Andre Rollins speaks in the House of Assembly.
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins confirmed yesterday that he will not be seeking a Free National Movement constituency nomination in the next general election now that Dr Hubert Minnis has retained the leadership of the party.
Dr Rollins also announced that he has “invited Dr Minnis to rescind” his appointment as Shadow Minister of National Security.
In June in a series of press statements, Dr Rollins openly criticised Dr Minnis and his supporters, stating that the leader had no substance or vision for the country. It was then that he originally made the pledge to step aside if Dr Minnis was re-elected leader, explaining that he could not expect to campaign alongside him given his critique of Dr Minnis and his role in the push for an early convention.
Six of the Opposition’s ten MPs – Loretta Butler-Turner, Hubert Chipman, Neko Grant, Richard Lightbourn, Theo Neilly and Dr Rollins – threatened to petition Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to remove Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition unless the initial November date was brought forward.
In making their case against their leader, the MPs highlighted a myriad of inefficiencies in a letter to the party’s Central Council, including his failure to take command of the party “at almost every turn” despite their repeated efforts to support him.
In a statement yesterday, Dr Rollins said he “stands by” his decision to join some of his parliamentary colleagues in calling for an early convention and he takes full responsibility for his actions. However, Dr Rollins said he would not take responsibility for the “decision of others to undermine the party’s leader, and by extension the party, by releasing a blistering letter to the Council, enumerating the perceived deficiencies and failings of Dr Minnis”.
In fact, Dr Rollins contends that he was never consulted about the letter, never signed the letter and did not know about it until he heard the letter being read on a local talk show. The Fort Charlotte MP said it was then he decided that if Mrs Butler-Turner, who he blames for the letter, was going to be unethical that he would “allow her to suffer her own political demise”.
“I proceeded to make inquiries to others about why my name was included on a letter that I knew nothing about and had not made any contribution to. I subsequently received an apology - written and verbal - from Mrs Loretta Butler-Turner, whom I suspected was intending to once again run for the party’s leadership,” Dr Rollins said.
“However, still privately upset by the lack of respect shown to me, I decided that the best way to respond to her unethical act was to allow her to suffer her own political demise. If she wanted to make her bed hard, then I would get out of her way so that she could lie down in it.
“Those who assisted Mrs Butler-Turner in drafting the letter were clearly executing a scorched earth strategy intended to benefit her ensuing campaign, by wreaking so much havoc that it would be highly unlikely the delegates of the convention would re-elect Dr Minnis as the party’s leader.
“Clearly, it had the exact opposite effect, because the only beneficiary of this misguided political strategy is the PLP, who have been generously supplied with an unlimited amount of ammunition to use against the FNM during the upcoming campaign.”
Dr Rollins also questioned why the five MPs who had no confidence in Dr Minnis would insist on receiving a nomination to run for the party under that same leader “knowing that their presence during the campaign will serve as a constant reminder of the damning contents of the scathing letter that they authored”.
“This recklessness was compounded on Friday past when Mrs Butler-Turner boldly accused Dr Minnis of spearheading a convention filled with corruption and criminality,” Dr Rollins said.
“To my mind, her pursuit of a nomination under Dr Minnis, following such egregious actions, is both illogical and unacceptable. Endorsing them would amount to political malpractice of the worst kind.”
Dr Rollins said the party will now have to “work a miracle” to convince the electorate that the FNM is unified and worthy of their confidence.
Comments
Engineer 8 years, 4 months ago
No loss. Rollins is not a team player and is destructive where ever he goes.
Alex_Charles 8 years, 4 months ago
Atleast he kept his word, although politically he was rather dubious as a politician, this one move has more character than our entire political system.
Publius 8 years, 4 months ago
He never intended to run again in Fort Charlotte because he did not want to go up against Alfred Sears. He is simply hiding his lack of character behind feigned principle. He was also a part of a plot of a different FNM faction to get rid of Minnis. Why doesn't Andre blow the whistle on that plot? They are all frauds.
Alex_Charles 8 years, 4 months ago
Rollins' political career is over. I don't think it's lack of character, he was complete garbage as an MP for Ft Charlotte. I can't even tell you one time where his constituency office was open. He has some of my respect for bowing out after his numerous political blunders, he said he wouldn't seek nomination in this case and did just that. Look a Duane "can't win an election" Sands, complete are and went back on his word. Are most of our former and current politicians Frauds? yeah pretty much, so was Ingraham. But, atlas he kept his word here, although defeat at the polls is inevitable.
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrades! Why in hell would Minnis have made a deal with any of the Six MP's & Senator's failed Coup's participates, who if he had just left them to be alone among themselves for a few days, the political elimination of his seven opponents would have occurred being each one of the seven does possess the potential for political self-destructive tendencies.
In today's post-red Movement convention negative LorettaSphere, few have any doubts that Her Excellency Dame Marguerite, would now laugh the proven to be so politically inept Six-red MP's and Senator, back down off Her Excellency's Mount Fitzwilliam hill as quickly as they'd arrive with their stupid letter at the ready all tucked inside the briefcase of "Tubes Surgical Fixed" Montagu's Richard.
Of important note of that may be of some interest to Tribune bloggers readers: When Dr. Andre had MP Renward grabs his PLP things to walk across the House of Assembly floor, over to join the Red Movement's side, there was no Constitutional requirement that he be required to visit with Her Excellency, to be re sworn-in as a new red shirt MP? The Dame has no idea he even crossed the floor?
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrades! Which of the Mission Impossible's Coupe of the Six-Red MP's, do you thinks is the more suitable be a genuine "Stephan? What if we add the Seventh member of the failed Coup - Duane?
This Coupe Six-red MP's and Senator, if only Minnis had left them be alone to eat each others alive, would have self self-destructed in 5 political days seconds...
.....////https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y9NtHlJvbY
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 4 months ago
"“I proceeded to make inquiries to others about why my name was included on a letter that I knew nothing about and had not made any contribution to. I subsequently received an apology - written and verbal - from Mrs Loretta Butler-Turner"
I'm convinced Loretta Butler Turner has an issue with telling straight stories. The last truth bender. Didn't she tell us that she was the one who STOPPED the coup? On multiple interviews she claimed she saved Minnis from these rabid five MPs who were trying to overthrow him. Why then would SHE be the one to apologize for Rollins' name being included without his knowledge? Wouldn't that be the job of the person who organized the plot and drafted the letter? It would be extremely weird for an innocent bystander to be the one to apologize, and in writing??? Something is not right. How Dr Sands get mix up is beyond me.
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrade ThisIsours...but wait cause there's more.Didn't Loretta, when she was complaining about the process having been rigged by Minnis, expressing how unfairly engineered the process was against her because the very second the convention was in session, he Minnis, had lost his status to any longer be recognized as the Red Movement's leader? Yet, when asked at the convention why she beckoned to answer Minni's call to join him up on the convention's stage as his dance partner, she responded that she did it, only to demonstrate her unity with the party's "Leader" Minnis? And, this is the same Loretta of which Minnis wants the red membership to truly believe he wants her to remain a senior part his team. Well, wouldn't she have to first join his team - something she hasn't done since 2012.
I most seriously have my doubts that Minnis is being all truthful about signing Loretta's nomination papers for Long Island, or to run red in any other constituency in all The Bahamaland?
There has be a breaking point when Minnis has to decide what is the breaking point to part company with all of the Six-Coupe rebels? Whatever they're a part of, it sure as hell doesn't include Minnis!
proudloudandfnm 8 years, 4 months ago
I agree with Rollins 100%. I can't stand him and I don't believe for a second he was not deeply involved in the letter but I do agree....
The 6 must resign....
killemwitdakno 8 years, 4 months ago
He was becoming my favorite MP.
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 4 months ago
LBT supporters really need to come to the realization that the only similarity between Loretta Butler Turner, Hillary Clinton and Angela Merkel, is that they are all female. And that's no basis to select a leader, unless it's for president of the breast feeding club
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 4 months ago
This is really too bad, and worse yet, even if he ran, he probably wouldn't win. The only effective man in the opposition. Almost time for an election and no UR report yet from the PAC
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrades! You go figure, hey They started out with Six-Coupe MP renegades. At convention the coupe's leader Loretta, was so publicly humiliated by the 410 convention delegates, before she chickened out from facing the delegates votes.
Then there's Montagu's Richard, who managed to self-destruct publicly and before an entire Bahamaland nation.
Not to be outdone Dr. Andre publicly decides to return to center stage as the 'go to' red MP, who most dislikes Long Island's Loretta.
Not wanting be left out the mix, up in Cooper's Town we have the former law partner of the sitting prime minister, publicly jockeying for the PLP's PM to be returned to power come the 2017 General.
Comrades, there's no need make this stuff up in my head. It for real as it's happening in the red politics of the Red Movement.
And, this is only day four post convention and we already have this most unusual four red shirts done parading their dirty linens in the media, and for all we knows, the other three coupe leaders may be too convention shell-shocked to engage in public comments?
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