will serve as an asset in the Senate.

She said: “I have a strong voice and passion and I believe that the team can use those as well as my expertise as an attorney and my background in human resources. I have a voice that will be heard and I will represent my party well.”

The FNM seat became vacant after Heather Hunt resigned from the upper chamber last month. She said she resigned after Dr Minnis asked her to step down from the post.

Mrs Hunt said it was an honour to serve in the Senate, but in keeping with the party’s vision, it was time for her to pass on the baton.

Mrs Rolle served on the Royal Bahamas Police Force for 11 years and worked in the Special Intelligence Branch for nine years. She is also an ordained minister.