Lanisha Rolle and Loretta Butler-Turner.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement members of Parliament are said to be “up in arms” over statements that were reportedly made by Senator Lanisha Rolle during a meeting with FNM political hopeful Lincoln Bain alleging that party Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has intentionally delayed ratifying opposition parliamentarians, The Tribune was told.
Several sources who contacted this newspaper yesterday expressed anger over this assertion and accused “newcomer” Senator Rolle of “traipsing around conducting party business as though she is an authoritative figure” within the organisation.
During a recent meeting, the two FNM members spoke at length about their political futures and dissatisfaction with certain members of the party, The Tribune understands.
At this meeting Senator Rolle informed Mr Bain that the party decided not to offer him a nomination for the Pinewood Gardens constituency, this newspaper was informed. The revelation was “a surprise” to Mr Bain, an FNM source claimed.
Senator Rolle further “railroaded” the opposition parliamentary team, the source said, accusing them of not being concerned with serving Bahamians, but only minded to fulfil their personal interests.
However, the main focus of her tirade, sources said, was Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner whom she insisted is unfit to lead and has not proven herself.
She pointed to Mrs Butler-Turner’s tenure during the previous Ingraham administration as minister of state for social development, suggesting the MP was only handed the junior Cabinet appointment because the party could not do better.
When contacted yesterday, both Dr Minnis and Senator Rolle declined to comment.
This matter, The Tribune was reliably informed, is at the heart of an internal investigation underway in the party and has stirred up another round of controversy and contention within the organisation.
The probe is being handled by party Chairman Sidney Collie.
Mr Bain confirmed to this newspaper on Tuesday that he was called into a meeting with Mr Collie to discuss the matter.
He added that he also observed Senator Rolle meeting with other party executives. However, he was tight-lipped over what sparked the meetings.
“This is an internal party matter so I won’t go into too much details about the basis of the investigation,” Mr Bain said when he was contacted by The Tribune.
“However, I can say that comments were made to me by another FNM political hopeful that raised alarm and that I found to be disturbing,” Mr Bain claimed.
“So, yes, there was a meeting between myself and the party chairman.”
Senator Rolle was embroiled in controversy earlier this year after she called a radio show in January and criticised Mrs Butler-Turner and other FNM members of Parliament.
She accused sitting FNM MPs of being “jealous” of the party leader and said Mrs Butler-Turner, Dr Minnis’ former rival for leadership, would not have the support of voters over Prime Minister Perry Christie.
After she was criticised by members of her party, Mrs Rolle finally publicly apologised for her remarks.
She and Mr Bain are both angling for a nomination to run in the next general election on the FNM’s ticket.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 7 months ago
When it comes to what little is now left of the FNM party, Minnis is the entire problem, period! Most Bahamian voters know Minnis is the devil incarnate, or as one former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives recently said: "Lucifer in the flesh!" No one in their right mind would ever vote for Minnis or any other FNM candidate as long as Minnis remains in any way involved with the leadership of the FNM party, a party he has personally made irrelevant and near extinct. Bahamians voters can only hope a reputable independent candidate of good character, with no allegiance whatsoever to the PLP, FNM or DNA, decides to run in their constituency in the next general election. Now more than ever is the time for decent, hard working, honest Bahamians who are fed up with the corruption and incompetence of the PLP, FNM and DNA, to step into the arena of politics in our country to serve (for the benefit of) their fellow Bahamians.
Reality_Check 8 years, 7 months ago
The first order of business in a non-PLP, non-FNM, non-DNA government formed by duly elected independents must be the complete decapitation within the quickest time frame possible of the existing permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries who have allowed massive instances of waste, fraud and corruption to occur under their incompetent and/or greedy watch.
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 7 months ago
You are right. The tone is set by the leader, and for whatever reason, Laneisha Rolle has received the signal that she has more authority than she has been formally granted by the party machinery. Trouble
Publius 8 years, 7 months ago
But the thing is, these comments were not made in public. She and Bain were having a private conversation. Why is that public at all and why should anyone care about what two people are privately discussing in this specific regard? That's the actual problem here. Every single one of us say a whole lot of things in our private conversations with people. What would happen if every phone call or face to face meet up we have with people ends up in the newspapers and on social media? This is ridiculous to me and the fact that FNMs are actively promoting this shows exactly who they are - which is the exact same type of people on the PLP side that they try to condemn.
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 7 months ago
Yes you're right, she has a right to say whatever she wants in private.
If I say something untoward during a phone conversation, and my phone is secretly tapped, but I have no idea the third party is listening, that's completely different to me blabbing off and talking big and bad to someone I clearly barely have a relationship with. The latter is amateurish.
This is the very same issue that got her in trouble on the talk how. Her mouth will continue to get her in trouble, Dr Minnis either removes her or he goes down with her.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago
Loretta Butler Turner should formally denounce Lanisha Rolle for her comments, insinuations, attacks and destabilizing effect on the FNM party and call on the party leader/executive to do the same and ask for her resignation/fire her forthwith ............. barring this LBT will then have the political latitude to make her next move ......... force Minnis to resign, return to frontline leadership in the FNM or LEAVE the party and create a new Third Force ............ she has ONE month to do so
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. . .LBT HAVE HER DOC ROLLINS. . .WHOM SHE PRAISED IN PUBLIC. . .OR SHOULD I SAY, WISPER TO SHE GOOD FRIEND AT NATIONAL REVIEW. . .AND MINNIS HAVE HIS SENATOR ROLLE. . .BOTH WHO ARE SAYING THE "HARD TRUTH" ABOUT DOC MINNIS AND ABOUT LBT! Lol!
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
As I mentioned in another post, Minnis, the ignoramus, is getting exactly what he deserves! Who in his right mind would put someone like Bain or Rolle as potential candidates to run for his party anyway? Bain is notorious for setting up people and recording private citizens without their knowledge. Rolle is a junglist and a loud mouth "Minnis ass kisser" These are NOT people who I would want to represent me in parliament. The opposition leader complains and demands better from the PLP on several pertinent issues, yet he is selecting people to be a part of the FNM, who are guilty of the same things he is blaming the PLP for. The man is a complete moron. I can't even imagine this happening under the leadership of Ingraham! Minnis should man up, do what is best for country, resign from politics and go back to practicing medicine full time. With him as leader, the FNM is at an all time low!
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 7 months ago
"Minnis ass kisser"??? Is that a legit job?
Honestman 8 years, 7 months ago
This whole story has really very little do with Lanisha Rolle and everything to do with Hubert Minnis and his sorry leadership of what was once the FNM. Frankly, the party is no longer recognisable to the one led by Hubert Ingraham. It is evident that Minnis does not have the leadership qualities to be able to take what is left of his party and galvanise it in time for next year's election. He has no political instincts and doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes - this is a frightening combination in someone who is being touted as our next Prime Minister. The FNM seems to be on a path of self destruction just at the time when the country needs a responsible alternative to the worst and most corrupt administration since independence.
cmiller 8 years, 7 months ago
Sounds like they left it open for this lady to come along and 'take over'. She seems to be in charge. And she wants Loretta gone, for some 'strange' reason. Can't stop laughing.
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
Well. . .it looks like they getting ready to give LBT the "boot in she hip" over there on Markey St! She thinks that she is the only Catfighter" over there aye. . .claws are out. . .feathers them are flying. . .girls fight. Lol!
cmiller 8 years, 7 months ago
One a dem weave gern flyin and the nex one dem neclace gern flyin!!!! Jokes for days!!!!!
Wideawake 8 years, 7 months ago
Anyone want to nominate Senator Lanisha Rolle for the FNM's "Branville McCartney Award" for causing the FNM to lose the General Election in 2017????
cmiller 8 years, 7 months ago
No, Hubert and his fish deliveries already win that nomination.
TalRussell 8 years, 7 months ago
Comrades are the public now to shift away from believing that sitting read shirt MP's were in fact preparing to have the Governor-General to remove Minnis as the Leader in the Honurable House of Assembly of Her Majesty's Official Opposition?
What about Loretta skimming for years to replace Minnis.Was that but just a political mischief making rumour too?
What about the part that Loretta was well known among her colleagues as being an under performing "Junior" Minister of Social Services?
Or that but two reds offered themselves for the red party's Chairmanship?
Or that the only contender for Minnis's job is Loretta?
Regardless 8 years, 7 months ago
....if the more "mature" members would stop having a " hissy fit " every time someone new steps out of line, perhaps this would not be news but alas, egos of parliamentarians are as large as their stomachs. Considering they represent such a very small number of constituents in a comparatively tiny nation population wise, they really need to get a grip. Other nations must find the behavior of all involved hilarious.
jackbnimble 8 years, 7 months ago
Senator Rolle obviously gat a stick up her *** where Loretta is concerned. What is her fascination? LBT is a "Be" Rolle is a "Wanna Be".
This party is going to self-destruct before the next General Election while the PLP laughing all the way back to Parliament with 5 more years to complete the country's screw over!
EasternGate 8 years, 7 months ago
So true
Economist 8 years, 7 months ago
Minnis has to go.
Publius 8 years, 7 months ago
PLP - takes business emails between business associates and shares them with the public.
FNM - tapes private conversations between colleagues and shares them with the public.
PLP + FNM = Same Old ****
PLP - maliciously shares business emails with content that is tied to an ongoing national news story and scandal
FNM - maliciously shares taped private conversations with content that has absolutely nothing to do with anything at all in the nation or the nation's people and concerns
PLP + FNM = The Jack & The A**
NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS = PLP + FNM, The Jacks & The A** pushing the country in the direction of the Same Old * by making that Same Old * headline news day after day, week after week.
Class dismissed.
Zakary 8 years, 7 months ago
Most people cannot attain this level of awareness. Well put and aptly described.
SP 8 years, 7 months ago
Six of one & half dozen of the other. PLP and FNM are the same!
EasternGate 8 years, 7 months ago
Minnis please go!
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
Have yall election. . .before a I call senator Rolle for you bey!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Publius 8 years, 7 months ago
The thing is, these inconsequential comments were not made in public. She and Bain were having a private conversation. Why is that public at all and why should anyone care about what two people are privately discussing in this specific regard? That's the actual problem here. Every single one of us say a whole lot of things in our private conversations with people. What would happen if every phone call or face to face meet up we have with people ends up in the newspapers and on social media? This is ridiculous to me and the fact that FNMs are actively promoting this shows exactly who they are - which is the exact same type of people on the PLP side that they try to condemn. So their candidate Bain is taping his colleagues and using the tape to extort a post out of the leadership. And this is the kind of person who wants to be in the legislature and no doubt, the Cabinet of The Bahamas? If he is doing this now when he is a nobody, what would he do to the Bahamian people when a post makes him believe he is somebody?
sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago
It was not intended to stay private .......... is Rolle complaining about the leak or apologizing for the leak??????
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
What she need to say sorry for? Saying what everybody out here saying about LBT? PLEASE TELL WHY WHEN DC. ROLLINS GET "LEAKED" FOR TELLING HIS MIND IN PRIVATE YALL PRAISED HIM. . .NOW THAT SEN. ROLLE IS LEAKED SPEAKING SHE MIND TO BAIN AND ABOUT LBT SHE "EEN" FIT TO BE ANYHTING? THAS A CAPITAL OFFENCE IN THE FNM. THE SENATOR WAS RIGHT. . .LBT WAS MINISTER OF SOCIAL SERVICES WHEN ALL KIND OF SUSPECTED "SKULL DUGGARY" WENT DOWN. . .THEY "CUT UP THE FILES" BEFORE THE AG COULD GET TO THEM!
NOW THIS LBT CREW IS BEGINNING TO SOUND CLASSISTS, SILLY, CHILDISH AND NOT FIT FOR CONSIDERATION FOR HIGH OFFICE. . .THE SAME AS THEY ARE TELLING US THAT THE GOOD DOC IS!
DOC MAY LEAVE THEM "ALONE" BUT THAT GIRL SENATOR ROLLE WILL TELL ALLA THEM ABOUT THEY MAR AND THINGS! Hehehehehehehehehehehehe. . .these bunch of yard chickens them can dish it out but can't take it worth a lick!!
Publius 8 years, 7 months ago
You are asking if she is apologizing for Bain taping her without her knowledge in a private conversation and then running to anyone who would listen, about it? Are you okay sir or ma'am? I hold no brief for Rolle because I personally consider her moronic, but this situation is ridiculous and is not near worthy of the prominence a national newspaper has given it.
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
POINT WELL TAKEN DEAR SIR/MADAM. But you must agree. . .this running to the news papers for every little thing has already turned old and only brings a diminished returned benefit for those doin the "running to the papers" . . .but thanks for setting me straight about the apology!
Publius 8 years, 7 months ago
I was actually responding to sheeprunner, and you are right, this running to the media tomfoolery is petty and the antics of pansies.
TigerB 8 years, 7 months ago
You know what is interesting... the senator have yet to make a serious contribution in the Senate. I've heard Carl Bethell, Quasi Thompson, even the late Pintard, but never, ever heard a contribution to any debate by the learned Mrs. Rolle. Something is wrong with this picture. She knows all about what the FNM should be doing and yet cannot make a sensible contribution to he Senate as an Opposition Senator.
jackbnimble 8 years, 7 months ago
She too busy making headlines for the wrong things.
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
Like reminding us that that person is a "rude" backstabbing, power hungry "wannabe" who will do any skull duggary to make her leader "look bad" and will stoop to "putting" all they business into the public to get her way! NOW THE SENATOR WILL "GET DOWN" IN THE MUD WITH OUR FRIEND AND TELL HER ABOUT SHE BEHIND. . . THEN SHE GO RUNNING TO THE TRIBUNE.
THAT PERSONS IS JUST AS "UNSTABLE" AS THE ACCUSED SENATOR. . .SUGGING FOR POWER!!!
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
WHAT A BUNCH OF "LOWBROW" PERSONS FOLLOWING LBT. . .DISMISSING ROLLE BECAUSE SHE SPOKE HER MIND ABOUT LBT. . .
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 7 months ago
I dont support LBT or Minnis for leader. I'm looking at Dr Sands, but even in his case I want to see more reasons to throw my support. My issue with Ms Rolle is the fact that she's getting caught in all these amateurish struggles. She's another Minnis. Neither of them are horrible, they're just not suited for the positions they've been given. Have you ever heard of the concept of being "promoted to failure"?
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
Yes. . .BUT NOT WHEN YOUR OPPONENTS ARE "HELL BENT" ON BRINGING THAT FAILURE AT ANY CAUSE!!
WOULD YOU NOT AGREE THAT A FAILURE NEEDS NO HELP TO FAIL. . .JUST LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION IS THAT FAILURE!
HOWEVER, TAKING ALL STEPS TO "MAKE THE FAILURE" HAPPEN IS AN ADMISSION OF THE PERSONS' ABILITY TO POSSIBLY SUCCEED!
THIS IS THE CONUDRUM DOC CRITICS IN THE FNM HAVE. . .WHY THEY ARE ALL OUT TO MAKE SURE HE FAILS!
IF THE GOOD DOC "WAKES UP" ON THE WEST SIDE OF HIS BED. . ."SEE. . .HE WOKE UP ON THE WEST SIDE OF HIS BED. . .A GOOD LEADER SHOULD GET UP ON THE EAST SIDE OF HIS BED"!
TO US OUT HERE WE SEE THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOUR AS NOTHING BUT "BLACK CRAB" THINKING. . .HENCE TO "FEELINGS" FOR DOC IN THE PUBLIC. . .WE SEE THE WHITE OWNED MEDIA AND THE LBT FACTION AS "GANGING-UP" ON DOC AND HE "HOLDING HIS OWN" AGAINST ALL OF THEM. . .MAKING HIM THE SMALL MAN "GIANT-KILLER"!
sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago
LBT has far more and better political upside, gravitas, charisma and potential voter following in the country than Rolle and Minnis combined .......... don't hate on LBT
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
THEN WHY IS SHE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN? PAPA PUT HER OUT ONCE. . .AND DOC MINNIS PUT SHE OUT THE SECOND TIME! DOC HELD HIS OWN AGAINST HER ONSLAUGHTS FOR YEARS. . .SHE CAN'T GET ONE FOOT IN THE DOOR IN THE FNM PARTY. . .NOW SENATOR ROLLE "BEATING SHE UP" IN PUBLIC.
DON'T FOOL YOURSELF. . .SHE DON'T CARRY A "FIVE GALLON BOTTLE OF WATER" CHANCE AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC. . .AND APPEARENTLY, NOT INSIDE THE FNM PARTY AS WELL. . .SHE CAN'T GET THE CONCIL TO BACK HER.
MAYBE YINNA KNOW SOMETHING WE OUT HERE DON'T KNOW OR SEE!
Publius 8 years, 7 months ago
What this Senator said about any of her colleagues in a private conversation with a colleague of even lesser political standing than her is of absolutely zero consequence to the country. Loretta would be the last fool to take this on or even be bothered by it. Everyone talks about everyone in private, including Bain who fancies himself as Bobo and Toggie 2.0. Who cares what she says about whoever she wants to in private? That's why it is called private. Had she gone to the media or an otherwise public venue that would have been an entirely different matter. The fact that these spent, desperate persons in the FNM are happy to be reported on as being up in arms about a junior Senator's personal opinions in a private discussion shows how patently stupid and pathetic these FNMs are. Who is she that they are so up in arms? Why is she so relevant and has them so wound up that they have to go hightailing it on their ever petty trek to the Tribune to have them dutifully report on their worthless foolishness? Unless these FNMs suddenly want their private conversations made public, what are they truly trying to accomplish here? What was done to her can easily be done to any of them. Do these FNMs even live in this country? Do they have any idea where this country is at, and their own place in where this country is at? This is where their efforts are concentrated while the country is dying? A nightmare is what the present situation has long since been and has more frighteningly become.
Stapedius 8 years, 7 months ago
No matter your opinion of Butler-Turner she doesn't deserve to be jumped on by her own party. Especially by nobodies who ain't really contribute much substance to the party. Rolle and Bain, two loud mouths with a propensity for drama. Sickening!
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
That is Senator Rolle. . . and she deserved to get just what she did in public against her leader. . .NOW SHE CAN'T TAKE THE HEAT. . .WELCOME HER TO THEM "LICKS" SHE WAS GIVING OUT FOR YEARS! Lol!
Voltaire 8 years, 7 months ago
Rolle is Minnis' top cheerleader and her constant attacks on LBT is just a sign that they are dead scared of her. There is really nothing else to say.
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