The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Prime Minister Perry Christie’s decision to lead the PLP into the 2017 general elections at the ripe age of 73 might have been partially influenced by American geopolitics.

The USA is currently preparing to hold its presidential election this upcoming November. Democratic presidential candidates Hilary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont are both well up in age. Clinton, who is 68, will turn 69 on October 26 – a mere 13 days before November 8, the day Americans will go to the polls to choose the 44th president of the USA. Sanders is 74 and will turn 75 on September 8.

On the Republican side, front-runner Donald Trump is 69 and will turn 70 on June 14. After impressive victories in the Republican New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina primaries, Trump seems poised to clinch the Republican presidential nomination, much to the chagrin of the GOP establishment, who has thrown its collective weight behind Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

Trump has his finger on the pulse of right-wing conservatives who feel betrayed by Washington. He is currently the most popular politician in the US and is enjoying a massive groundswell of support. If either he or Clinton wins in November, they would both be 73 in November of 2020. All things considered, Americans don’t appear to be apprehensive over the ages of the Democratic and Republican front-runners.

Bear in mind that one of their greatest presidents in the person of Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president at age 69, 349 days and left the Oval Office at age 77. Americans don’t put much stock in the ages of their politicians.

What is important to them is that their politicians are competent enough to do their job. Maybe the issue of Christie’s age has been overblown by the media. Who’s to say that any of his underlings who are rumoured to be harbouring desires to succeed him would do a better job as prime minister? If Christie’s faculties are still functioning properly in 2017 and beyond, then the matter of his age is inconsequential. For Christie then, to use Ronnie Butler’s words, age ain’t nothing but a number.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport,

Grand Bahama,

February 23, 2016.