The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

ONE week after they joined the Free National Movement, Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins and Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells have been named as the party’s shadow ministers of national security and tourism respectively, a statement from the FNM said yesterday.

The FNM also announced other changes to the party’s shadow cabinet.

Dr Minnis, who was previously the FNM’s shadow minister of national security and health, is now only responsible for the latter portfolio.

Mr Wells relieves North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly of the shadow minister of tourism portfolio, with Mr Neilly now responsible for just transport and aviation, as well as being the opposition’s party whip.

Additional changes to the FNM’s shadow cabinet include the appointment of party Chairman Michael Pintard as the shadow minister of youth, sports and culture, and Senator Lanisha Rolle as the shadow minister for local government, the party’s statement said.

Last week, Dr Rollins and Mr Wells joined the FNM following a long run of frosty relations and contention with the Progressive Liberal Party. Dr Rollins quit the PLP in June while Mr Wells left the governing party last week.

“I promised nothing (Cabinet positions or nomination),” Dr Minnis said last week, responding to questions from reporters. “I am not like (Prime Minister Perry) Christie. We have an organisation and there are policies and procedures and just like everyone else we go through our policies and procedures.

“I think these men, just like the Bahamian people, have seen what has been occurring in the governance of this country. They have joined and the Bahamian populace will join when they vote out the PLP.

“The only promises that have been made is like all the young men around me they (will) form the future of the country.”

While both Dr Rollins and Mr Wells were officially welcomed into the FNM last week, the decision sparked some internal controversy.

Some FNMs were angered, The Tribune understands, as they did not learn that the MPs were joining the party until they crossed the floor of the House of Assembly last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Michael Scott, who has served as an FNM legal advisor, last week questioned whether the move was a bid “for the rather narrow self-serving and superficial object of preserving Dr Minnis’ tenuous grasp on the leadership” of the FNM.

Shadow cabinet

Dr Hubert Minnis - shadow minister of health.

Peter Turnquest - shadow minister of finance and financial services.

Neko Grant - shadow minister of works and urban development.

Loretta Butler-Turner - shadow minister of social services; labour and National Insurance.

Edison Key - shadow minister agriculture, marine resources.

Richard Lightbourn - shadow minister, Attorney General’s Office & Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Hubert Chipman - shadow minister of foreign affairs and immigration and parliamentary spokesperson for education.

Theo Neilly - shadow minister of transport and aviation.

Dr Andre Rollins - shadow minister of national security.

Renward Wells - shadow minister of tourism.

Senator Carl Bethel - shadow minister of education.

Senator Kwasi Thompson - shadow minister of environment and housing.

Senator Michael Pintard - shadow minister of youth, sports and culture.

Senator Lanisha Rolle - shadow minister of local government.