The Tribune

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis remained tight-lipped yesterday on whether the FNM was considering giving Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins a nomination to run under the party’s banner in the upcoming general election.

In an interview with The Tribune, Dr Minnis said he “could not discuss it” because the FNM “is presently just now reviewing its candidates”.

Two weeks ago, after saying he would not offer himself for re-election on the FNM’s ticket, Dr Andre Rollins suggested that he would consider and potentially accept a constituency nomination if offered one by Dr Minnis.

Dr Rollins has also said he may run as an independent candidate in Long Island against incumbent FNM MP Loretta Butler-Turner, if voters there want him to do so.

When asked about that possibility, Dr Minnis said “anyone can run as an independent”.

“Anybody has a right to run independent. An independent can run in Killarney, they can run in South Beach, Mount Moriah, that’s democracy. An independent can run anywhere,” Dr Minnis said.

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 pledged not to seek re-election on the FNM’s ticket if Dr Minnis was re-elected leader at the party’s convention, 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 – Mrs 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 convention 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 Dr Minnis’ 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 took full responsibility for his actions. However he accused Mrs Butler-Turner of penning the controversial letter to the Central Council, which had his name as well as the other five MPs on it, and claimed he was not made aware of the document until it was leaked to the media.