The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday said the speculation surrounding the PLP’s convention and its leadership race are becoming an embarrassment. He said party members are attempting to “predict an outcome without knowing all the factors.”

Mr Miller said the uncertainty over what senior party members intend to do at the November convention has left those attached to them in a questionable position.

He suggested that members “settle down and allow things to play out before putting things out there,” insisting that at this time, many PLPs are not sure who will offer themselves for vacant positions.

“The PLP has always been a party that don’t like fights or issues at its convention,” said Mr Miller.

He added: “If there is something wrong, we will do what we have to do to fix that. But right now, everyone is trying to guess what the next person is doing. Everyone is speculating and trying to predicate what the next person is doing.”

“You can’t do that, if you do that then you just confuse the matter even more.”

Last Thursday Prime Minister Christie ended speculation surrounding his political future when he declared that he would go into the party’s convention as leader and emerge as leader.

Then on Sunday, the Centreville MP said he would not allow anyone to put a “proverbial political gun” to his head telling him when to demit his post.

Earlier this month, Mr Miller told a local daily that he was “bothered” that Mr Christie might not “move off” the political scene and “enjoy the rest of the time God may allow” him to be with his family.

In addition to that comment, Mr Miller had also indicated that if PLP Deputy Leader Philip “Brave” Davis contested the party’s leadership post in November, he would support him.

But yesterday, Mr Miller said he is “truly comfortable” with Mr Christie, adding that the prime minister is “more than capable of leading the PLP.”

The Tall Pines MP added: “I am certain he can lead (for) another term, not only the PLP but the country. What he has to do is just tell us what he plans to do moving forward so we can all be on the same page.”

Mr Davis has previously said he is ready to become prime minister, however, when asked about his plans last week he would not say if he would run for the party’s top post in November.

Earlier this year Mr Davis said his plans depended on whether Mr Christie offered himself for re-election, however recently PLP insiders have speculated that Mr Davis will enter the race and challenge the nation’s leader.

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe has previously said he too would like to lead the PLP, but he has stressed he would not battle the prime minister for the post.