The Tribune

THE Progressive Liberal Party committee, activated to decide the fate of Fort Charlotte MP Andre Rollins, has recommended that the former Gaming Board chairman be suspended from the party for not less than six months, committee Chairman Valentine Grimes confirmed yesterday.

However, Mr Grimes said this would not be the final decision regarding Dr Rollins’ future with the party. He said the disciplinary committee’s recommendations still need to be considered by the PLP’s leadership council, headed by Prime Minister Perry Christie, and then the party’s National General Council.

“It is true that such a recommendation was made,“ he said, “but this is a process. The committee does not make the final call. It only recommends.”

Yesterday, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts refused to confirm to The Tribune whether a suggestion was made. He said he only hoped that the committee’s work would progress sometime this month, following Mr Christie’s return from China. He did not give a specific date as to when the meeting would be held.

Last month Mr Roberts said there had been little said of Mr Rollins’ future within the party because the disciplinary committee’s report had not been discussed among the executive of the PLP.

At the time he said: “The leadership of the party hasn’t met yet to receive the report or discuss it. That won’t happen until sometime in the New Year.”

The committee was activated following Dr Rollins’ public criticisms of the prime minister and calls for new leadership in the country.

Dr Rollins faces a possible two-year suspension from the party. He could also be denied a nomination in the 2017 general election or be reprimanded by the PLP’s National General Council based on the committee’s report.

The committee was activated in October after Dr Rollins several times publicly criticised Mr Christie. He has refused to apologise for his behaviour.

Dr Rollins said in October that while the prime minister was due respect, he was “not a god” nor exempt from criticism.

He said calls for him to apologise to Mr Christie had no constructive purpose, but were merely an attempt to humiliate him. He also questioned the jurisdiction of the committee.

Attempts to reach Dr Rollins were not successful up to press time.