Prime Minister Perry Christie.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
AS the Progressive Liberal Party’s November convention nears, anxiety is growing among party members and supporters over the uncertainty about who will make a leadership bid, stalwart member and former Cabinet minister George Smith admitted to The Tribune yesterday.
Mr Smith said Prime Minister Perry Christie should reveal if he intends to seek re-election by the end of this month, along with others with leadership ambitions.
He added: “It would be foolish to go to convention in November and nobody knows who running for what.”
Mr Christie, 72, has not given any clear indication of what his next move in politics will be. In January, he said it would take a “compelling, tangible” reason for him to lead his party into the next general election, adding that he told his family in the lead-up to the last general election that the 2012 campaign would be his last.
Mr Smith said: “I get the impression there is a natural anxiety from people wanting to know what to expect. People who went in convention in 2009 knew Paul Moss, Bernard Nottage or Perry Christie would come out as leader. So yes, there is anxiety. The people want to know. You have to let them know.
“I would think it is reasonable to expect the prime minister and anyone else who will contest any office to indicate well in advance what they intend to do.”
He added: “Nomination takes place on the first day of convention and a day or two after that polling takes place. It would not be fair to delegates to not give them a reasonable period of advance notification. All who wish to contend – the tradition of the party has been that everyone knows well in advance.”
“Every Bahamian has an interest in who emerges even if they don’t participate in the process.”
When contacted by The Tribune yesterday, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts seemed less concerned than Mr Smith about the desire from some in the party for additional information on who will seek to lead, telling this newspaper that people will make their intentions known “at the appropriate time.”
Asked when the appropriate time would be, he said: “At the convention.”
Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe are the only sitting members of Parliament who have openly expressed an interest in running for leader, though both have said they would only seek the nomination if Mr Christie declines to do so himself.
Reacting to this, Mr Smith said: “If somebody wants the position but only if someone else doesn’t want it, that don’t sound like they want it, hey? If they believe that they don’t have what it takes, and if they believe the incumbent leader is the best choice to go with at the convention and consequently in the next election, then they ought to say that. But don’t say ‘I want it but only if he don’t want it anymore.’ That doesn’t sound very logical to me.”
Mr Smith also dismissed the notion that people are afraid to challenge Mr Christie for leadership because delegates who vote at the party’s convention feel indebted to their current leader.
“The (PLP’s) constitution lays down who can be a stalwart councillor,” he said. “It’s not about being faithful to the leader. Recommendations have come from former members of Parliament, branches from throughout the country, the council and the party. The notion that the leader went out and handpicked people who would support him is ridiculous. Most of the stalwarts, I know them. I don’t know any of them who could have anyone look them in the face and say ‘this what I want you to do.’ They will make up their minds based on their evaluation of what’s best for the party.”
The growing anxiety about the PLP’s leadership race from party members comes as the major political parties start to make moves ahead of the 2017 general election, with the PLP recently announcing that attorney Wayne Munroe left the DNA and has joined its organisation and the Free National Movement (FNM) preparing to announce some its candidates for constituencies this month.
Comments
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
There's little uncer'tain'tinty over which of the Comrade PLP stalwart members and a former cabinet minister, have declared their membership in the fourth political political - Red Shirts Press Party (RSPP). Why you still guessing HE name?
Co-Tribune Publisher Papa Hubert, can't possible be too happy with this 'newest' PLP recruit.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 1 month ago
Maybe not so ridiculous, people did a lot of strange inexplainable things for any number of reasons over the years..drugs, sex, money, power. Lots of unexplainable and ridiculous decisions have been made.
For example who approved Audley Hanna to the BAMSI project and who in their right mind continues to support him as a member of WSC board? Who thought putting up all those murder rate signs on the beaches was a good idea and who was adamant that they be put back after they were taken down? Who shut up Damian Gomez? Haven't heard a peep from him...
jlcandu 9 years, 1 month ago
Christie will be running again -- he likes the microphone and tv too much not to!!! Davis and Wilchcombe know that there is no way in hell that they will be able to run against Christie in convention and win. Despite Mr. Smith's assertions, Mr. Christie commands the votes of the majority of the stalwart councillors, and they will vote Christie back in despite this poor country going to hell.
TalRussell 9 years, 1 month ago
Comrades I have it from good sources that both Comrades DPM "Brave" Davis and Chairman "Big Bad" Brave, were informed of the PM's set in stone intentions. Some may have been disappointed but that's not the PM's problem.
What the PM may be forced into, is reluctantly calling off the party's November convention and holding no pre 2017 General. party convention.
Rest assured the PM has a political career ending plan but there are those PLP's, who are either feeling left out, or too impatient.
It is there political mistake to make to attempt their acts of pushing the PM from office.
MonkeeDoo 9 years, 1 month ago
The only one paying attention to PGC is Obie - thank got for hand held devices !
Cobalt 9 years, 1 month ago
Lol lol lol!!! Maaaan you crackin me up!
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 1 month ago
Why does the The Tribune persist in reporting whatever George Smith has to say about anything? Here's what one well-known Bahamian journalist had to say about George Smith's role in the history of the Bahamas as far back as 1982: ".....the Bahamas was in the throes of a criminal takeover by South American drug cartels. The Colombian flag was raised over Norman's Cay in George Smith's Exuma constituency by the notorious gangster Carlos Lehder, who drove ordinary visitors away at gunpoint and orchestrated hourly cocaine flights to the US. The 1984 Commission of Inquiry found that Smith had accepted gifts and hospitality from Lehder, who is now serving a long sentence in an American jail. In fact, one parliamentarian said at the time that 'Pindling and his crew make the Bay Street Boys look like schoolchildren.'" Smith will tell you he has since welcomed the Good Lord into his life and sought, found and received forgiveness and redemption for all of his earlier transgressions.....WHAT A BUNCH OF POPPY COCK FOR ANYONE WHO REALLY KNOWS THIS SCOUNDREL!
Cobalt 9 years, 1 month ago
Thank you for reminding us all! This is one of the main reasons that I despise the PLP!! They're nothing but drug dealers in suits! From Lynden Pindling straight on down! A total embarrassment to our nation! And yet Bahamians continue to vote for these criminals! What does that say about us as a country???
banker 9 years, 1 month ago
Says that there is no moral compass, and the level of hypocrisy is a deeply embedded cultural icon. PLP supporters are not all that smart, or have no self respect , and think that the criminal party is worthy of their attentions. They do not esteem themselves as persons worthy holding the repository of truth and goodness in them. It is the slave mentality that Swindling encouraged with his constant showing of "Roots". The sad aspect is that the country suffers greatly because of these mental midget unfortunates in about half the population of the Bahamas among us. There is no hope for the Bahamas until the drug money is dissipated and the value-programmed generation of hypocritical, moral illiterates are moldering in their graves.
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