By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE FNM’s new Senate pick Lanisha Rolle backtracked from an opinion she expressed last year highlighting her grievances with the Public Disclosures Act, telling The Tribune yesterday “the law is something one must comply with”.
In a post published on her Facebook page on July 10, 2014, Ms Rolle admitted that she did not fully agree with the provision. At the time, she said the law should “be balanced with an individual’s right to privacy”.
“Persons who offer themselves in public life should not be as a lamb carried to the slaughter, and moreover, unless you were born as a king or a queen who is exempted from paying bills, we all have bills which at some point may be outstanding,” she wrote last year.
“The reality is before we were born, bills were on our head, and for the coloured people, we came into our freedom with expenses. That’s the way the system was designed. So stop revealing people’s business especially when it comes to their personal financial status. He without sin, cast the first stone.”
The post, which is no longer visible on her Facebook page, has attracted attention on social media since Ms Rolle was announced last week as the FNM’s new Senate appointee.
When contacted about Ms Rolle’s previous position on the Act, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts emphasised that compliance with the law is not optional.
“She’s a lawyer and she should know that we are a country of laws and it isn’t a question of likes and don’t likes,” he said. “If her party comes to power, and she could convince them of changing the law, then that’s the way to go, but unless something like that happens, then this isn’t up for debate. The members of parliament unanimously passed that and made it law years ago.”
When asked about her past statements on the matter, Ms Rolle said her previous words were meaningless.
“Whatever I wrote in the past don’t need to be addressed,” she told The Tribune. “Those are opinions I put there and they have nothing attached to it. It was my personal Facebook page.”
However, she said, she would comply with the law now that she has been appointed to the upper chamber.
Members of parliament have faced scrutiny over the years for failing to disclose their financial information in accordance with the law.
According to a Tribune survey of government officials last year, numerous politicians admitted they either failed to file their public disclosures in a timely manner or declined to say whether they were in compliance with the law.
Only 11 out of 38 MPs confirmed to The Tribune last June that their financial disclosures were up to date.
According to the Public Disclosures Commission, by March of each year assets and liabilities of MPs must be disclosed.
A summary of the declarations should be published in a gazette and a person who does not comply with the law is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than two years.
Comments
URD 9 years, 2 months ago
Why is this even a story???
Publius 9 years, 2 months ago
Boy this Minnis guy sure knows how to pick em. Did this lady really try to use the race card as an argument against the need for accountability and transparency in government? And did she really try to quote the Bible to justify not wanting to be accountable to the public? And did she really just tell the public to mind their own business about what public officials are doing with the money they earn either from the public or elsewhere? I swear you cannot make this stuff up if you tried. Given this lady's previous public comments since her appointment she seems to be a sublimely ignorant individual.
B_I_D___ 9 years, 2 months ago
Let's not forget this gem...
When asked about her past statements on the matter, Ms Rolle said her previous words were meaningless.
“Whatever I wrote in the past don’t need to be addressed,” she told The Tribune. “Those are opinions I put there and they have nothing attached to it.
B_I_D___ 9 years, 2 months ago
Just have to LOOOOVE the integrity people seem to have.
Publius 9 years, 2 months ago
When I read that I was floored. Where did the FNM's leader find this person?
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 2 months ago
That's craziness. I'm really afraid now. It's Ike we'll never get out from under the yoke of dumb leadership. Dumb now and dumber to come
asiseeit 9 years, 2 months ago
Yes Mr. Roberts, we are a nation of laws, who those laws apply to and if those laws are enforced, is a whole different story. How many M.P.'s are in breach of the public disclosure law is not known but it is safe to bet that there are quite a few that should be fined or actually charged with an offence, but that will never happen will it! All of these hypocrites, red and yellow need a swift kick in the head with great force!
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 2 months ago
Time for the FNM to admit it's mistake and give us another convention....
We need a leader...
Badly.....
Alltoomuch 9 years, 2 months ago
It really is beyond all understanding.... We truly need Loretta Butler-Turner & what did we get instead??
DonAnthony 9 years, 2 months ago
Was the selection of Ms. Rolle the best the FNM had to offer?, if so what a poor reflection on the party, if not what a poor reflection on the judgement of Dr. Minnis.
TalRussell 9 years, 2 months ago
What kinds welcome is this turning into, for the red shirts 2017 leadership hopeful?
Comrades talk about a bloggers gift horse of a politician. Just when my enthusiasm for anything much to do with reds had so diminished, following the all but forgotten forced into retirement of our dear Papa Hubert, the rejection of Loretta and Daron. and Minnis's being the dull politician he works hard at proving himself to be.
But fear not, for that's when the new red Comrade Senator "Sister" Lanisha popped herself onto the comical set of Her Majesty's Royal Opposition Party.
Despite her not even had enough time to set foot to attend her first session up in the Red Chamber, Senator "Sister" Lanisha ain't exactly sitting well with the red shirts Politburo crowd . This will be enjoyable, even if only briefly.
by TalRussell
asiseeit 9 years, 2 months ago
This only enforces the perception that they are all the same and all belong to one club. What does the woman mean that we should disregard her prior statements, she can't be so stupid. She needs to resign before she even reaches. I most certainly would never vote for such a hack.
asiseeit 9 years, 2 months ago
If this is the best that the FNM can produce they are done. Are these people trying to force us to vote green??
The_Oracle 9 years, 2 months ago
There aught to be disclosures at the beginning and end of a term served, it would show just how much "personal profit" there is in serving! The fact that we elect and appoint people who cannot even understand the importance of public disclosure........ Not that we'd ever see an investigation or inquiry, it would trigger a domino effect, they'd all drop like flies!
TalRussell 9 years, 2 months ago
by TalRussell
Publius 9 years, 2 months ago
I would have said she should stick to preaching since they say she is an ordained minister or something, but she didn't even quote her Bible scripture in its proper context so maybe even the preaching gig is a fail? And then they say she is a lawyer. Which bar was she called to, The Bahamas Bar or a local sports bar? Her comments are just that sublime that I have to ask!
TalRussell 9 years, 2 months ago
Comrade why make this personal when there is more than enough interesting politics alone, for all feed off? Do you even know anything about the private side of the Senator? I didn't think so.
Publius 9 years, 2 months ago
A funny guy you are!
TalRussell 9 years, 2 months ago
Comrade I think it would do we Tribune bloggers and readers souls, some rekindling of we christian spirits good, if we would go sit in one the sister senator's Sunday morning church pews to hear the word of Jesus as only she can preach.
The Good Lord knows, I too at times finds myself shortchanging away from the christian spirit, I was faithfully raised.
Please dear departed Granny, forgive me - for I should knows better.
duppyVAT 9 years, 2 months ago
Please dont cry now over a single senate pick ........... wait till HAM roll out the 2017 slate!!!!!! But perry gonna call a snap election in late 2016 and then SHIT gonna hit da fan!!!!!!!!!!!!
SP 9 years, 2 months ago
............................................... The FNM is dead in the water .......................................
This woman has lost everyone's respect the first time she opened her stupid mouth, and will never be able to recover.
She is a typical politician who immediately develops acute alzheimer disease complicated with selective memory lose upon appointment for anything that might adversely affects her ability to screw the electorate.
Greentea 9 years, 2 months ago
Do we really need an "ordained minister" and "lawyer" in the senate who wants to be a politician? Sweet Jesus no. the bahamian people consider these professions entrepreneurial. and that is sad, sad. sad. Beyond that - based on what she is saying, this was a poor choice all around. I expected better from Pintard - though not Minnis. Too many public figures in the Bahamas are poor fiscal managers and basically thieves. I see them all the time, knowing the victims they stole from - usually through their so called businesses. can't pay their rent, take folks money and don't do work, but frontin with some God bless me bull. God gotta be sick of us.. if you can't manage a small business in this country I dont understand why you think you should be given the purse strings of the public. No morals, ethics or sense. this needs to go beyond public disclosure- to have time when the general public could come forth with financial grievances against those seeking public office- because these people LIE all the time- we don't have the support systems in place to make them accountable.
licks2 9 years, 2 months ago
Bouy the FNM them sure surprise me with their foolish statements!! She just came around. . .other people are more qualified because they been here longer!! Well mother sick. . .THEY THINKING JUST LIKE THEM PLP WHO THINK THAT THIS THEY "FIFEDOM". . .they need to check they self. . .AND LET THEY LEADER LEAD OR GET RID OF HIM. . .BUT JUST SHUT THE HELL UP. . .THEY SOUNDING LIKE A BUNCHA SPOILT CHIRRINS DEM!!! ERRYTHING THE MAN DO THEY HITTIN HIM AND CALLIN HIM A BAD LEADER!!! Hell when they carry on like that they make that dude look good. . .ONE WHO WILL NOT LET THEM "NOBILITY" TELL HIM HOW TO DO THINGS JUST TO SUIT THEM INTEREST!!! THEY FORGET THAT MINNIS DON'T HAVE TO IMPRESS THEM. . .BUT WE THE PEOPLE! AND RIGHT NOW WE THE PEOPLE DON'T SEE IN MINNIS WHAT THEY KEEP TELLIN US. . .HE LOOKS LIKE HIS OWN MAN TO PLENTY OF US AND HE WILL NOT LET EVERY JACK AND HE BRUDDER TELL HIM WHAT TO DO!!! HE THAT CAN BE TWIST IN EVERY WIND OF OPINION IS NOT A GOOD LEADER!!! YINNA FNMS RELAX. . .JUST CHILL. . .COS WE EEN SEE HIM LIKE YINNA SAY. . .CHILL!!
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