By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
The Free National Movement’s Centreville Constituency Association
regrets backing Reece Chipman’s nomination for Parliament and will not recommend he be re-nominated in 2022, association chairman Juan Cartwright told The Tribune yesterday.
Mr Cartwright said he would prefer if Mr Chipman resigns right now as the MP for the area.
He revealed Mr Chipman was neither the association’s first nor second choice to represent the constituency. Those spots belonged to Lanisha Rolle, who eventually ran and won in the Seabreeze constituency, and businessman Mark Roberts who rejected the nomination for personal reasons, he said.
Mr Cartwright said it was Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis who asked the association to work with Mr Chipman.
“We feel betrayed by him,” he said two days after Mr Chipman voted against value added tax’s increase to 12 percent.
Mr Chipman never consulted the association before taking that position, he added.
“There is a disconnect between Mr Chipman and the association. He feels he could make decisions without informing us. Right now, we can’t support anybody we have such a disconnect with and who makes decisions for personal reasons.”
Mr Chipman, who was fired as chairman of the Antiquities Monuments & Museum Corporation in March for unknown reasons, countered yesterday that he believes he has the support of most Centreville residents.
“I consulted the community before my VAT vote,” he said. “We walked door to door to get feedback. I don’t know if (Mr Cartwright) wanted me to just consult the FNM association because then I would also have to consult the PLP association if I wanted a feel for the partisan position on this issue. The decision I made was based on the community and what they felt in terms of the cost of living, of unemployment, of a commitment to make life better for themselves.”
Friction between Vaughn Miller and Travis Robinson and their party associations in Golden Isles and Bain and Grants Town respectively has also been reported since the pair joined Mr Chipman and Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine in voting against the VAT hike.
Mr Chipman said his phone has been ringing off the hook with residents overwhelmingly backing his decision. He brushed off notions that he will not be re-nominated in the constituency for the FNM, adding he has given no serious consideration to leaving the governing party.
“I think the people will back me, they will support me,” the first-time MP said. “The political fabric of our country needs work. The association just needs to be educated to the point where they do not let politics set them up. They may think they are doing the right thing, but it hurts so many, just like the VAT hike.”
As for cries he is disconnected from the Centreville community, Mr Chipman said: “I have walked more hours, knocked on more doors than 90 percent of the FNMs sitting in the House of Assembly. (Mr Cartwright) probably doesn’t know I campaigned in this area as far back as 2005 and I was offered the nomination in 2007. I need him to learn a little more because he is new to this. He has probably never even been to an FNM council meeting where people vote for our party. I don’t know if he has ever read our party’s constitution. When you embrace a negative approach to our party’s framework, it’s important to get the information right.”
Comments
Greentea 5 years, 10 months ago
This fight represents one of the major problems of the country-affirmed by the "rules" cited to fire the minister. Rabid partisanship. Party politics over country. Continue on Mr. Chipman. You have no need to resign.
tell_it_like_it_is 5 years, 10 months ago
OMG, everyday there is new nonsense. They already fired them, what more do they want? Just a day ago the "die-hard" FNMs here were saying they went against protocol and they should be fired. Okay, so when does it end? This is why I'm NOT a 'die-hard' anything. I vote for the person representing me (sometimes FNM, sometimes not).
This is utter NONSENSE!
proudloudandfnm 5 years, 10 months ago
I strongly suggest the FNM work with MP Chipman moving forward. The FNM is on the wrong side of this debate. Work with him or lose that constituency...
DDK 5 years, 10 months ago
True that!
BahamasForBahamians 5 years, 10 months ago
The country regrets choosing Hubert Minnis
Greentea 5 years, 10 months ago
The "country" didn't really choose him- the FNM did. We got him by default.
joeblow 5 years, 10 months ago
I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Chipman regrets choosing the FNM!
Greentea 5 years, 10 months ago
He's been an FNM for a long time. I am sure he is disappointed in the party.
joeblow 5 years, 10 months ago
Because he sacrificed making more in the private sector to advance the country and its not working out!
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 10 months ago
Minnis has serious debilitating mental limitations that make him very insecure within his own skin. Consequently, he much too easily feels very threatened when not afforded undying loyalty. And this is the principal reason he will now do any and every thing that he can to try snuff out the political lives of the four FNM MPs that stood by the interests of their constituents and the vast majority of voters throughout the country on a most significant matter, i.e. the most outrageous and not well thought through surprise 60% increase in VAT from 7.5% to 12%.
tell_it_like_it_is 5 years, 10 months ago
Well_mudda I believe it was you who said the FNM will now make the political life of these gentlemen miserable - good prediction. I didn't realize how petty the FNM could be. I am very disappointed.
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah. . . yinna know that yall talking nonsense. . .none of those men talked with their constituency associations. . .their CA is their party WHIP in their areas. . .no MP can do such nonsense as they did and expect the waters to remain calm!! Everyone of you know that those young men decided to "fly by mesef". . .they killed their political future in the style of Andrea Rollins. . .TOO HURRY FOR POWER.
ohdrap4 5 years, 10 months ago
Now, that all the outdoor toilets have been removed, give them Perry back.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 10 months ago
Sadly, if the dimwitted Minnis survives another four years as PM, most Bahamians by then will have naturally succumbed to remembering Perry as being an almost angelic leader by comparison. Minnis as PM can only behave like a fish out of water.....gasping for air, flapping about everywhere and not knowing what to do!
Greentea 5 years, 10 months ago
If an 80 year old Perry the best we can do- we are doomed!
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
He is sure "outwitting" the DNA and PLP. . .now if ya ask me. . .if he is dimwitted. . .that make both parties "dimmerwitted". . .because he sure make azzes out of all yinna politicians so!! He is now heading to be seen internationally as the most honest, non-political and progressive PM the Bahamas has ever had. Me personally I am waiting to see the reality of FOA and MP recall legislation and he would have made if there in my mind. Self-interested politician retards like you will never be able to turn back the hands of time. Non-political politicians are good for change. . .but when they become "soiled dolls" dishonest politicians like you portray. . .corruption is the order of the day! When doc "get smart" as a politician. . .he too must go. . .
DDK 5 years, 10 months ago
The Free National Movement’s Centreville Constituency Association is being STUPID, and like many of their 'senior" MP's, very arrogantly short-sighted.
"“There is a disconnect between Mr Chipman and the association. He feels he could make decisions without informing us. Right now, we can’t support anybody we have such a disconnect with and who makes decisions for personal reasons.” Now THAT is rich!
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
Oh blind fools and deaf. . .now that the information coming out shows that your hero is no hero but a "self-interested spoil doll" politicians that led ya politically naive hip down his "garden path" you want to row out everybody who don't go along with you and ya bouy!! Them fellas seem soft and spoiled men who want the "big job" or "he will not play with yinna". . .
bogart 5 years, 10 months ago
Query.....so if there.... IS..... a FNM Constituency Association of Centerville that the FNM MP Representative must consult with before voting in Parliament..... .....shouldnt there also be a PLP Constitutiemcy Association for Centerville ??? ......And....if there isnt one..what happens to the voices...needs...concerns of the known PLP constituents ???....or that of any other non FNM constituents in the Constituency..???. Apart fron the FNM Constituency Association isnt there a Centerville Constituency Office paid for by the taxpayers.???.....so is the Constituency Association above the Constituency Office ???
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
You are right on most. . .there are both CA for the area. . .ALWAYS. . .they are the Board of the constituency. . .the CA President is the Chairman for the party in that area!! The Association is the party's hand in the constituency. . .NOT THE MP. . .they run the constituency and invite the minister in when they need him. Counsel Rep is the person who runs between the party HQ and the CA! The minister is nothing in them areas. . .he don't even win no election in them areas. . .CA win elections for ministers/MPs.
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 10 months ago
These constituency associations just need to go away, they acting like they own somebody. I'm 100% confident that their members were but a small fraction of the people who voted for Chipman, this was PLP country for 40 years, Remember they was only mad at Perry now they mad at you.
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
Wrong again. . . they are the whip for the party in the area. . .rally up the people and even those who are PLP and swing voters. . . MPs do very little to get themselves elected. . .CA and party campaigns do the trick for them. . .some of them don't live or hang out in those areas. . .the CA members all do!! PGC had one of the best and strongest CA in this nation for a very long time!
bogart 5 years, 10 months ago
What seems to have emerged ...is that there is the interest of the political party to be served absolutely....and....the interest of the constituents voters. latter..without whom one would not be absolutely elected Who do the constituents voters elect ........party or person..?? Do voters vote person out or vote a party out instead ??.
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
Parties are elected. . .CA pick candidates. . .CA do the work and get their man elected. . .they are funded, do the work for him and run his campaign. . .then get him elected! He/she is only the "face" of the CA . . . then they go on their own and doing fool. . .without his/her war council. . .that man is out of order!!
Truism 5 years, 10 months ago
These are the same people who caused all the out houses to disappear from the consistency in less than 360 days. They're spot on. Chipman needs to go. It was the association that won this seat. We just need to determine which member is gonna be the MP.
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 10 months ago
Lol, I'd like to see the force a by election in Farm Road. Lol. Actually it might be a good thing to bring them back to the reality on the ground. People are not pleased with the FNM right now
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
MPs who ride a party "wagon" to election victory and then refused to "tow" party rules and regulations do not seem to be a moral hero. . .that is a political parasite. . .they are lost. . .well except Travis I think. . .but if he go into the PLP. . .it is over for him. . .they eat their young over there!!!
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