The Tribune

By Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya

What I find most comical politically these days is the positioning that comes with the territory.

Political colleagues can turn cut throat on each other faster than a WWE storyline; all you really have to do is dangle a constituency candidacy nomination in front of them and pretty much all hell will break loose.

No political party suffers from this more than the Free National Movement (FNM). The present state of the party is sad and confusing, ridiculous and hilarious – all at the same time. Which, in reality, is rather scary.

Again, I personally like Dr Hubert Minnis. I think he has some good ideas on the way forward, along with the very best intentions. However politically, his naïveté is showing more and more recently. I (no doubt along with the majority of the voting populace) thought he would step his game up after the whole ‘Toogie’ and ‘Bobo’ debacle.

I was wrong it seems, because once again we have more infighting and mud-slinging emanating from the hierarchy in the FNM ... and Minnis clearly has trouble grasping the reins and reining in the party as a unified front.

Rolled out!

No clearer case in point was the most recent quest for another 15 minutes of fame – and political stripes – by ‘rookie’ FNM Senator Lanisha Rolle. Yes, the loose cannon has allegedly fired off unexpectedly once again.

According to an article by Khrisna Virgil in Thursday’s Tribune, Rolle, while in a meeting with FNM political hopeful for the Pinewood Gardens seat, Lincoln Bain, alleged that party leader Dr Minnis has intentionally delayed ratifying opposition parliamentarians.

Senator Rolle also reportedly informed Bain at their meeting that the FNM would not offer him the nomination for the Pinewood Gardens constituency. Which no doubt came as a total shock to Mr Bain.

But wait, there’s more!

Red stripes

Obviously out to earn her “stripes”, the story making the rounds is Rolle further lambasted the opposition parliamentarians, accusing them of having no interest in Bahamians, only their personal interests and political gains.

And then it happened again: Rolle turned her guns on Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner.

Based on this latest drama-filled story coming out of the FNM, Rolle seems out to make a name for herself politically at all costs. Even if it means allegedly berating Butler-Turner by accusing her of being unfit for leadership and chalking her previous appointment as Minister of State for Social Development under the Ingraham administration to the party having no one else better to offer.

After these claims of Rolle’s most recent off-the-reservation antics, one can easily draw the same conclusion in regard to her appointment as an FNM Senator.

Could it be a case of Senator Rolle’s political passion getting the better of her, to the point that she will accept the political “kamikaze” mission to gain favour and rank with her leader and the party?

As a comedian (and taking into account the reasons her name has appeared in past headlines) I find Rolle’s impatience and impulsiveness and the end results comical.

What else I find to be “dead jokey” is the fact that, for a seatless political rookie, her mouth remains “hard”. Usually selling upset and misinformation.

I often wonder why is her mouth so hard? And who is jinxing her up to “run right out” and present the party’s position and decisions in the public forum without rhyme or reason?

Maybe Senator Rolle is giving us a preview of her lack of interest in Bahamians en route to completing her own personal and political agenda if she were lucky enough to be an MP?

Pot or kettle?

I must admit the irony and hypocrisy in Senator Rolle’s tirades is laughable. Almost every criticism she brings against her own FNM senior colleagues, she is guilty of herself.

Is Rolle the “pot” or the “kettle” in this case?

Bye Lanisha!

Paging Lanisha ... FYI - your approach in highlighting Mrs Butler-Turner’s deficiencies clearly puts the spotlight on your deficiencies and your glaring inexperience politically.

Further proof, in my opinion, that Rolle is not ready to elevate from the position of Senator to constituency candidate.

More time in the trenches learning the political landscape, along with the rules of political engagement and a “muzzle”, are the keys to her future political success.

However, for now it’s far better for Senator Rolle to practice that old Bahamian adage “Sit small ‘til ya name call”. Or come election time, forget “Felicia” it will be “Bye Lanisha”.

Rolle call

Speaking of names being called, why is Dr Minnis tapping in to his inner PM Perry Christie and taking so long to ratify the rest of the FNM’s slate of candidates?

Was Senator Rolle’s outburst strategically planned to buy Dr Minnis more time to satisfy disgruntled potential candidates such as Lincoln Bain and others?

It’s clear Rolle is one of Doc’s “favourites”. Is she the prototype for Minnis’ version of young leaders?

If so, stop review and “counsel”, yes teach them (new potential candidates) the proper ways to conduct themselves politically.

Allow their new ideas and exuberance to shine, all while ensuring the parties “message” isn’t lost amongst useless infighting, file pulling and ego-based escapades to gain political notoriety.

In other words, to the political wannabes and newcomers, until asked by party leadership or executives for your comments ...

“Know your role and shut your mouth.” - Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

• Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident stand-up comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net