Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis will meet with his parliamentary team and constituency associations to clear the air and ensure the party is united, FNM Chairman Michael Pintard said yesterday.

"The leader has indicated his commitment to strengthen the unity within the organization and we value all of our team members, whether they are elected officials, appointed officials or persons who are volunteering," said Pintard when called for comment.

"Our goal is not to reduce our numbers but to increase our numbers. The second commitment the leader has made is that over the course of the next several weeks, he intends to meet individually with every member of Parliament and their associations to make sure that the air is cleared on any matters that may be circulating in the media to ensure that we are on the same page in terms of what is fact and what is fiction. That will commence this week."

FNM Senator Lanisha Rolle sparked a firestorm when she called in to a Guardian 96.9 FM radio talk show on January 21 and lambasted Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and other FNM MPs. She accused the MPs of being "jealous" of Minnis and said they have been acting out of self interest. Rolle also said Butler-Turner could not beat Prime Minister Perry Christie if they go head to head in a general election.

After Minnis' appeal for FNMs to stop airing their dirty laundry in public, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant released a statement demanding a public apology from Rolle.

In a press statement on Sunday, four FNM MPs joined Grant in demanding an apology for Rolle's "unprovoked, extreme and unprofessional" attack.

When asked yesterday if Rolle will be made to give a public apology, Pintard said, "The party executive and council whose voice is more important than any individual leader in our organization has made it [known] that [they] wish for this matter to be dealt with internally."

"As you are aware, Mrs. Rolle has already apologized. One of our members of Parliament has told the general public that she has apologized to one of them and in so doing informing the public. The public is aware that she has apologized."

Untrue
Pintard stressed that reports circulating that Minnis called for the expulsion of five of the party's MPs were untrue.

"That discussion did not take place in the Executive Committee of the FNM and it is unfortunate that someone would mischaracterize a meeting in that fashion," he said. "It never arose at all."

The Executive Committee of the FNM held an emergency meeting on Monday night "to consider, among other things, the recent press statement of four MPs in contravention of the views of the Executive [Committee] and Central Council of the party". Strong voices within the meeting called for the MPs to be expelled from the party, but no such decision was made, The Guardian understands.

Pintard said the party has organs that provide a forum for every member to air concerns.

"Those forums remain available and persons are able to speak freely with the full protection of the chairman and the organs of the party," he said.

Pintard said the party intends to remain "absolutely focused on the issues that affect the Bahamian people", especially crime.

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