By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie said yesterday the country had “reached the level of sophistication” that warrants public debates among persons vying for public office, hinting that he would be open to such a move.
He spoke during the launch of the Inter-American Development Bank’s Vision 2040 two-day seminar.
The Centreville MP said political leaders should be mandated to demonstrate whether they have the capacity to manage a country.
Mr Christie said: “So you find that it is difficult to get whoever is the leader of the opposition to stand on the same platform as me and then openly discuss and debate where we are going.
“It has been difficult, has not been a part of our culture and the country has not seen it necessary to bring that about,” he added.
During a 2015 speech at the College of the Bahamas’ School of Journalism, Mr Christie implored students present to challenge him, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and DNA Leader Branville McCartney to a public debate to determine who of the three has a better grasp on national issues.
“Bring Minnis here, bring Branville here, Christie here and say ‘tell us what you believe in,’ and make your judgment. Ask questions, see who has a command of the country, who understands where the country ought to be going and who could speak to those issues,” Mr Christie said at the time.
The challenge was subsequently accepted by Mr McCartney who offered to also sponsor the event.
However, Dr Minnis rejected the challenge.
At the time, the FNM Leader said he had “no interest” in a public debate between the political leaders, contending that he was “by far more interested in” beating Mr Christie in a general election.
“My answer to that challenge remains the same, we have an ineffective CEO running our country. I am by far more interested in removing him than a debate,” said Dr Minnis.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 9 months ago
Minnis is not only grossly incompetent and unable to think quickly while standing on his own two feet, as we all now know, but here we see (as if things weren't bad enough) that he is also a lowly coward too! Christie knows only too well that Minnis is incapable of chewing gum and walking at the same time!! Gotta love the fact that Christie is now poking his finger in the eye of each and every senior council member of the FNM party. Yes indeed, Minnis has for quite sometime now been the laughingstock of all PLP members of parliament and the entire leadership apparatus of the PLP party. But the cowardly incompetent Minnis has no shame and seems quite happy to destroy the FNM party for all time to come. What a joke this has all become because of the stubbornly obstinate power hungry Minnis who refuses to recognize his serious shortcomings and limitations in life.
realfreethinker 7 years, 9 months ago
The country will pay a heavy price We have a clown running the country,and an deputy clown trying to get in. what a time.
TruePeople 7 years, 9 months ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eMn_...">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eMn_...
Economist 7 years, 9 months ago
He must be counting on Minnis to beat LBT.
Sickened 7 years, 9 months ago
Instead of a debate, what they need to have is a grenade throwing match in the house of assembly.
TruePeople 7 years, 9 months ago
yes bey, i agree, we can even let them use the new Chinese grenade launchers
The_Oracle 7 years, 9 months ago
A debate is all well and fine, but what is really needed are answers to all the serious allegations of misconduct, pilfering, kickbacks, cronyism, malfeasance, and gross ineptitude. Oh, I forgot, answers to the level of Chinese infiltration/purchase of M.P.'s alongside the Numbers bosses. A debate would only be a platform to wax eloquent and baffle with B.S.
SP 7 years, 9 months ago
................ No debate needed - Christie's actions and track record says it all ...............
Obviously any jackass could "talk" and "flam" as proven innumerable times by Christie for decades! His track record dictates that he is big on talking and short on keeping his word.
"We Believe In Bahamians" & "Bahamians First" was his daily mantra before 2012 elections. People fell for it hook, line and sinker! No one has heard those slogans from Christie ever since!
No thanks Christie, you couldn't dazzle us with brilliance, were not about to allow you to "rope a dope" and baffle us with bullshit!
licks2 7 years, 9 months ago
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO................the last I heard LBT is running for leadership in the FNM party. . .she debating PM Christie will put a feather in her cap. . .one that doc roc can't get. . .the PM will rip him to peanut better and jelly! So encourage your person to debate the PM! Since she can beat doc roc. . .you will agree. . .then let her take on the PM!!
Publius 7 years, 9 months ago
Ofcourse he is open to it. He expects Minnis to win and knows that he would annihilate Minnis in a debate - and indeed he would. If he thought he would have a more worthy opponent in such a forum, he would wax eloquently on how such a forum would be unnecessary at this time.
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