The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

INSISTING that her name has been “slandered”, Lanisha Rolle was adamant yesterday that she was allegedly “unlawfully” recorded during a private conversation with Free National Movement (FNM) political hopeful Lincoln Bain.

The embattled former senator sought to defend herself from criticism, saying her name has been tarnished with innuendos, propaganda and accusations based on what people think about her meeting with Mr Bain.

Based on this “defamation” of her character, Mrs Rolle said she was fully within her right to sue the perpetrator of these actions if she chose to do so.

While maintaining that she did “not slip up”, the former senator said her resignation was sparked by personal reasons to the extent that she did not want to be a distraction to the party and its work.

As a guest on 96.9 FM radio show ‘The Conversation’ with host Shenique Miller, Mrs Rolle said this was “for the greater good” of the FNM.

She further responded to questions about her relationship with FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, telling a caller: “That’s the things we got to go through, but I have armed myself likewise knowing that these things will confront (me). They always try these things with women but that’s okay.”

Mrs Rolle suggested that she was under constant political scrutiny saying she was unsure of where all the “arrows” were coming from.

She resigned from the Senate on May 13 after The Tribune exclusively published a series of stories highlighting what was purportedly said during a meeting between her and Mr Bain.

The Tribune has heard the purported audio in which both hopefuls spoke at length of their political futures. In it, Mrs Rolle was also heard making disparaging comments about certain FNM members of Parliament including Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner.

However, Mrs Rolle denied railroading her colleagues and further declined comment when she was questioned about whether she initiated the meeting with Mr Bain.

She said: “I was also a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force for many years and in the secret service of the force and so I have no need to fear anything. I don’t know how any communication was doctored.

“Another thing; any disparaging remark about any of my fellow FNM MPs … when I had something to say I said it and if I intended for it to be public I said it publicly and so I don’t have any need to fear.

“People will believe what they want to believe. People will carry information the way they want to carry it and people will construe the way they want to construe and construct it.

“That is all what I believe perhaps had taken place and so if you don’t want to believe me and you think that I’m not telling the truth and you believe Mr Lincoln Bain, who has certain character and history, well you go right ahead. Always check the validity and the character of your source.”

Despite suggesting that Mr Bain was a man of questionable character, Mrs Rolle admitted that she several times met with him on different occasions.

“Lincoln Bain is one of the many persons that I speak with and I have not just had one or two or three meetings with him or any other. I have had several conversations with Mr Bain so I wouldn’t even go there and venture into that.

“Someone recording or allegedly recording a private conversation is not a slip up. It is not a slip up. It is unlawful and illegal and Lanisha Rolle’s right to privacy if it has been was violated under the law and we must stick on foundation and principle. (That is) what the Bahamian public ought to understand because it can be me today and it can be you tomorrow and so you must understand the principle of the matter.

“It was wrong and it was unlawful, if in fact it was done.”

In the purported audio of the meeting, Mrs Rolle also alleged that FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis intentionally delayed ratifying party parliamentarians and announced to Mr Bain that the party decided not to offer him the nomination for the Pinewood constituency.

Mrs Rolle courted controversy almost immediately after she was chosen by Dr Minnis to replace Heather Hunt in the Senate. Ms Hunt resigned in January 2015 when Dr Minnis asked her to step down from the post.

Mrs Rolle also faced a backlash in January, when she criticised Mrs Butler-Turner during an appearance on a radio talk show. She said the country would not support the Long Island MP as leader, adding that some MPs are “jealous” of Dr Minnis.

Her statements prompted several sitting MPs to demand that she apologise, which she eventually did.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson said at the time that she had “no sense”, calling her one of Dr Minnis’ “tragic mistakes”.