by Adrian Gibson
The reality is that Dr Andre Rollins has roused the Progressive Liberal Party more than anything since the general election.
There are clearly those within that governing party who feel that Dr Rollins has “some nerve” to suggest that something is wrong with the PLP, which means that for party followers and officials he has become public enemy number one and therefore, in their minds, deserves their full attention and attacks.
Dr Rollins should not apologise for expressing his views. That is foolishness. He should not, at any time, apologise for not putting his party’s interest over his country. He should not apologise for speaking his conscience.
Clearly the PLP has circled the waggons and are, and will continue to, attack him mercilessly and aggressively. It appears that the party does not want to admit that the dentist is much less of an issue in the totality of life than the fact that a new study has just revealed that poverty has increased in The Bahamas and that young people and immigrants are bearing the brunt of it, that VAT will push even more people below the poverty line, that the College of The Bahamas – our foremost, national tertiary institution – has not resolved its leadership problems and that the murder count is at a record pace this year.
That said, the most important thing that seemingly could be talked about is the fact that Dr Rollins stepped on their toes and said some things that everybody agrees with. Our country is in trouble when folks seek to preserve power and there doesn’t appear to be that same urge to preserve our people.
Whilst Dr Rollins’ entire party seems out to deal with him, where is that same passion for unemployment, poverty, crime, etc?
I suspect that Andre Rollins will suffer a blistering onslaught and be subjected to the most scurrilous attacks. At the end of the day, he may be forced to bend or even break – but, will he?
No doubt, Dr Rollins is keenly aware that there are other men who stood up to the injustices of his party in times past, from the Dissident Eight to Carlton Francis to Edmund Moxey to Rodney Moncur and so on.
We are watching a battle that is, essentially, a mortal combat for the conscience of our country, particularly as we approach the end of our options and the possibility of currency devaluation, debt default and when we are dealing with difficult challenges in terms of formulating a sound energy policy, issues concerning healthcare and education and so forth.
Dr Rollins needs to stand-up on a public platform and perhaps exercise his right to leave his party. He has been disinvited by a number of the party’s heavyweights – even on the floor of the House – and he should take a cue.
If Dr Rollins capitulates now, he will be the subject of derision, laughed at and scorned by the public. The public is watching and, at the moment, he’s on a high. However, it is time to fish, cut bait or get the hell out of the boat.
The biggest blow he could deliver to his party – at this juncture – is to resign his membership in the party. Other than that, he should wait to see what happens if he does not apologise … if they expel him, he would immediately enter the annals of local political history.
