The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie defended his integrity yesterday against Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins’ recent attacks, but also highlighted the dentist’s resignation from the governing party as a symbol of this country’s “dynamic democracy.”

Mr Christie diverged from his prepared speech about the launch of the government’s National Development Plan to refer to Wednesday night’s drama in the House of Assembly.

The launch will involve a two-day workshop that will conclude today.

“There are some of us who left the House of Assembly just before 5am this morning,” Mr Christie said before an audience at the College of the Bahamas. “To the extent that that indicates we have a vibrant and dynamic democracy given the manifestations that occurred during the course of the evening, one would know that we live in wonderful times when there is a full and free expression.”

Thirty minutes later, while talking about the importance of integrity in public life, Mr Christie’s tone on the controversy shifted. He said that contrary to Dr Rollins’ suggestions Wednesday night, he had no ulterior motive in supporting a move by Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis to abruptly end the budget debate because he had to address important national issues like the ongoing impasse at Baha Mar.

He said: “Last night, one of the young members of the political directorate who is staking a claim for himself, thought my participation was contradictory and was including himself to challenge my integrity because I had (earlier) indicated that I was ready to sum up the debate on the following day, that was today (Thursday). But in the process of the debate I was in communication with the Export-Import Bank in China, sitting in the back of where I normally sit where very important communications about the Baha Mar development were taking place. The exigencies of that then led me to say to my colleagues I might not be able to (participate in the debate) because we are talking about an extraordinary impact in our country.”

“People make judgments in a democracy and one has to accept that those in authority who make judgments are empowered to do so even though you question and challenge those judgments. But integrity in public life is what you guard. So say what you like about me. For 41 years, I have been here. I want to protect it because I’m in the twilight of my political career and I have children and now one of them got a child and I owe something to them.”

Dr Rollins resigned from the PLP Wednesday night, declaring that it was apparent the PLP no longer wanted him in the party.