The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

WHILE both Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins and Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells were officially welcomed into the Free National Movement on Wednesday, the decision sparked controversy yesterday over whether the party’s membership procedures were properly followed.

Party insiders told The Tribune that some members of the FNM were up in arms because they were of the view that Mr Wells and Dr Rollins’ membership applications were handled “under the table”.

Other FNMs were angered, The Tribune understands, as they did not learn that the MPs were joining the party until they stood in the House of Assembly to deliver resignation speeches.

When contacted yesterday Michael Scott, an FNM legal advisor, questioned whether the move was a bid “for the rather narrow self-serving and superficial object of preserving Dr Minnis’ tenuous grasp on the leadership” of the FNM.

Questions about whether the MPs’ membership in the party was valid were raised last night during a meeting at the FNM’s headquarters on Mackey Street.

According to well-placed sources, during the meeting the party’s Secretary General Michael Foulkes explained that he personally received and approved Mr Wells’ and Dr Rollins’ membership applications, which he said is normal.

However some members of the FNM questioned why the applications were not brought before party’s executive council for approval.

Although there was mixed reaction to the Bamboo Town MP and the Fort Charlotte MPs crossing the floor of the House to join the party, the meeting concluded with a decision to accept Mr Wells and Dr Rollins.

Following the House session on Wednesday, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn were absent from the FNM’s press conference to officially welcome the new FNMs, although they both had attended Parliament.

While Mrs Butler-Turner has said little on the matter, Mr Lightbourn told The Tribune yesterday that he welcomed the MPs but had reservations about whether the proper procedure was followed.

“I was busy and I had other arrangements that I was not given sufficient time to reschedule,” he said before last night’s meeting. “Yes I support them (coming into the party) but I think there is a process that should have been followed and I don’t think it was followed.

“If you look at the way that Kenyatta’s situation was handled there was a process that was followed. In this case I don’t think the same was done.”

He was referring to former MP Kenyatta Gibson, who quit the PLP while the party was in opposition to join the FNM.

Mr Scott said he was completely shocked because did not know that a decision was already made to bring the controversial MPs into the opposition party.

“This was a complete shock to me, I only knew of the potential,” he said. “In my opinion this was done for the rather narrow self serving and superficial object of preserving Minnis’ tenuous grasp on the leadership of the FNM.

“From Minnis’ perspective, it gives him an opportunity to try and shore up support in the parliamentary caucus to prevent a revolt by members of the parliamentary group to oust him as leader.

“So in the short-term if you looked at the analysis that way, that is in short-terms a win, win but long-term I don’t know.”

According to the party’s constitution, the executive committee of the FNM is responsible for considering and approving applications for membership in the party in accordance with the procedure for admission.

The executive committee also sits as and performs all the functions of a candidate’s committee and recommends for the approval and nomination of the central council a candidate or slate of candidates for election to the House of Assembly.

The FNM’s constitution also says the executive committee is not to recommend any candidates for approval of the central council before informing the relevant constituency associations.