The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE move to oust Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis as Official Opposition leader was done in the best interest of the Bahamian people, according to Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins who yesterday accused the Killarney MP of being more captivated by the title of prime minister rather than the work it would take to improve the quality of life in The Bahamas.

Speaking as a guest on 103.5 Freedom March hosted by Rodney Moncur, Dr Rollins expounded on the thought process of the dissident seven MPs in the wake of their shocking move, as he insisted that Dr Minnis would be an “utter failure” if elected prime minister.

In response to a series of questions centred on Dr Minnis’ leadership, Dr Rollins said while Dr Minnis may seem like a “nice guy,” his one time political ally is deceptive and a danger to an already struggling country.

Dr Rollins was voted into the House of Assembly on the Progressive Liberal Party’s ticket. He quit the PLP in mid-2015 after becoming disenchanted with the leadership of Prime Minister Perry Christie and joined the FNM in November last year.

He stated firmly yesterday that he has now decided to put party politics to the side in favour of what is best for the country.

He said that line of thinking led him to side with six of his parliamentary colleagues to write Governor General Dame Marguerite asking for the removal of Dr Minnis.

“We have too many people dancing around what we see as a thorny or touchy subject,” said Dr Rollins.

“I have no issue with him as a human being, but I am not going to pretend that he is a strong leader. He has done a very poor job of showing that he is capable of leading this country. I am not going to engage in a deception about what I have seen privately from Dr Minnis.”

Dr Rollins, with Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells, crossed the floor in late 2015.

Shortly after joining the FNM, both Dr Rollins and Mr Wells were named to the opposition’s shadow Cabinet as shadow ministers of national security and tourism respectively.

The move coincided with rumours that Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and several of her parliamentary colleagues were plotting to oust Dr Minnis by writing the Governor General.

The addition of Dr Rollins and Mr Wells ensured Dr Minnis, at that time, that he held the support of the majority of FNM parliamentarians.

Dr Rollins continued: “After joining the FNM in 2015 I worked alongside Dr Minnis. What I found, a leader gifted the position of leader of the Free National Movement. It fell into his lap. He has done nothing to justify maintaining it.

“Dr Minnis may be a nice guy, somebody who people might think is (upstanding). I believe that the danger is that Dr Minnis doesn’t have what it takes to lead this country by evidence of what we have seen thus far with the Free National Movement. Dr Minnis doesn’t give me any confidence that he has what it takes.

“I believe Dr Minnis would be an absolute failure as prime minister. He would be an utter failure if put in position to be prime minister, as he has been an utter failure as leader of Opposition.”

Dr Rollins said a quick check of Dr Minnis’ track record would reveal several instances of contradictory words and actions.

“He is perpetrating what the PLP did in 2012,” stated Dr Rollins.

He added that Dr Minnis has done a great job selling the belief that he could change the social norms of the Bahamas but hasn’t offered any effective timeline or action plan on exactly how he would go about it.

“All he is interested in is having the title of prime minister.

“He is desperate for support. He is working to sell the idea that he has been wronged. He isn’t who he says he.” In Dr Rollins’ opinion “he is a fraud. Anyone who is close to him for an extended period of time comes to see exactly that.”

Last Friday Dr Rollins said Dr Minnis had a “lust for power,” as he challenged senior FNMs to call Dr Minnis to a series of closed-door meetings with the intention of helping him realise he should resign as FNM leader.