Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Hubert Minnis has appointed Dr. Duane Sands as the replacement of former Senator Lanisha Rolle after her resignation from the Senate on Friday.
Ms. Rolle resigned last Friday after attributing her resignation to personal matters and being unable to fulfil her duties.
“I am honoured today to appoint Dr. Duane E. L. Sands to the Senate. He brings with him the knowledge and character that will help the FNM and me to layout a clear plan for the future of The Bahamas. A cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, Dr. Sands brings with him a long and distinguished career in medicine and I know that he will serve the Bahamian people with great honour. I congratulate Dr. Sands and his family,” Dr. Minnis said.
“I respect Senator Roll’s decision to step down today from the Senate. She has served the people of The Bahamas with great pride and I look forward to working with her in the future.”
Last Thursday several members of the Free National Movement (FNM) called for the removal of the former senator highlighting that Dr. Minnis’ decision to appoint her as a senator downplays his leadership skills.
Ms. Rolle was involved in a controversy earlier this year in January after calling into 96.9FM talk show “The Conversation” show and criticising Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner stating that citizens would never vote for her as a prime minister and suggested that she “humble” herself.
She also added that members of the FNM were jealous of the opposition leader.
Ms. Rolle refused to apologize for sometime and not until March did she apologize for her comments.
Chairman of the Progressive of The Liberal Party (PLP) Bradley Roberts took this opportunity to label the senator’s departure as a signal for a “deepening divide and growing unrest” within the party.
“One of Minnis’ primary obligations, responsibilities and mandates as party leader is to build the next generation of political leaders who Bahamians can repose their confidence in to lead this country and he is failing to fulfill that fundamental mandate,” Mr. Roberts said.
“Just this week in the press a member of Minnis’ caucus reportedly said that Mrs. Rolle’s senate appointment only underscored Dr. Minnis’ “poor judgment and leadership capability.” Now with literally thousands of Bahamians watching and deciding on who is best suited to lead this country, they cannot help but conclude that if Dr. Minnis is struggling with leading a political party then how can he possibly hope to lead a country given the myriad of challenges facing The Bahamas?”
Dr. Sands was recently ratified as a candidate for Elizabeth for the FNM in the upcoming election.
The former Deputy Chairman of the FNM also served as a senator in the last Ingraham administration, however he unsuccessfully ran for the FNM’s deputy post at the party’s convention in 2014.
