Tennyson Wells
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Cabinet Minister Tennyson Wells yesterday said he first approached Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins and Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells about joining the Free National Movement and encouraged initial discussions for the plans to come to fruition.
Mr Wells, who resigned from the FNM in 1999 and became an independent candidate, added that he had tried to convince both MPs to form their own political party with independent MP Greg Moss. However, when this plan did not work, he advised them to either join the FNM or remain with the Progressive Liberal Party.
He said this was the best option for Mr Wells and Mr Rollins because it would be impossible for them to be elected to Parliament as independent candidates.
Mr Wells admitted that his loyalty lies with neither the FNM nor PLP but said he believes that the FNM stands to win the 2017 general election with Dr Hubert Minnis at its helm along with the two new MPs. He said anyone who believes otherwise is not thinking objectively.
Both men announced in the House of Assembly on Wednesday that they were crossing the floor of Parliament to join the opposition FNM. The move saw Renward Wells’ departure from the PLP. Dr Rollins quit the PLP in June and had remained an independent MP until Wednesday.
“I have helped both Renward and Rollins over the years,” Mr Wells said when contacted for comment. “And in respect to this thing I was very happy with their performance as members of Parliament.
“I thought they did very well and I was also very happy with the stand they took (in the House on many issues). I am of the view and have been of this view for more than 10 (to) 15 years now that this country needs multiple parties as representatives of Parliament to stem the all-powerful prime ministers.
“I was encouraging them to form a third party so we could have coalition government so no one man could be demanding and get what they want (because) that’s the way it has been for the last 20 (to) 50 years.
“I know now that they didn’t accept my advice on that but I told both of them that they cannot win as independents so they either form a third party and go for the long haul, a bit of sacrifice (but) that is needed to get this country out of the place that it has been for the last 20 years.
He added: “In my opinion neither (Prime Minister Perry) Christie nor (Former Prime Minister Hubert) Ingraham had the business acumen to run the government.
“They said they were trying to put together this cohesive political unit with the three of them – that’s Moss, Wells and Rollins – but I think it got down to everybody wants to be leader and nobody wants to take the sacrifice.”
Mr Wells went on further to blast critics who have slammed the MPs for switching to the opposition. He said both Mr Christie and Mr Ingraham had done the same in the past as they followed their own convictions.
“There are very few of us who were only with one party. In my case, I was with the FNM then I became and independent and I never changed that. I voted PLP the last two times, but I don’t consider myself an FNM or PLP because I don’t think any one of them are doing what needs to be done for country. Both of them maintain the status quo.
“I’ll give advice to PLPs and FNMs. (So) I think this bodes well, there is no question about that and anybody who says otherwise are not being objective. I think if they call election today the FNM will win,” Mr Wells said.
Comments
banker 8 years, 5 months ago
Sigh -- the last thing that any party needs is a Pindling-era, drug-money tainted, feculent fatman posing as someone relevant (this is just a general comment and is not meant to impugn or imply anything about anyone's tattered reputation or even refer to anyone specifically). The old Bamboo Town ex-member may be rich, but not in any way a positive contribution to the already putrid political scene in the Bahamas.
Publius 8 years, 5 months ago
And he says he is giving advice to those two lost boys...good way to stay lost
Publius 8 years, 5 months ago
These people are like roaches.... you know the rest.
bahamian242 8 years, 5 months ago
Not a good idea!
bahamian242 8 years, 5 months ago
If anyone in the FNM will run in the next General Election! There should be one on over 55 years of age in the race!
Publius 8 years, 5 months ago
Age is not the problem, character, aptitude, ability, knowledge, intelligence, work ethic, etc are the problems. You can be young and worthless just as you can be older and worthless.
birdiestrachan 8 years, 5 months ago
Mr: Wells says the FNM will win the next general election. Mr; well has no powers of predication. He did not even know he was going to lose his seat.
Publius 8 years, 5 months ago
Predication? I'm guessing you meant prediction? Seems like his powers of "predication" match your powers of vocabulary usage, not to mention your powers of reason since the man has not lost his seat.
TalRussell 8 years, 5 months ago
by TalRussell
SP 8 years, 5 months ago
.................................... Understatement Of Fifty Millennia .....................................
He added: “In my opinion neither (Prime Minister Perry) Christie nor (Former Prime Minister Hubert) Ingraham had the business acumen to run the government."
Bahamas obvious rapid degeneration and regression of Bahamians people in every sector is proof beyond proof that Christie and Ingraham have earned the prestigious S&P/Moodys title of the worst leaders in the region, affectionately known as dumb and dumber.
Its hard to tell if Christie and Ingraham are truly as ignorant as they lead the country to ruin or if they have an ingenious plan of creating another Haiti scenario for their friends, family and lovers.
MP's Dr. Andre Rollins and Renward Wells not having enough humility to join Greg Moss with a badly needed 3rd party, and put country above self is foolish and to their own detriment.
How is their joining the FNM "with no promises" different from joining Greg Moss?
The country is sick and tired of the PLP & FNM good old boys pirate status quo!
And would happily fall head over heals with full support if Greg Moss and Damian Gomez should team up with a new party advocating an anti-corruption mandate!
by SP
birdiestrachan 8 years, 5 months ago
Thanks for the correction, But Mr: wells did lose his seat.
birdiestrachan 8 years, 5 months ago
Bran McCartney won his seat . Check it out.
Publius 8 years, 5 months ago
Ah, you meant Tennyson Wells; thought you meant Renward. So many Wells, so little water.
Emac 8 years, 5 months ago
LMAO...I know that's right!
truetruebahamian 8 years, 5 months ago
Wells should stick to his overpriced hardware store and be ashamed of his disgusting rental properties out west and his employing Mexican workers without work permits - he stinks. He deserved no place in a competent governmental position - just to be shooed out of the house of assembly door. And the sooner forgotten the better!
Observer 8 years, 5 months ago
This is soooooo comical. Boy these jokers are presumptuous hey.
Emac 8 years, 5 months ago
Why this jackass don't crawl back into the hole from whence he cometh? He never had anything meaningful to offer the Bahamas and never will have anything meaningful to offer. Wells should be ashamed to even speak out publicly after wedging out the properties of so many innocent people and destroying so much wetlands. The problem is that this man doesn't have a conscience. I hope he rots in "hell".
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 5 months ago
There are quite a few successful local businesses majority owned and operated by foreigners who will tell you that they had little choice but to give Tennyson 10-20% of their business to pave the way for their businesses to obtain necessary licenses, permits, etc. ......many of them consider it shakedown protection money that their businesses have no choice but to absorb.
Greentea 8 years, 5 months ago
might have been really interesting to see the three youngbloods form a third party while still seated in the house. everyone wants to be leader- sigh - that is going to be a problem moving - I would like to say 'forward' but with this much ego - it won't be with these two.
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