The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE his “undoubted loyalty” to Prime Minister Perry Christie, MICAL MP V Alfred Gray said he can see himself supporting “any one” of his Cabinet colleagues mentioned in recent weeks as potential successors to Mr Christie.

The embattled minister of agriculture and marine resources said that Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell and Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald are all “great men,” who are “fit and ready for leadership”.

Both Mr Wilchcombe and Mr Davis have gone public with their leadership aspirations, contingent on whether Mr Christie steps aside, while PLP insiders have endorsed Mr Mitchell and Mr Fitzgerald as possible contenders.

Mr Gray added: “Personally, I don’t think anyone would contest the leadership position as long as (Mr Christie) is there.

“I can see myself supporting any of those men that have stepped forward; they are all good men and have a lot to offer to the Bahamas. All are great men and would do well in the post of leader.”

On Monday, Mr Christie told ZNS that despite his “energy and the ability to continue with new ideas,” the final decision on him remaining leader of the PLP ahead of the 2017 general election is up to the party.

“Everyone is saying that this is the time when I have to indicate what I want to do,” Mr Christie said.

He added: “We have a deep bench and the one thing that I am satisfied with is that there are any number of persons with the capacity to replace me and continue effectively in the governance of our country.”

“At the end of the day, the decision will be one made by the PLP family and one made by me. I would only want to stay there period, full stop, if it was with the full support of colleagues because I am a part of them and that means I am a part of their future as well.

“We don’t have to be acrimonious and adversarial in this, we have to be very calm and considered and take into consideration the best interests of the people of the country.”

When asked by The Tribune yesterday if he would pursue any of the party’s leadership posts at convention later this year, Mr Gray said: “I have no interest in any post at this time.”

He added: “I am not saying that in the future I wouldn’t go after one, but as we speak, at this time I have no interest. I am supporting Mr Christie until he leaves that post.”

Mr Gray, responding to questions about his plans for the 2017 general election, confirmed that he would again seek the party’s nomination for the MICAL constituency.

“I will run in MICAL because those are my people, those are the people I work for. I will run to keep the FNM out,” he said.

Earlier this year, Mr Gray was accused by the Free National Movement of judicial interference in connection with a court matter in his constituency. However, he has strongly denied those claims.

Mr Christie, 71, has held public office for 40 years and has won eight consecutive elections as a member of Parliament. He is currently serving his second, non-consecutive term as prime minister.

In January, he had said that it would take a compelling reason for him to lead his party into the next general election, adding that he told his family the 2012 campaign would be his last.

The PLP’s next convention is scheduled for the last week in October.