The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie has dismissed Marco City MP Greg Moss’ recent criticism of his government, telling reporters that he has no interest in the outspoken parliamentarian’s “personal views”.

Mr Christie said Mr Moss should inform him about his concerns privately, in accordance with internal party policies.

Mr Christie made the comments days after Mr Moss criticised the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) on various issues, including the new immigration policy, bills relating to the proposed constitutional referendum and the recommendation by a PLP disciplinary committee to suspend Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins for six months following his scathing rebuke last year of Mr Christie and his administration.

Last week, Mr Moss also told The Tribune he would run in the next general

election for Marco City, whether he is given a nomination by the PLP or not.

On Dr Rollins, Mr Christie declined to directly express his thoughts on the suspension recommendation but encouraged reporters to consider his position based on his political philosophy and history.

“Greg Moss is my friend,” Mr Christie told reporters on Wednesday. “Greg Moss and I have had a relationship where we talk to each other. He has not spoken to me on any of these issues. He has elected to publicly present his views. He knows as much as I do, that he can do it another way, but he is free to do what he wants to do. I’ve said over and over, you either meet the requirements of the party by dealing with it like other people do or you go and you deal with it in a way that you feel is best for the people you represent. If that does not conform with what the party expects then Greg Moss, like he says, I heard that he said he’s going to run in Marco City, it doesn’t matter what he runs as, and so that’s true too. I said that once too you know.

“ . . .So listen, he could do those things,” he added. “I have no interest in his personal views. None. All I would want is for this: for my friend to be able to say to me, ‘prime minister, this is my position.’ That’s all. The point is I have been in public life for a long time and I know how these things work and I know the outcome.”

As for his thoughts on the recommendation that Dr Rollins be suspended for six months, he said: “As a party, there’s a process.

“The process concludes with a recommendation being made to the Leadership Council. The Leadership Council is chaired by me. When that is done, the process will be complete and if I have influence I will use my influence. If I don’t have influence, my influence won’t amount to anything, but there will be a result. And that result will be final. Now, I don’t want to (comment) on it without people making a report to me other than to say, just look at my own history and you determine, philosophically, how I think.

“I brought Andre into politics. All I wanted Andre to do to is to say ‘prime minister this my view. I don’t believe in you, I believe in you, or I support you in this,’ just say it, that’s all I want, to conform with the requirements of an organisation. You’re intelligent, you’re educated, you’re good looking, you got everything going for you in public life, you’re going to be there long after I’m gone in public life, I mean hopefully that’s your intention, so it’s just a question of being able to do things in a way that I think accords to party politics.”

When asked if he believes he has lived up to his stated goal of empowering a new generation of politicians, Mr Christie said: “There are points where you could say you didn’t do this or you didn’t do that and I may agree. It’s all work in progress.”