Dr. Andre Rollins' relationship with his party is becoming more chilled and strained with each contribution he makes in the House of Assembly.
Anytime the Fort Charlotte MP gets up to speak, there is now an expectation that he will lash out at the Progressive Liberal Party and dig his claws deeper into the back of the leadership.
Last week was no exception.
While contributing to debate on the Gaming Bill, Rollins highlighted the government's "hypocrisy" and said the gaming issue will be "enough to cause it to be fired at the next general election".
He also said the government's explanation on why it chose to ignore the results of the 2013 gambling referendum lacks merit.
No one should be shocked any more by Rollins' harsh criticisms of the PLP and the Christie administration.
He has accepted, it seems, that he will not get another PLP nomination.
Rollins told us he is not concerned about getting re-elected.
"You deny me a nomination all you want, but at the end of the day, I don't get my power or my motivation from those individuals who have the power to offer a nomination because, ultimately, if the people want you, they're going to accept you no matter what label you fall under, whether it's independent, whether it's PLP, whether it's FNM or any other party."
Despite the fallout he is facing within his party, Rollins appears to be taking seriously his role as a backbencher.
The backbench's responsibility is to help keep the government focused on what is deemed to be the party's sacred philosophies and policies in government.
It is obvious he recognizes that the backbench is intended to be that opposition in a party to get the government to focus on doing things differently, if it is making decisions that would negatively reflect on the government or the party and damage the party's popularity in the country.
Indeed, it is not abnormal in the parliamentary system for there to be members on the backbench who may hold views that differ from the views expressed by the cabinet.
A strong backbench ought to be the staple of a democracy, the party's voice of conscience in Parliament.
One political observer opined that if Rollins' outspokenness is going to foster a culture within the Parliament, particularly on the government side, of having a strong, vocal backbench, that could only add to the further evolution and strengthening of our democracy.
The test will likely come at the time of his re-nomination.
The party would have to recognize and accept that what Rollins is doing is not necessarily destroying the party, but impacting how the electors see the PLP as a brand.
The PLP should not condemn Rollins, particularly since what he is saying is receiving popular support.
For that reason alone, the leadership of the party should stop and listen to what the MP has to say.
It is clear to us that Rollins understands the temperature of the country. He is man enough to articulate it.
The PLP may get an opportunity to save itself from an electoral defeat if it listens to members like Rollins, as opposed to being dismissive.
Faith
For now, Rollins is adamant he will not leave the PLP, despite strong internal calls for the party to take action against him.
When he joined the PLP in 2011, Rollins, former chairman of the National Development Party, said, "Just as I believe in our nation's potential for greatness, despite our present shortcomings, I am also confident that, notwithstanding the PLP's imperfections, this groundbreaking party still possesses the capacity for change."
On Friday, he told The Nassau Guardian he still has faith in the PLP.
"The PLP is where I am," he said.
"I believe the PLP has the capacity to effect change. If I see things happening that I don't agree [with] and I don't support, I make it known to the public.
"It may be that I have no future in the PLP. If the PLP decides that they don't want me, I cannot force myself on the PLP.
"But I'm not about looking for political cover or trying to do what is politically expedient in the hope that I would be re-elected as some would suggest.
"But I don't have time to suffer fools. If you are doing nonsense, I will say so, and if you have a problem with me speaking my mind because I am echoing what the Bahamian people are saying and feeling, tough.
"And if that means you have no place for me, so be it, but I hope you understand that just because you have some in the party who want nothing to do with me, that should not mean that I should be out there finding out who does in fact want me.
"I can't do that, and I haven't met with any other political party or parties. I can assure you of that."
In some respects, Rollins is echoing what many people are thinking.
There are tremendous frustrations and uncertainties faced by the electorate, the prime minister's repeated expression of optimism notwithstanding.
There are widespread concerns about the impact value-added tax will have after it is introduced in January.
As it approaches the midpoint of its term, much of what the Christie administration led voters to believe would happen in the near term has not yet materialized.
While there will always be those who remain faithful to the PLP and its message, many have lost faith in this administration.
Rollins' critical view of the government is in some respects a reflection of what these people are thinking and feeling.
Within the PLP, Rollins is no doubt experiencing great tension.
After he recently lashed out at Prime Minister Perry Christie and declared the country needs new leadership, there were suggestions made by many PLPs that the MP should address his concerns within the internal structure of the party.
Asked to respond to this, Rollins said, "I've done so, you know, and I'm very vocal internally, as vocal, if not more vocal internally than I am in the House of Assembly."
He explained, "The frustrations that I have experienced have been due to the fact that it's evident that my views and recommendations are falling on deaf ears.
"The fact of the matter is...I can only recall one meeting of the parliamentary caucus attended by the prime minister, so when the prime minister wants to hear me it's in the House of Assembly.
"I don't know why he chooses not to participate in the parliamentary caucus meetings, but if I feel as though my voice isn't being heard by my colleagues. I have a responsibility to have my voice heard in the Parliament by those who put me there, by the Bahamian people."

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