When Dr. Andre Rollins, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP for Fort Charlotte, stood up in the House of Assembly in March of last year and proclaimed that he was "absolutely 100 percent heterosexual", I thought his political career was over. That was an odd and unnecessary thing to say in a deeply homophobic country.
Rollins, who is now married, should not have felt it necessary to proclaim his manhood. He allowed opposition low blows to get to him. He showed he could be easily rattled.
Three months later, the deputy leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), Loretta Butler-Turner, slapped Rollins in that same House. He said something she thought deeply offensive and the Long Island MP took a swing that connected. It was a blow the whole country was talking about.
At this point, Rollins was about as low as a politician could go. His one term in frontline politics seemed like it would end with him being the joke of Parliament.
Things have changed, however.
Rollins has emerged as the leader of the backbench. He has also become the most articulate critic of his PLP and its leader, Prime Minister Perry Christie.
Crossing the line
In the months following, Rollins spoke up against what he thought were the errors in the PLP's tax policy with value-added tax (VAT). He spoke up against discrimination in the party's gaming policy. He challenged the party's leadership over its criticisms of young MPs who break away from the PLP's line. He asked if his party was living up to its 2012 election promise to "Believe in Bahamians".
Things started to get heated in August when Rollins opposed some of the constitutional reform legislation on gender equality. He went head to head with Christie at several points, not backing down from his leader, who is also the longest-serving member in our legislature.
Things were tense. And it all came to an end in the House of Assembly with a few words.
"The political threats uttered by the prime minister and minister of finance this morning left me with one impression, and that is we need new political leadership in The Bahamas," said Rollins while contributing to debate on the VAT Bill on August 20.
"When a leader and minister of finance, and prime minister, could take a debate as important and critical to the pockets and wallets of the Bahamian people, a debate as critical as that, where he could spend most of his contribution threatening members of this side, it is evidence that we need new leadership."
Rollins even ridiculed Christie's speaking style.
"I know that a lot of people will be angry at me for saying this, but I will say it," he said.
"The prime minister's statement earlier today, and he consistently refers to Psalm 103 where he says, 'Our lives are like grass', etc.
"We have heard it a million times now, and quite frankly I am tired of hearing it. The reason I am tired of hearing it is [because] when I want to hear scripture read repeatedly, I go to church."
In our political system an elected member of a party should be expelled from caucus for attacking his leader and saying the country should be rid of him.
Backbenchers should criticize government policy. Parliamentary democracy is enhanced when this happens. What Rollins did went beyond that, however, as was noted by the deputy prime minister, Philip Brave Davis.
"It pains me to note that the member for Fort Charlotte crossed the line today," he said in the House in response to Rollins.
Davis explained his conclusion.
"He crossed the line because I think he called the prime minister's leadership into question. It's his right to do that. I will defend his right to be right or wrong. I defend that right. I defend his right to be right or wrong," he said.
"And he could do that, but he has crossed the line having questioned the leader in his motives and in fact, suggesting that he should no longer be leader. I think he has an honorable thing to do."
Rollins did not do "the honorable thing" and resign as chairman of the Gaming Board. He was fired from the post two days later.
While Christie has not moved for Rollins' expulsion from the PLP, a party he has led for nearly two decades, the Fort Charlotte MP should know there is no chance he will get another nomination from that party to run again under its banner.
Rollins should make a strategic decision now to hitch his wagon with the political movement of his future. He's done in the PLP.
An articulate critic of the prime minister
Outside of the PLP, there's the Free National Movement (FNM) and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA). The FNM is the official opposition with eight elected members. The DNA has no seats in the House, but it won 8.5 percent of the vote at the last election.
Let's start with the FNM.
Dr. Hubert Minnis is the party's embattled leader. He is not charismatic. He's not the best speaker. His recent repetition of the phrase "a quagmire of web" in Parliament is all the proof you'd need of that.
Minnis will have to defend his leadership next year. Butler-Turner will likely be his most serious challenger. The winner of that race should take the party - barring another surprise leadership change - into the next general election.
Rollins, who is 38 years old, wants to be leader. He wants to be prime minister. If he joined the FNM, he and Theo Neilly, the North Eleuthera MP, would be the party's only 30-somethings elected to the legislature.
Rollins is smart. He is a good speaker. He is passionate. With some discipline, learning to be a team player and building alliances among the party's elite, the Fort Charlotte MP would have a chance to pursue his dream on that side. There is, of course, no guarantee he would ever come close to leadership in the FNM. But, he'd be able to try at least in a place with deep roots and an extensive base.
Now, let's look at the DNA.
Branville McCartney, the DNA's leader, needs to build momentum. His party has stalled from where it ended at the 2012 general election.
If Rollins joined the DNA, he would automatically be the party's leader in the House, being its only elected member. This would boost the profiles of both sides.
The problem here is ego. McCartney views the DNA as his party. I do not think he would be able to share the spotlight with Rollins, who thinks of himself as quite special. McCartney would fear that DNA successes would be linked to Rollins and not him.
If the men could put aside their vanity, it could be a win-win.
A voice that is connecting
The Bahamas has some challenges. The crime rate is high. The unemployment rate is high. The cost of electricity is high, and the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) can't keep the lights on. Taxes are going up. Many Bahamians feel as if they can't catch a break in their own country.
Rollins' challenge to the prime minister and his party is resonating with voters. He appears courageous in being willing to stand up to a man who is more powerful.
I don't think Rollins planned the journey he is on. He appears the emotional type. When he gets stirred, he speaks and what comes out probably surprises him at times. Nonetheless, all the bluster and all the words have moved him in profile to the head of the class in his generation of politicians.
Rollins should not waste this moment. In politics, grand opportunity often only visits once. He should begin talks, if he has not already done so, with the party of his future. He should maximize his time remaining in this Parliament with his new colleagues, further sharpening his skill as a critic of the government.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian