Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Michael Pintard said he is not too concerned about the "noise in the market" regarding the selection of opposition Senator Lanisha Rolle. Pintard suggested that those who were offended by Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis' choice will eventually get over it.

"There will be some who will raise questions and that is always expected when an appointment is made, but I believe that the premature concerns that may exist in some small quarters might in fact be allayed when persons can see her and hear her perform," Pintard told The Guardian. Asked specifically about members of the FNM's Women's Association's reported lack of support for the appointment, Pintard said once Rolle becomes more involved, they will come to appreciate her value.

"The Women's Association, again is getting to know Ms. Rolle, and in my view, the association is led by a remarkable woman, Mrs. Monique Gomez, also an attorney at law. "I believe that over the course of the next few weeks and months they are going to spend an increasing amount of time together, assisting the party and fleshing out its platform.

"...So, I'm not especially concerned with some of the noise in the marketplace. Whenever there is a change in status of individuals, there is going to be some vigorous discussion. But as always, the Free National Movement family will have those discussions and we will emerge stronger and more united than we were before."

Minnis advised last Wednesday that Rolle will fill the senate seat left vacant by Heather Hunt, who resigned in January after Minnis asked her to. The Guardian revealed last Monday that Minnis was considering Rolle, Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union President Nicole Martin, business woman and former FNM Fox Hill candidate Shonel Ferguson and Gomez, who is also the former FNM candidate for South Beach. Pintard said although the final decision to appoint Rolle was made by Minnis, he also consulted with party members.

"The selection of Ms. Rolle is a decision made by the leader after consultation with the parliamentary group," Pintard said. "So I think that's important to know, that the leader is increasingly involving various stratas of the party in critical decisions that are being made even when he is not constitutionally mandated to do so."

During an interview last Thursday, Rolle also addressed the women's association's lack of support for her appointment. She said she is not bothered by it because "women are very emotional".

"If you look at the election results you will find that though we have the majority of women who vote during elections, you will find that little women are elected," Rolle said. "So I understand the culture of females. We are very passionate. "We are very emotional and for the most part we like to have our way. When we don't have our way, sometimes we carry on. "I know that it is going to pass over.

"The other three persons were well qualified as well. I think we ought to give them an opportunity to heal. You know everyone is connected to someone and they have their supporters in there and I have mine." Rolle added that she believes the fact that she is new to frontline politics may be a factor in the criticisms.

"I am a part of the younger crew, under 40, so all of the older people may not know me well," she said. "But I think that our leader is interested in young people in this nation and giving us an opportunity to shine and show what we could for our country. I am honored to be a part of that team."

Also commenting on Rolle's entrance to frontline politics, Pintard said she will bring fresh ideas. "Rolle is a relatively new face in the FNM," he noted. "A call that has certainly come from many quarters in The Bahamas society is for persons with fresh ideas to be incorporated with the political organizations, and so certainly this is nothing unusual. In fact, the governing party would do well to incorporate some new energy and maybe we'll have a different direction that the country goes in." Prime Minister Perry Christie has yet to replace Senator Cheryl Bazard, who resigned from the Senate in November. Christie said on Saturday he will name a new senator in "three to for days".

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