The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

AFTER saying he would not offer himself for re-election on the Free National Movement’s ticket, Dr Andre Rollins suggested yesterday that he would consider and potentially accept a constituency nomination if offered one by the FNM’s recently re-elected Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

The Fort Charlotte MP, who appeared as a guest on the Ed Fields Live talk show, made the admission when asked about his political future.

This comes after he and five other FNM MPs pushed for Dr Minnis to call an early convention or face being removed as leader of the Official Opposition.

Though he maintained that he will do the honourable thing and not seek or offer himself for nomination, Dr Rollins admitted that he is open to considering “and possibly” accepting a constituency nomination he does not expect Dr Minnis to give.

“I believe that it was important, having gone against the wishes of the leader and forcing an early convention, that I do the honourable thing and say that I will not offer, or seek a nomination, do not expect one and I still hold that position,” said Dr Rollins.

“The reality is, I want to see the FNM win the next election. Even after the convention (I’ve said) that I want to see the FNM win. I would like to see that Dr Minnis be successful in carrying the FNM to victory. Now whether he offers me an opportunity to participate in the FNM, I can’t say at this time that I would refuse it.

“There’s a very strong possibility that if given that option I would consider it and possibly...who knows, who knows,” Dr Rollins added.

In June in a series of press statements, Dr Rollins openly criticised Dr Minnis and his supporters, stating that the leader had no substance or vision for the country. That same month he made the pledge not to seek re-election on the FNM’s ticket if Dr Minnis was re-elected leader, explaining that he could not expect to campaign alongside him given his critique of Dr Minnis and his role in the push for an early convention.

Six of the Opposition’s 10 MPs – Loretta Butler-Turner, Hubert Chipman, Neko Grant, Richard Lightbourn, Theo Neilly and Dr Rollins – threatened to petition Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to remove Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition unless the initial November date was brought forward.

In making their case against their leader, the MPs also highlighted a myriad of inefficiencies in a letter to the party’s Central Council, including his failure to take command of the party “at almost every turn” despite their repeated efforts to support him.

Last month, Dr Rollins said he “stands by” his decision to join some of his parliamentary colleagues in calling for an early convention and he takes full responsibility for his actions. However, Dr Rollins said he would not take responsibility for the “decision of others to undermine the party’s leader, and by extension the party”

by releasing the “blistering letter to the council, enumerating the perceived deficiencies and failings of Dr Minnis.”

At the time, Dr Rollins accused Mrs Butler-Turner of writing the letter and said he was not consulted about it, even though his name was on the document along with the five other MPs.

In early August, Dr Rollins again stressed that he would not seek a nomination from his party in the aftermath of Dr Minnis retaining control of the FNM.

The Fort Charlotte MP was asked yesterday about his relationship with Dr Minnis post-convention and Dr Rollins described it as “welcoming.”

“I’ve sent him emails from time to time (and) it’s not a matter of it being favourable (but) he’ll respond based on something I put to him and he’ll let me know what he thinks about it. I sense that he’s welcoming,” Dr Rollins said.

Dr Rollins admitted that he anticipates a possible backlash from his constituents and others if he were to accept a nomination offer given his track-record for switching allegiances to various political parties since coming onto the political scene in 2010 as a member of the now defunct National Development Party and his four year stint as member of the Progressive Liberal Party.

“It’s a very real concern,” Dr Rollins said.

“I want people to know that I don’t have any intention of joining any other party in life. The FNM is where I want to be, where I intend to remain. The problem is that going back to a point that was raised earlier, I just want to see change happening in this country where we can begin to have pride in our country and I think Bahamians are losing pride in our country simply because the leaders that we have are failing our country and not giving us reason(s) to be proud to be Bahamian,” he stressed.

“Yes you have athletes that are making us proud to be Bahamian. You have private citizens who are making us proud to be Bahamian. You have pride in the fact that this is your home, you want to see the best for your country but when you look at what’s happening as far as leadership quality that we have, you’re not proud of that, and if they are who represents you abroad and international circles, then I would argue that we deserve much better.”