Renward Wells and Andre Rollins
By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
ONE week after they joined the Free National Movement, Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins and Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells have been named as the party’s shadow ministers of national security and tourism respectively, a statement from the FNM said yesterday.
The FNM also announced other changes to the party’s shadow cabinet.
Dr Minnis, who was previously the FNM’s shadow minister of national security and health, is now only responsible for the latter portfolio.
Mr Wells relieves North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly of the shadow minister of tourism portfolio, with Mr Neilly now responsible for just transport and aviation, as well as being the opposition’s party whip.
Additional changes to the FNM’s shadow cabinet include the appointment of party Chairman Michael Pintard as the shadow minister of youth, sports and culture, and Senator Lanisha Rolle as the shadow minister for local government, the party’s statement said.
Last week, Dr Rollins and Mr Wells joined the FNM following a long run of frosty relations and contention with the Progressive Liberal Party. Dr Rollins quit the PLP in June while Mr Wells left the governing party last week.
“I promised nothing (Cabinet positions or nomination),” Dr Minnis said last week, responding to questions from reporters. “I am not like (Prime Minister Perry) Christie. We have an organisation and there are policies and procedures and just like everyone else we go through our policies and procedures.
“I think these men, just like the Bahamian people, have seen what has been occurring in the governance of this country. They have joined and the Bahamian populace will join when they vote out the PLP.
“The only promises that have been made is like all the young men around me they (will) form the future of the country.”
While both Dr Rollins and Mr Wells were officially welcomed into the FNM last week, the decision sparked some internal controversy.
Some FNMs were angered, The Tribune understands, as they did not learn that the MPs were joining the party until they crossed the floor of the House of Assembly last Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Michael Scott, who has served as an FNM legal advisor, last week 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.
Shadow cabinet
Dr Hubert Minnis - shadow minister of health.
Peter Turnquest - shadow minister of finance and financial services.
Neko Grant - shadow minister of works and urban development.
Loretta Butler-Turner - shadow minister of social services; labour and National Insurance.
Edison Key - shadow minister agriculture, marine resources.
Richard Lightbourn - shadow minister, Attorney General’s Office & Ministry of Legal Affairs.
Hubert Chipman - shadow minister of foreign affairs and immigration and parliamentary spokesperson for education.
Theo Neilly - shadow minister of transport and aviation.
Dr Andre Rollins - shadow minister of national security.
Renward Wells - shadow minister of tourism.
Senator Carl Bethel - shadow minister of education.
Senator Kwasi Thompson - shadow minister of environment and housing.
Senator Michael Pintard - shadow minister of youth, sports and culture.
Senator Lanisha Rolle - shadow minister of local government.
Comments
themessenger 9 years, 1 month ago
They crossed the aisle bringing their baggage, were welcomed with open arms sins forgiven, & handed a cabinet post as their just reward. A dentist turned policeman and a compromised engineer running our number one industry,the plot sickens. I see very little inspirational or motivational about the above slate.
Honestman 9 years, 1 month ago
God help us!
Emac 9 years, 1 month ago
We as a country are in serious problems. When I look at the list of shadow ministers it makes me wanna vomit. It is the same old bullshit over and over again. I mean, this is making me seasick. What really makes matters worst is that the two clowns who have recently joined the circus and are immediately placed in the main act without even proving themselves. FNM, get yall stupid ass outta here!
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
Comrades’ only days after quietly snagging the two PLP MP's, now all party members are being told that two of the top red party's most senior shadow ministerial positions were quickly awarded to Dr. Andre and Renward, overshadowing several of the more senior red House MP's and Senators.
The sudden appointments to the dismay of the once thought be influential red insiders are being seen as a continuous desperate move to overshadow the red shirts who had been seeking an appointment with the Governor-general to remove Minnis as the leader of the official opposition party in the House of Assembly.
Whether or not Minnis should explain his rational for not taking his own House MP’s, Senators and red party top officials into his confidence, before secretly sliding the two PLP MP’s into the red party, is something best left to his own red party to decide.
Who among you have noticed the growing number red party friendly commentators who are also prophesying.why Minnis's swift action is much to risky so close to the approaching 2017 General. An election until now, many reds thought was theirs to lose.
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…
Emac 9 years, 1 month ago
Minnis is no better than the rest of them. He was only pretending to be decent. He never had me fooled cause I never liked him
Reality_Check 9 years, 1 month ago
Well_mudda_take_sic who posts here often and obviously knows Minnis well has been saying for years that the evilness of Minnis has no bounds.
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 1 month ago
If anyone still believes Minnis did not offer these two cabinet please call me. I have a toll bridge in NY to sell you....
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