Wells predicts Rollins would beat Butler-Turner in Long Is.

Mon, Sep 19th 2016, 10:00 AM

Former Cabinet Minister Tennyson Wells said if Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins runs as an independent in Long Island in the next general election against Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, and whomever the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) puts forward, Rollins would win "big time".

Butler-Turner was ratified on Thursday night along with former Deputy Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames for Mount Moriah, businessman Walt Saunders for MICAL and former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Chairman Mark Humes for Fort Charlotte.

"I know the people who I talk to down there, the influences that they have there and the history that they have had politically," Wells told The Nassau Guardian when contacted for comment.

"Even when Larry [Cartwright] ran and beat Jimmy [Knowles], these would be the same people... who would be supporting a person like Rollins.

"And Rollins, the support that Jimmy got, right, Rollins will get that now because his family is very much involved in the Mangrove Bush area.

"All those [people] are his aunties, his cousins ... all of them are his family.

"... Many of the people in lower Deadman's Cay, they are his family.

"... From Grays in the north, to Hamilton's in the south, that is about 50 percent of the island's vote or more, and his family, all those persons are his cousins, uncles and aunties - many of them - grand uncles and grant aunties.

"... You know what that means."

After a letter -- which claimed that a number of Long Island FNM constituency generals pledged to refuse to support the Long Island MP if she secures the party's nomination -- was reportedly submitted to the Free National Movement Candidates Committee, FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis declared that Butler-Turner will run in that constituency with the full support of residents and the FNM.

The letter submitted to the committee stated: "Mrs. Butler-Turner has demonstrated that she is not prepared to follow, she must lead. She is divisive, is unable to abide by and respect our democratic principles."

There were no names attached to the letter.

Wells said if Butler-Turner wanted to run in the next general election, she would have been better suited to run in another constituency, given the supposed dissatisfaction of some constituency officers.

Wells recently asserted that, even if party members show their support, he still foresees Butler-Turner losing her seat by a landslide.

He called for the FNM Candidates Committee to go to Long Island and launch an investigation into why those constituency generals reportedly pledged to refuse to support their MP.

The FNM caucus is expected to announce Butler-Turner to residents on Long Island today.

Wells predicted that her support, or lack thereof, will be demonstrated when that happens.

Royston Jones Jr., Guardian Staff Reporter

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