Prime Minister Perry Christie at Thursday night's meeting.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rolle@tribunemedia.net
BY encouraging the PLP not to suspend Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins, Prime Minister Perry Christie did “the right thing,” former PLP cabinet minister George Smith said yesterday.
He was speaking days after the party’s National General Council unanimously decided not to implement a recommendation from its disciplinary committee to suspend Dr Rollins for six months following an intervention by Mr Christie.
“(Mr Christie) did the right thing, but that’s all he could have done because it would have looked terrible (if he hadn’t done so),” Mr Smith said.
“He did what was right and I never thought the matter should have risen to the level and got the attention it got to begin with. What are you going to do? Discipline a (man) because he said something?”
Mr Smith said while Dr Rollins’ scathing criticism of Mr Christie last year was in “bad taste,” it had no impact on the party and did not harm the party’s interests.
Mr Smith said Mr Christie requested that Dr Rollins not be suspended because he recognises that there are more serious issues facing the country including crime, infrastructure challenges and economic growth.
“I’m sure the prime minister really doesn’t want for us to get involved in disciplining members in the face of the major issues this country is facing.
“It should be the priority of every person to join with the government to explore every possible avenue towards growing our economy and I think that is what the prime minister is occupied with. I think that’s why he decided to deal with the member whose only crime was doing something that was in bad taste, but who did nothing that rose to the level of harming the party.”
As for the impact of Dr Rollins’ criticism, which made headlines last year, Mr Smith said: “No one was motivated to stop being a PLP because of his speech. You think he has the kind of clout in this country or any politician for that matter, to cause people to change their position? I don’t.”
“I had an occasion to meet Rollins at a coffee shop recently. I think I told him along with others there that what was unfortunate wasn’t what he did, but the kind of language he used.
“He expressed opinions that there are major issues we ought to be talking about and for that he deserves credit, but then he went ahead and made personal criticism of the prime minister, about his tendency to quote scriptures. Now Rollins may have differed from Christie but expressed himself in bad taste and used some indelicate words and particularly, he did it in the House of Assembly. One can’t complain about how one talks then use language that is equally offensive to some.”
He added: “I never thought the man ought to be sanctioned.”
On Thursday, after a three-month-long disciplinary process, the party’s National General Council unanimously decided that it would not accept the recommendation put forth by its disciplinary committee.
Mr Christie told media outside the party’s headquarters that he asked members to demonstrate their support in his leadership by accepting his recommendation to let the matter rest.
He said it was now up to Dr Rollins to demonstrate his character, and whether he supported the PLP.
“I wanted people to know my own philosophy when it comes to governance of a political organisation,” he said, “and when it comes to the Progressive Liberal Party that had in its own past denied me a nomination, invited me back in, made me a cabinet minister, and enabled me to become leader of the party and prime minister, that party has historically demonstrated in my case a level of understanding and maturity.
“I told them from a political personal philosophical point of view, I have always been someone who has argued that a party must have a revolving door, that people have the right to flow in and flow out, and that we are going to protect the discipline of the party in a sense that we are not going to allow flagrant breaches of the party,” Mr Christie said.
Comments
TalRussell 9 years, 3 months ago
Comrade PM and Dr. Andre, I hope you will be charitable not take Georgie's comments personally, cuz it ain't about you two, it’s About him. I think most Tribune blog followers done knows when Georgie posts he sweet comments, it is really meant to initiate negativity against those he mentions. I honestly believe, could be more of a reflection upon how he was fired as a PLP? Take note PM and Dr. Andre, you two just happen to be the target today's blog. It's just Georgie's sweet way deal with that long lingering internal 'ping re sent men.' he still holds onto from his Pindling days. Understandably so, t'was no easy task get fired by Pindling. Most would agree you had to have become a noticeable, serious problem Pindling fire ya?
ted4bz 9 years, 3 months ago
POLITICAL DOMINANCE OF THIS COUNTRY This country is dominated by political decisions in every area. In all truth, I don't see a shift of this country heading in any other direction unless we get the necessary hands onboard.
Most of the complaints are coming from the middle class and small people with very little or no influence. Until the necessary individuals join in to shift this country away from the direction it is now, then it's business as usual.
We need individuals with public and wealth influence onboard including professional individuals in every area in this country that can affect and influence rules and change where it is necessary.
Changing from party to party including to the DNA under the status quo will do very little if any change at all to change the POLITICAL DOMINANCE THAT POLITICIANS EXERCISE IN THIS COUNTRY.
In closing, while some are willing to give politicians the benefit of the doubt most of us have reached our limits and no longer support the idea that the decision they are making for this country is one which yields the best and necessary results that most of the Bahamian people can find comfort, safety and satisfaction in.
realfreethinker 9 years, 3 months ago
Where do they find these decrepit pieces of crap. georgie is irrelevant and should be banished to the scrap heap of has beings. Where did the BMW come from
duppyVAT 9 years, 3 months ago
George Smith should go and repent of what he did backprior to the 1984 Commission of Inquiry and find a rock hole and hide ................. no credibility
Honestman 9 years, 3 months ago
Why does the Tribune give George Smith the time of day? He is a political irrelevance.
TalRussell 9 years, 3 months ago
Comrade don't you know why? Georgie tis Tribune's Hub Cap's cartoon and Sister Sharon Turner's 'propaganda' red rag column's replacements. I sure miss them two but more so Sis Sharon.
SP 9 years, 3 months ago
Thank you Dr. Andre Rollins for your service to country and selfless determination to fearlessly stand for that what is simply.........RIGHT!
Dr. Andre Rollins has single handedly caused positive change in the PLP and Bahamian politics in general. Dr. Rollins has proven beyond any doubt that there is nothing to fear but fear itself. And demanding justice, accountability, honesty and good leadership is what "REPRESENTING THE ELECTORATE" should be all about.
Dr. Rollins has significantly raised the bar on the floor of the House Of Assembly and will be remembered in history as the M.P. that dared to stand alone in doing the right thing for the good of the electorate and country. Dr. Myles Munroe would have been beaming with great ebullient pride and smiling broadly if he could have witnessed this strong, principled new leader take on the established political status quo all alone, and succeed in opening the door for other right minded politicians to fearlessly step up to the plate and say and do what needs to be said and done to finally move or country Forward, Upward, Onward, Together. A new day has unquestionably dawned.
We have undeniably turned a "quantitative" corner !
Please limp back to your tomb and STFU George Smith!
licks2 9 years, 3 months ago
Rollins, Moss, Gomez and Pinder them have open the dawn of new days in Bahamian politics. . .they will not toe the line behind a failed leader. . .shucking and jiving through the parliament!! Too bad Wells proved to be just another jive azz politician! But, yes, the day is new in Bahamian politics. . .we will not longer fish, cut bait or get outta the boat!! They throwing the dumb captian outta the boat these days!!!
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