COMMENTARY: BY OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 20, 2020 – Dr. Andre Rollins, once considered to be one of the most promising young politicians in The Bahamas but who has so far failed to live up to his potential, apparently has definitely decided to make a comeback. Dr. Rollins was a very effective self-promoter during his active years in politics, and over the past several weeks has been very active on Facebook and his posts clearly indicate that he has made the decision to re-enter front-line politics.
Whether he has learned any lessons from his past mistakes when he was prone to making wrong decisions during internal political battles in both the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the Free National Movement remains to be seen, but his comment on Facebook on the fine metered out to a young man for “selling coconuts on the side of the street” suggests that he still has some lessons to learn politically. Here’s what he posted:
“How silly does it make your country seem for fining a young man $700 for selling coconuts on the side of the street? If the restaurant in Lyford Cay can sell wine to their customers, how do you rationalize depriving a vendor exercising proper precautions the right to sell coconut water to his? In these difficult times, what if he cannot secure the $700 fine? Are you really going to jail him in a prison with a population of 2000 that was originally made to house few more than 750? What about the public health concerns associated with prison overcrowding? We are turning the law into an ASS in the ‘Commonwealth’ of The Bahamas. The FNM MPs are afraid of their dictatorial leader. Through our collective outcry, we the public must compel our elected representatives to muster the courage to SPEAK UP for the downtrodden. This persecution of the poor must stop. To the ‘Competent’ Authority: he who is powerful must be merciful.”
Dr. Rollins certainly has not lost his touch for fomenting controversy. By comparing what the young man did to a restaurant in Lyford Cay selling “wine to their customers” raises the specter of racism, a well-used ploy by Bahamians because of the seemingly special treatment residents of Lyford Cay — the private gated community on the western tip of New Providence that at one time was indeed a racist enclave – are believed to still receive from Bahamian law enforcement officials.
Frankly, I was a bit surprised by some of the responses to Dr. Rollins’ post, especially from some persons whose opinions I highly respect. For example, Gilbert Morris had this to say: “It’s an unmitigated disgrace!”
Here are some of the other responses to Dr. Rollins’ post:
DEREK F. PINDER: “A complete waste of government time and resources. How about a warning. The youth was just perhaps trying to make a living to feed his family. At least he was not breaking and entering or stealing. I am truly of the belief we must hire the most uneducated and incompetent officers in the world. Dam(sic) it, use your discretion. We all know common sense is not common and is rarely used .”
DARVILLE ASHLEY: “I totally agree with you Dr. Andre Rollins.”
HELENA McCARDY: “Stupidest thing I have ever seen.”
ANDREW J. BURROWS: “Andre Rollins I understand a citizen with the means has agreed to pay the fine.”
HARRISON TOOTE: “I am in total disbelief that the matter went thru so many persons hands who could have stopped this. Who could have and no doubt, have used their discretion in the pass (sic). The arresting officer, the OC at the station, the prosecutor even the magistrate, all could have done something other than giving this young man a police record. I wonder if these same persons will keep up this same ‘efficiency’ after the pandemic.”
VANDETTA ROSETTA MOORSHEAD: “You should have never left Parliament it’s where you belong ok.” (Presumably, this is a direct message to Andre Rollins, with which I am sure he agrees.)
ASTRID BODIE: “This FNM govt is shameless !! That young man is trying to earn an honest living instead of being a menace to society. I pray this don’t break his spirit.”
What really bothers me with virtually all of these comments is that they are, in a manner of speaking, condoning lawlessness. Didn’t the government issue a much-publicized warning that persons disobeying the COVID-19 isolation/closure orders would be fined? Surely, this applied to all persons, whether they lived in Lyford Cay or Over-the-Hill in New Providence. Therefore, the observation by Dr. Derek F. Pinder that the “youth was just perhaps trying to make a living to feed his family,” and that he at “least was not breaking and entering or stealing” undermines the rightful enforcement of the law in this particular instance – as laudable as this speculative theory may sound.
What’s more, this caustic remark surely was unnecessary: “I am truly of the belief we must hire the most uneducated and incompetent officers in the world…” For argument sake, let’s suppose the young man in question was using “selling coconuts” as a “front” for more nefarious reasons.”
Of course, Dr. Rollins saw this as a ideal opportunity to advance his campaign to get back into active politics. I suspect that what really prompted him to possibly seek another term in the House of Assembly is the fact that Renwad Wells — his cohort in political mischief-making when they were both Opposition Free National Movement(FNM) Members of the House of Assembly – apparently reached some sort of agreement with then FNM Opposition Leader back then Dr. Hubert Minnis and is currently one of the most powerful ministers in the FNM government headed by Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, so much so that Mr. Wells has even served as Acting Prime Minister at least on one occasion when both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest were out of the country.
Clearly, Dr. Rollins was considered by many political observers to be more politically astute than Wells when they formed a strong alliance in launching acerbic criticism against the then Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis, but obviously Mr. Wells made all the right decisions in supporting Dr Minnis at a time when his leadership of the FNM was in serious peril. This viewpoint is certainly supported by the fact that a committed and sincere politician like Hubert Chipman, the then MP for St. Anne’s who had opposed Dr. Minnis’ leadership, was denied an FNM nomination to seek re-election in the May 10, 2017, general election, which the FNM won by a landslide and Dr. Minnis was installed as the country’s new Prime Minister.
Both Rollins and Wells were initially elected to the House of Assembly as Members of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in the May 2012 general election and were considered to be rising stars in the PLP government led by Prime Minister Perry Christie, but both subsequently left the PLP.
As reported in The Tribune on November 4, 2015: “Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells and Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins both revealed in the House of Assembly on Wednesday that they have crossed the floor and joined the Free National Movement (FNM). In announcing that he had quit the governing Progressive Liberal Party to join the Official Opposition, Mr. Wells said: “I choose to formally disassociate myself from the PLP. I am joining forces with the members of the Free National Movement and request to be reseated in this honorable House.
“Dr Rollins quit the PLP in June, after government members made several attempts to block him from contributing to the budget debate in the House of Assembly. On Wednesday, the Ft Charlotte MP lamented the fact that the party which had helped him get elected to the House of Assembly made “hollow” promises of change to the electorate. After making their respective speeches in Parliament, both men relocated from the PLP’s backbench in the House of Assembly to sit with the FNM MPs on the opposition’s bench.”
As he attempts to return to front-line politics, Dr. Rollins has indicted that he has no intention of doing so under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis. Indeed, in his recent Facebook post, he claims that current “FNM MPs are afraid of their dictatorial leader.”
It could very well be that he may seek an accommodation within the PLP, but it is highly unlikely that PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis will welcome him with open arms; however, since the departure of Branville McCartney as leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), that well-organized party has badly lacked the kind of effective leadership that Dr. Andre Rollins is capable of providing it.
Let the political games begin.
FLASHBACK: Fort Charlotte MP Hon. Andre Rollins is pictured in this ZNS NEWS report on October 1, 2014, after refusing to apologize to Prime Minister Perry Christie as demanded by the Disciplinary Council of the PLP for remarks he made in the House of Assembly. https://youtu.be/d_LYuXay_xY
