Rollins ‘would consider’ running if FNM offered him nomination

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.”

Comments

John says...

Rollins has made himself into a political hot potato. persons don't even want to deal with him from a distance because of his flip floppings and political tirades.

Posted 13 September 2016, 11:54 a.m. Suggest removal

theplpsucks says...

hell no let him go win his seat on his own if he can and he now realizes he cant

Posted 13 September 2016, 11:55 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Comrades! If likes Long island's Loretta, wanna-be be a MP Dr. Duane, Montagu's "Tubes Tied" Richard and shi# disturber Dr. Andre, ain't a basked full trouble enough for Minnis, just you reds force your leader into welcoming under the big red tent the likes of wanna-be's 2017 General's MP's"King's Counsel" Freddy and "Wash EM" Dionisio. Have you reds no mercy for your leader at all?
First, show some balls, by inviting Dr. Andre, Dionisio and Freddy to move-in with y'all? I didn't think so.

Posted 13 September 2016, 12:15 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Andre, Dionisio and Red Fred are better than any PLPs being nominated right now

Posted 13 September 2016, 12:37 p.m. Suggest removal

truetruebahamian says...

But the keeping of the dissidents make sense, and with these new faces, a positive look at strong ideas and a strong future. In that case the future would be with FNM.

Posted 13 September 2016, 2:14 p.m. Suggest removal

Publius says...

Translation: I'm broke, nobody else wants me, I was duped into believing I could do something in Long Island even though I ought to have had enough sense to know I could not, and now I am trying to weasel my way back to a group that wants nothing to do with me and never truly did, and who I have absolutely no true loyalties to either.

Posted 13 September 2016, 12:32 p.m. Suggest removal

EasternGate says...

Good point

Posted 13 September 2016, 9:06 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Rollins is a useful asset to the FNM but Hubert Minnis has to sweeten the pot for the young politician ........ Rollins wants to have a meaningful role to play just like Pintard ........ Minnis can prove himself as a viable PM based on how he manages these mavericks ....... he needs to go and get Bran and GMoss as well if he is to win the 2017 election

Posted 13 September 2016, 12:33 p.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

I would love to see Andre, Dionisio and Freddy run and win a seat. We would finally have at least three people that I respect and trust. It would be a great start.

Posted 13 September 2016, 12:33 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Good. I hope they offer him a position. There is nothing wrong with him. He IS brash, that energy has to be channelled correctly, with his temperament he needs an experienced intelligent successful mentor to guide him, that's all.

Posted 13 September 2016, 12:56 p.m. Suggest removal

Greentea says...

And where will he find that Mentor in today's political landscape? Anyone?

Posted 14 September 2016, 2:22 p.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

Rollins will end his political career if he is foolish enough to tie himself to Minnis. At best he may secure a seat in the HOA by running as an independent, but the odds of doing so work against him the longer he waits to disassociate himself from the Doc who has sunk the FNM like a big Rock!

Posted 13 September 2016, 12:56 p.m. Suggest removal

truetruebahamian says...

I would take Rollins any day as a representative. Tennyson Wells cannot and must not be allowed anywhere near a post as representative of anything for the FNM.

Posted 13 September 2016, 2:10 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Tennyson Wells was so phony that his own Long Island people did not vote for him back in the 1980s ......... he holds NO credibility to advise anyone .......... he is the classic "all for me, baby" politician

Posted 13 September 2016, 3:14 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Everyone says Rollins can't be trusted, I think it's a mischaracterization. People should look at him and say, that's exactly what we need, independent thinking ministers who won't back foolishness. He appeared to publicly supported Minnis straight up to the Toogie and Bobo affair. The whole country did a double take when they heard about the fish delivery, Rollins just said what everyone was thinking. Perhaps he shouldn't have done it in such a derisive manner, but the truth is, Minnis really stepped in it with that one and it did make the FNM look foolish and amateurish.

What can be said about Rollins is, he will tell you the truth even if it hurts, and he *een pettin' or powderin'*. He just needs to work on his delivery, dont lose the passion but turn into Bradley Roberts

Posted 14 September 2016, 4:08 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

*But DONT turn into Bradley Roberts*

Posted 14 September 2016, 8:01 a.m. Suggest removal

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