The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I sincerely respect Dr Hubert Minnis’ role as leader of the FNM. Minnis exercised his prerogative as leader of the opposition party by appointing Lanisha Rolle in early 2015 to the Senate in lieu of Heather Hunt, who was rumoured to be a supporter of FNM MP Loretta Butler-Turner.

While some have taken issue with Minnis over the appointment, in the final analysis, most if not all politicians have a proclivity for engaging in tribalism. One can hardly fault Minnis for wanting to surround himself with obsequious loyalists.

In politics, nonconformists will always face opposition for not toeing the party line.

Senator Lanisha Rolle is a staunch loyalist of Minnis.

I vividly recall earlier in the year Rolle being embroiled in a controversy after she telephoned a talk show and berated several FNM MPs, including Butler-Turner, in defense of Minnis. Rolle finally issued an apology, but it came in March, well over a month after publicly scolding the MPs. The apology did little to resonate with those who were deeply disturbed by her actions. And it caused Minnis needless bad publicity at a time the FNM can ill afford to look disarrayed in the eyes of the electorate. Rolle’s public rant gave many the impression that the FNM is a deeply fractured party. Now there are fresh reports of yet another controversy brewing within the FNM with Rolle at the centre of it – once again.

If The Tribune report about Senator Lanisha Rolle allegedly uttering some disturbing and alarming assertions are accurate, then the onus is now on Minnis to discipline her, as she, it would seem, has not learned anything from the first incident. If it is true that she made disparaging remarks about Butler-Turner, Rolle should be removed from the Senate and from the front-lines of the FNM, as this latest alleged incident shows that she is not political material. It would prove beyond doubt that she has no business being in either the Upper or Lower Chamber. Rolle is a liability to not only Minnis, who must now be shaking his head in disbelief, but also to the FNM.

She is hurting the FNM.

I cannot for the life of me understand why the FNM executive team would tolerate this kind of behaviour, unless the party has already ceded victory to the PLP in the 2017 general election.

Whatever the case may be, while I understand that Minnis might feel obligated to defend Rolle, as she is one of his strongest backers, it isn’t worth the trouble she is causing the FNM party. If the FNM loses the general election next year, political analysts in their post mortem, will undoubtedly point to Rolle as one of the key contributors to the FNM’s undoing. I have nothing against her. But she just isn’t worth the hassle she is causing this party.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, GB,

May 11, 2016.