UPDATE: Lanisha Rolle has resigned - full story HERE

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL Free National Movement (FNM) members on Thursday called for the removal of Senator Lanisha Rolle from the upper chamber, while stressing that her appointment underscored party leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ “poor judgment and leadership ability.”

The FNM insiders, who spoke to The Tribune on the condition of anonymity, pointed to a recent controversy sparked by the senator. They also called on the party not to nominate her to run in the next general election.

The FNM sources also questioned Senator Rolle’s authority to carry out “internal brokering,” describing her as “power hungry”.

The controversy stems from a recent meeting between Mrs Rolle and political hopeful Lincoln Bain where they both discussed their political aspirations and members of the FNM.

One insider said: “Who does she think she is? Brokering deals, informing people that they won’t be afforded party nominations and divulging the alleged mindset of the leader? She must be made to step down from the Senate and not even be among the options for the Free National Movement as the party focuses on winning the 2017 election. Something must be done.”

Another source told this newspaper: “One does have to question whether there is any truth to her supposed claims. Apparently she has said Dr Minnis has intentionally held off on ratifying MPs. Not one single MP has been ratified, it doesn’t augur well.”

“There are many of us in the party who still cannot figure out why she was even appointed to the Senate in the first place,” another insider said.

“If the leader does not see now more than ever that he should remove her, considering she was just in the spotlight a few months ago speaking of the Long Island MP and the other parliamentarians, then Dr Minnis should go too. He has poor judgment and cannot lead.”

On Wednesday, party insiders told The Tribune that opposition MPs were “up in arms” over statements that were reportedly made by Mrs Rolle during the meeting in question with Mr Bain. During this meeting it was alleged by Mrs Rolle that Dr Minnis had purposefully delayed ratifying the incumbent MPs.

The sources who contacted this newspaper expressed anger over this assertion and accused the senator of “traipsing around conducting party business as though she is an authoritative figure” within the organisation.

At this meeting Senator Rolle informed Mr Bain that the party decided not to offer him a nomination for the Pinewood Gardens constituency, this newspaper was informed. The revelation was “a surprise” to Mr Bain, an FNM source claimed.

Senator Rolle further “railroaded” the opposition parliamentary team, the source said, accusing them of not being concerned with serving Bahamians, but only with fulfilling their personal interests.

However, the main focus of her tirade, sources said, was Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner whom she insisted is unfit to lead and has not proven herself.

She pointed to Mrs Butler-Turner’s tenure during the previous Ingraham administration as minister of state for social development, suggesting the MP was only handed the junior Cabinet appointment because the party could not do better.

This matter, The Tribune was reliably informed, is at the heart of an internal investigation underway in the party and has stirred up another round of controversy and contention within the organisation.

The probe is being handled by party Chairman Sidney Collie.

Mr Bain confirmed to this newspaper on Tuesday that he was called into a meeting with Mr Collie to discuss the matter.

He added that he also observed Senator Rolle meeting with other party executives. However, he was tight-lipped over what sparked the meetings.

Senator Rolle was embroiled in controversy earlier this year after she called a radio show in January and criticised Mrs Butler-Turner and other FNM members of Parliament.

She accused sitting FNM MPs of being “jealous” of the party leader and said Mrs Butler-Turner, Dr Minnis’ former rival for leadership, would not have the support of voters over Prime Minister Perry Christie.

After she was criticised by members of her party, in March Mrs Rolle finally publicly apologised for her remarks.