The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The appointment of Lanisha Rolle to the Senate on the advice of Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis was at the outset a huge political blunder. Subsequent events may prove that it may have been the biggest blunder by a political leader in recent times and the self-designed improvised explosive device that will blow up the leadership aspirations of Hubert Minnis.

Dr Minnis was already under fire from all sides as he was well on the way to making himself the most unpopular opposition leader in the country’s history; so he did not have the political capital to risk sending this political neophyte to the Upper House.

Furthermore, to do so, he made space by unceremoniously removing Senator Heather Hunt, a very attractive and promising political personality who had been on the frontline as a candidate for her party. His flimsy and insulting excuse was that he was rotating senators.

It might have eased matters a bit if Senator Rolle had turned out to be an exciting new political talent or had been a little conciliatory or, to use her own word to a senior colleague, “humbled” herself a little.

But no, obviously designated by Dr Minnis as his default spokesperson, she was chosen over many senior and capable parliamentarians to represent her Leader at a significant national event.

She spoke from a written text, which she no doubt had passed by her Leader, talked about everything but the matter being celebrated and then proceeded ignorantly to conflate our system of government with that of the United States.

So the public can be forgiven for concluding that she was speaking with the authority and on the instructions of her Leader when she publicly launched an unprecedented, unprovoked an unrestrained attack on elected members of her own party.

Senator Rolle, having learned nothing from her earlier mistake, once again conflated our system of government with that of the Americans as she took to the radio to rail against respected Members of Parliament from her own party.

Particular venom was reserved for Loretta Butler Turner whose great sin is to be regarded by growing numbers of Bahamians as an attractive alternative to Dr. Minnis. Senator Rolle advised Mrs. Butler to do as Hillary Clinton did with Barak Obama and “humble” herself before her Leader.

Leaving aside the fact that Mrs. Clinton is not well known for “humbling” herself in front of anybody, Senator Rolle might have advised curious Bahamians exactly how one goes about “humbling” oneself before one’s Leader.

In America, both political parties have conventions once every four years when they adopt their platforms and choose persons to represent them as candidates for the presidency. The person elected President serves for four years, barring death, impeachment or incapacity.

In The Bahamas, the Prime Minister does not have tenure; neither does the Leader of the Opposition. They can be removed at any time in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. This has happened repeatedly in other parliamentary democracies.

So it is no crime for members of a particular party, whether in or out of government, to want to change their Leader. If Senator Rolle believes that those who want a change of leadership are simply jealous of Dr. Minnis then she is quite as delusional as Perry Christie.

Senator Rolle’s stupid and vicious public attack on FNM Members of Parliament should not be allowed to stand. Her refusal to apologise publicly and Dr Minnis’ feeble response and failure to rebuke Senator Rolle publicly make matters quite intolerable.

DIOGENES

Nassau,

January 30, 2016