The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins has enraged several of his former campaign generals with his recent criticism of Prime Minister Perry Christie and his refusal to accept responsibility for his “poor” performance as a representative.

One of Dr Rollins’ former senior campaign strategists, who spoke to The Tribune on the condition of anonymity, labelled the MP a “coward” for his recent actions.

Last Wednesday, Dr Rollins accused Mr Christie of manufacturing a sketchy reason to substantiate his decision to remain leader after the prime minister suggested he is the glue holding the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) together.

That statement came days after Dr Rollins said the PLP should carry the blame for the inability of MPs to make good on campaign promises.

This source, a person who has worked on successful campaigns for several former PLP candidates, told The Tribune that Dr Rollins was only successful in the Fort Charlotte area because he ran on the merits of former MP Alfred Sears and the PLP.

“Without them, he would be another failed politician holding a book of dreams unable to get anything done,” the source said.

“Who is he to speak on the government failing the people of Fort Charlotte? It is his job to, when the government is failing the state, ensure that those that voted for him still have a fighting chance to survive.”

That source added: “When we ran with (Alfred) Sears, win, lose or draw; we had plans to guarantee the people in Fort Charlotte had a chance. Those were the systems that he (Dr Rollins) met in place and those were the systems that he moved away from out of greed and need to stroke his own ego.”

The Tribune reached out to Mr Sears for information on whether he had in fact left such programmes in place ahead of the 2012 general election.

Mr Sears, stressing that his remarks should not be perceived as criticism of Dr Rollins, said he has long-held the notion that “proper education and well-planned out interventions” can “drastically improve” the lives of many residents within inner-city communities.

The respected attorney noted that when he left political office in the spring of 2012, he did so having left in place several programmes and initiatives designed to improve the lives of his constituents.

He told The Tribune those initiatives ranged from social-based activities to after school classes for minors.

The former Fort Charlotte MP said he is focused on “re-instituting” those kinds of programmes if he is re-elected.

“We view our country’s (social) ills as obscure matters that aren’t capable of being addressed. As governments go, the plan has to be about moving beyond reacting and working from behind,” he said.

“That is what we did (in my time) in Fort Charlotte. So when those residents speak, they speak from a standpoint of knowing how effective programmes work. Education and social intervention are key, courses and vocational studies; when you provide residents with those types of initiatives that moves them away from being dependent on any government or government assistance, and that is what we need.”

Earlier this month, residents in Fort Charlotte insisted that Dr Rollins had already “sealed” his fate as the worst MP in the history of the area.

Those constituents took Dr Rollins to task over several failed promises, forcing the Free National Movement MP to fire back with claims that the Christie administration should carry the brunt of the blame for the reported failures in Fort Charlotte.

When contacted this past weekend and given a chance to respond to these claims Dr Rollins, who quit the PLP last year, opted not to comment.