PM hits back at backbenchers

Prime Minister Perry Christie

As of Thursday, August 21, 2014

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DURING a stern contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday, Prime Minister Perry Christie reprimanded dissenting members of his party, admitting to being agonised by the recent public criticism of his government by members of his back bench.

He also warned that such dissent would lead to repercussions.

In a pointed reference to Marco City MP Greg Moss, who said on Tuesday that Mr Christie’s “threats” of consequences will not deter him from expressing his differences with the government, Mr Christie said PLP members who publicly express views that strongly criticize his government’s official position will face consequences.

Offended by Mr Christie’s remarks, Dr Andre Rollins called for new political leadership in the country.

Parliamentary debate on the four constitutional referendum Bills and value added tax (VAT), two of the current administration’s most important bills of its term, has often been overshadowed by heated arguments involving Mr Moss and Dr Rollins, Fort Charlotte MP, and members of their own party.

Mr Christie said he takes some of the recent criticism personally after having introduced the new members of the PLP to their constituents prior to the last general election in order to highlight the contributions they could make to the country.

“There is a personal kind of agonising for me when I see differences emerging, when I see a member who I introduced look at me and say what I’m doing is a betrayal of the people I represent,” he said, referring to Mr Moss who has said VAT violates the values of the PLP.

“I don’t give (any) right to anyone in this Parliament to attribute to me a betrayal. For 40 consecutive years I’ve been in public life in this country and there is not a possibility, no kind of idea, no kind of expression – what I do is the same that (Mr Moss) does, operate in good faith. And just as I afford to him the predicate that he is operating in good faith, so am I and so are these people, each of them elected to do the best they can in good faith.”

He added: “Yes there are mistakes maybe, yes we must correct our course, yes members should point them out, that is what governance is about. There are systems and a process by which we can fight internally, but when we come out externally to express ourselves then it’s very clear you have exhausted in your view your efforts to do what you want to do internally and so you’ve sought to do it externally. That’s your right, but it’s a lonely position and yes it’s a principled decision and you better be joking to believe there are not consequences.”

Responding to Mr Moss’ criticism of his government’s “failure” to bring compassionate pieces of legislation to address issues like mortgage relief and the rehabilitation of offenders, Mr Christie repeated a now familiar refrain: his government was given a five-year term to accomplish its goals, not two years or three.

“We didn’t say we would do it the first year or the second year or the third year,” he said. “We said we would do it in this term. All the promises aside, with respect to that, when the member for Marco City says ‘Where is the rehabilitation of the offenders amendment, where is the Mortgage Relief Programme, where is the reduction in the prime rate,’ well I’ll tell him where it is. The Mortgage Relief Programme is a commitment of this government but when the government came into power it knew it had to work with the financial agencies in this country to secure credibility and support. It has taken us longer than we wanted it. We know it’s important because every day, any member on this side must deal with constituents or other members of the public who are in dire straits because they are losing their houses. So we are going to bring that programme and we’re going to bring it this term and soon in this term.”

He continued: “With respect to the rehabilitation of the offenders amendment, we discussed it a day ago. It’s on the agenda now and it will come. We will ask members to vote for it before we break for the summer. With respect to the prime rate, no MP could get up here and say today I will reduce the prime rate of this country. It doesn’t work that way no matter how anxious you are about it, no matter how significant you think it is.”

He also criticised the opposition, painting the FNM as a party merely reinventing itself in the aftermath of Hubert Ingraham’s leadership rather than having to govern the country and face pressure over the consequences of the economic collapse which occurred during the FNM’s last term in office.

mangogirl01 10 years, 3 months ago

Well blow me down!! The PM really believes this is the Pingdomite era - Sir this is the 21st CENTURY!! No one is afraid of you and your so call consequences!! The man looked like he was going to have a heart attack but he should have and need to get heated like that with the country's crime, VAT, the so called gaming bill, the Wells fiasco (see the media and public has already gone quiet on this) and all the other serious issues facing the country. Take that same passion Sir and address the nation but no, he wasn't even present for the VAT vote - starting celebrating his 71st birthday early!!

asiseeit 10 years, 3 months ago

Mr Christie, you and your government are a FAILURE! There is more talk of the amount of CORRUPTION in your government than has been spoken since the Pindling days. Step down, bow out, be gone, you old relic of a bygone era, you are done! Christie = Fail, FACT!

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago

Don't just step down, dissolve parliament. We have worse waiting in the wings partially financed by the Kohlrautz fortune

TalRussell 10 years, 3 months ago

The PM is about to mark his70th birthday. A Happy 70th Mr. PM from the leader of the red shirts opposition who stands against Dr. Andre with you? On these very Tribune blog pages over the past weeks, this Comrade has been predicting that with all its warts a strong likelihood exists the PM may be forced to put his mandate to a test with resignations from three of his House MP's. Now, a 4th resignation may be on the arisen from within his inner cabinet circle. All PM's have be weary of how sincere his loudest cheerleaders really are? Even Minnis's cheer-leading is most unreliable. The PM is the PM so understandably colleagues knows he's still a powerful force to deal with but why in hell do the reds tolerate their joke-steer leader?

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago

I dunno Tal on either front. I suppose the only thing you can assume is people's allegiance to either the person in charge or to their belief in what that person can do for them "personally" supersedes their allegiance to the country. Either that or they simply don't like the alternatives

PKMShack 10 years, 3 months ago

@ tal still the reds fault huh? Jjust like Obama blaming bush, let the show play out without putting the opposition into this mess, unless you have proof that the reds are putting these young men up to it. Like I say to anyone PUT UP OR SHUT UP

TalRussell 10 years, 3 months ago

Comrade my post has nothing to do with blaming any individual. Play out it should and will for Minnis.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago

The only time this man gets any heat in him is when, like a child, he feels he's attacked personally. To everything else he's oblivious, his ministers stealing from BOB, the electrical corporation dragged to its knees, stealing at PHA, money laundering concerns and possible financial system crash at the feet of illegal gaming....things are soooo bad I heard yesterday a member of the Carnival commission appointed by the PM, advising the public, on NATIONAL tv to "go to Flowers" for a loan. Can you imagine that? These people think nothing of it, money is money. Corruption ingrained in the blood, this is a country tailor made for professional embezzlers, thieves and widow robbers in nice suits.

CuriousAbaconian 10 years, 3 months ago

Christie is a worthless coward, just like our MP in South Abaco. Worthless failures who are so out of touch it's sad.

TalRussell 10 years, 3 months ago

Comrade isn't it a stretch to call a man who got himself and his party elected as the government and PM of Bahamaland - twice a coward

SP 10 years, 3 months ago

Bahamians are suffering NOW Christie, TODAY! They cannot wait 5 years for relief.

Christie is totally lost. He truly believes he can do the usual duck and dodge shuffle for 4 years then flurry & half step on 2012 promises while on the 2017 campaign trail.

Ingraham tried the same foolishness in 2012 with the Freedom Of Information Act and failed.

WE THE PEOPLE didn't fall for it then and won't fall for it now!

Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 3 months ago

Christie's idiotic blunders over the past two years have now created a huge tidal wave of public discontentment that will do far more harm to the organisational structure and leadership apparatus of the PLP than Ingraham and the FNM experienced in their loss of the last general election. The stalwart councilors of the PLP need to find a new leader in a hurry, failing which we will shortly be seeing the permanent demise of the PLP as a political force in our country. Even the legacy of Ping as a pillar of the PLP cannot withstand and overcome the lamed brain dead lunacy of Christie.

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