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PM says Minnis not ready to contest election

Prime Minister Perry Christie

Prime Minister Perry Christie

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday blasted FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis over his inability to contest an early general election.

Mr Christie described Dr Minnis’ recent calls for Cabinet to resign as “silly little interventions”, adding that the entire country knew that the opposition leader was not ready.

“Never ask for something in politics that you can’t handle,” Mr Christie said, “(Dr Minnis) does not have the capacity at this stage to even dream of something like that – that’s the first thing, that’s just a political response by me.”

He said: “Our commitment to govern has been mandated by the people of this country. We are not going to be distracted by silly little interventions from the Leader of the Opposition who is looking for newspaper space, and obviously he is able to get it, God bless him.

“(Dr Minnis) can do that for the next several years as we continue to govern. I will read what he has to say. If you ask me to comment on it, I will comment on what he has to say, but he knows when he says it he’s not ready for it.

Mr Christie added: “It was just in a vacuum, it’s a silly statement to make because everybody in the Bahamas knows he’s not ready for it.

Mr Christie responded to the Opposition leader’s appeal for a general election to be called, at a UNESCO meeting on underwater cultural heritage yesterday.

Earlier this week, Dr Minnis said the Christie administration has a track record of “poor judgment” and is “incapable” of governing the country.

Dr Minnis again criticised the government’s plans to ignore the 2013 gambling referendum and go ahead with the regulation of webshops.

Yesterday, Mr Christie said his government would not be distracted from its mandate, of which they had “covered a lot of ground”.

“We intend to carry out what we were elected to do,” he said, “the economy, we were elected to cause there to be a resurgence in the economy. We are on our way to doing that, I am very optimistic.”

Mr Christie said: “Bahamians will see, feel and touch the improvements that will be taking place in the economy with respect to crime. We are clearly committed toward working and working and working, and putting our hands around the situation of crime because it doesn’t help our economy and it doesn’t help any of the people who are involved in it, and so we have a multi-faceted approach and we are not dismayed.

He added: “We are continuing with resolute commitment to bringing crime under control.”

Comments

DillyTree 10 years, 5 months ago

LOL! I'd buy from the FMN lemonade stand before buying from the current clowns. That said, this is just another lame effort of PGC to avoid dealing with the real issues at hand. The FNM (or any other party than the PLP) will be ready to govern in 3 long years -- if there's anything left to govern after the current clowns get done.

birdiestrachan 10 years, 5 months ago

It is the FNM who sold out and left the country. in deep debt It is the FNM Government who coin the phase "Bahamians need not apply" they sold BTC and cable Bahamas .They passed the DOG bill and never passed the disability bill. which is all about human beings. They put the animals before human beings. These are facts that can not be denied. The FNM UBP party is lucky , because the media supports them and allow their miss deeds to slide on by.

birdiestrachan 10 years, 5 months ago

IT IS true Minnis is not ready for an election let common sense prevail, He is afraid to have a convention. Sands and Butler both would like to leaders.. He is not secure in his position., and he should know that. but Minnis being Minnis he may not know. I doubt if he has many people who like him.

sheeprunner12 10 years, 5 months ago

Birdie .......... I'll bet you a Pindling ............... HAM is capable of doing a better PM job than PGC if given a chance ............... just look at their private sector careers as an example

sheeprunner12 10 years, 5 months ago

Constitutional reform?????????????, Webshop gambling?????????, Landfill dump?????????? University of The Bahamas???????, Bahamar???????????, Carnival????????? Oil company drilling??????????, Illegal immigrant regularisation??????? BTC 2% control?????? UR2.0???????????? BAMSI????????????? New Parliament??????? Shanty towns??????????? Stem cell tourism??????????? Swift Justice??????? Low crime?????? VAT???????? Defence Force upgrades??????? Double education budget?????? etc, etc, etc, etc, etc,

NOW THIS?????????????? PERRY YOU GOOD AT STARTING BUT NOT FINISHING. GIVE SOMEONE ELSE A CHANCE TO FINISH YOUR PROJECTS............. SMDH

licks2 10 years, 5 months ago

Perry right naw. . .perry may be stupid when it comes ta running a counntry. . .but bouy can he run an election party!! Like cornbread you could just hear him just a bamin and er bamin. . .all over HM head!! I guess HM dem will bring back they BIG PAPPA fer PC tail huh? Perry even een know where fred mitchell is right naw. . .but he gat HM number right here! Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. . .I can't laugh!

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