Prime Minister Perry Christie
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie left the country on Tuesday afternoon to attend a series of private discussions in Geneva, Switzerland with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) officials, The Tribune was told. He is expected to return on Sunday.
During a brief session of the House of Assembly yesterday morning, Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage revealed that Mr Christie went to Switzerland to deal with pressing matters.
However, the Christie administration did not release the customary statement informing the public of the trip or its purpose. Nor was any information given as to who would deputise in his absence. An official from Bahamas Information Services (BIS) explained that the discussions will focus on MSC’s economic interests.
These include proposals to acquire the Grand Lucayan Resort in Grand Bahama and continued investment in this country’s port development, the official said.
Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald and Mr Christie’s advisor Sir Baltron Bethel have accompanied the prime minister on his trip.
Although, it is said that he was meeting with other persons on other matters, no one has said who those persons are.
When contacted by The Tribune yesterday, Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Michael Pintard said the government should inform the public of the reasons for Mr Christie’s trip.
He said: “Information reaching our desk suggests that the prime minister is out of the country.
“We are unaware of the purpose, but to the best of our knowledge no statement has been made. If he is out of town we question the following things: who is acting in the prime minister’s stead and why didn’t this administration see it necessary to inform the public, the very people that put them in office, that he is travelling? We also ask who has been left to carry out the public’s business. We believe these are pertinent questions given the information we know.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is in Tokyo at the invitation of the Japanese government, a Ministry of Works and Urban Development press release said yesterday.
He arrived there Wednesday, the release said, to discuss matters of mutual interest with several Japanese officials.
The release said: “While in Japan, Mr Davis will meet with Manabu Sakai, state minister of finance; Junzo Yamamoto, state minister of land, infrastructure, transport, and tourism; and Yoji Muto, state minister for foreign affairs (state minister is the title borne by all members of the Japanese Cabinet).”
Mr Davis will also meet with Akira Miwa, ambassador for the Kansai region; Hidetoshi Irigaki, vice-president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Ryoji Kan, mayor of Imabari City.
He is also expected to visit key infrastructural development sites, including the Panasonic Centre, Kashiw-no-ha Smart City, various sites for renewable energy, the Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Ltd, several areas of Kyoto, and the Imabari Shipbuilding Company.
He is accompanied by his wife Ann Marie; Dr Elwood Donaldson, The Bahamas’ non-resident ambassador to Japan; and his personal assistant, Dr Anya Symonette.
This delegation is expected to return to The Bahamas on Thursday.
A BIS official said that Dr Nottage, the “number three Cabinet minister,” would likely assume the acting prime minister’s role.
Comments
John 8 years, 9 months ago
Acting..? thought all of them are acting and none are good at it..if you don't believe me ask Sir Sidney...rotfl
thomas 8 years, 9 months ago
What is going on here? Is there a breakdown in communication between "Thing One and Thing Two"?
Cobalt 8 years, 9 months ago
Doesn't matter.
Whether Christie is in the country or not..... the country is still leaderless.
Honestman 8 years, 9 months ago
"When contacted by The Tribune yesterday, Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Michael Pintard said the government should inform the public of the reasons for Mr Christie’s trip"
Good question. I wonder what other business the band of brothers and sisters could have in Switzerland? Just wondering.
GrassRoot 8 years, 9 months ago
I bet AG has invested in a Swiss bank account.
sealice 8 years, 9 months ago
Like it makes a difference who's the PM no one is doing anything - why can't the PLP go make international relations with people that aren't communist chineeeee, facist WOPS or the people that started WWII for the US? Really scrapping crap off the bottom of the barrel as usual and bringing it back home like it's something new and good for us.
jus2cents 8 years, 9 months ago
Who pays for this "private" discussion" six day trip to Switzerland ?! is it Perry Christie because it is private? the Bahamian People / tax payers or the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) officials?
If it is the government / people, we should of course also have a report on all the costs- hotel, transport, (Limos & Air) dining, who else went, why they went and a report on what was the outcome of the Private discussion.
The FNM / official opposition should also be all over this?
Publius 8 years, 9 months ago
ha!
John 8 years, 9 months ago
It is not really a private matter. government must give approval before a hotel is sold
EasternGate 8 years, 9 months ago
Hope he applies for asylum while he's there!
TalRussell 8 years, 9 months ago
Comrade Reporter Khrisna, the PM departed the island under disguise, so could be why no word on who is acting PM.
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2016…
sheeprunner12 8 years, 9 months ago
Anyone ever heard of standard operating procedures?????? ....... that is basic Governance 101 .............. this shows the level of ill-discipline that is portrayed by our leaders ....... and the followers take their example from the leaders
asiseeit 8 years, 9 months ago
Thank God, the country could use a breather to catch itself!
GrassRoot 8 years, 9 months ago
Good Moment for the Revolution.
TruePeople 8 years, 9 months ago
Better to catch Perry in person iyah
TalRussell 8 years, 9 months ago
Okay Comrades, PM Christie wears dark shades on his exit but look at Papa Hubert all decked-out he formal long tails.
Both these former law partners are costly to the native taxpayers. Isn't Papa still on taxpayers dimes - what are taxpayers paying for in his retirement - pension/pensions - car, travel, office & housing too? Food, I guess not?
Now, you got me wondering, how Loretta be exited off island on becoming PM in 2017?
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2016…
themessenger 8 years, 9 months ago
Funny that you don't have any problem with Lady P still livin on the taxpayers dime.............................
TalRussell 8 years, 9 months ago
Comrade TheMessenger, the difference is not only is she still on the job doing HM's work, but the GG just happens be the wife of the late Pindling. Taxpayers can never reward her too much.
Silly for you to have compared Papa's short service to the country to that of the Pindling's.
Chucky 8 years, 9 months ago
Pindling did no service to Bahamians. He just started the criminal organization we now call government of our "independent state'.
dahasamo 8 years, 9 months ago
The operative word is wife. Her husband is no more and whatever he might have done when are we going to stop rewarding his wife.
cmiller 8 years, 9 months ago
Lady Pindling did nothing for the Bahamas, but buy clothes and spend money.
TruePeople 8 years, 9 months ago
What did Lady P do for the Bahamas then OR NOW?!?!?! she holds an empty title in the Gov't.
What about Pindling?! Fada of the Nation? Ya boy was in with the Kartels. This is a widely known fact.
But that's PLP reasoning, Papa is FNM so he musse gotta wear rags and kiss ass, but if ya PLP den you can free load and teef to ya hearts content and this is OK. This is consistently the message from PLP supporters.
Lady P has absolutely no qualifications for her "job", no vision for the country now nor for the future, and is not particularly educated or even street smart.
SHE REPRESENTS THE QUEEN FOR GOD SAKES!!!!! and y'all is be talking bout white slave masters.... THIS IS SHE RIGHT FRIGGEN HERE!!!!!!!
I ein a fan of Papa, but in his "short" term he did WAYYYYY more for the Bahamas than Both Pindlings throughout the entirety of history.... Think on that and release how shameful it is for Pindling that he was in power from MUCH longer than Papa, and accomplished ALOT less for the country!!!!!
Emac 8 years, 9 months ago
@Tal-Grown up and get over what ever you have in for Ingram and Butler. When you get emotions involved your argument is lost in pettiness.
Now back to the subject at hand; It is obvious that these two men in black are trying to drum up some sweet pot in these two countries to sway voters on their team. One can always tell when election is near, while the PLP is in power. This man never ever pays attention to anything that is urgent, (hurricane Joaquin, murder rate, unemployment) and now all of a sudden he rushin' to do something urgent for the country????? Get your stupid @$$ outta here!
Godson 8 years, 9 months ago
Emac... remember this day... you are reading the cards wrong. It ain't necessarily that there is a 'sweet pot' to be drummed up. It could be that there is a fire to put out. The pot could be burning. That's what creates urgency my friend. If it was otherwise, moving on the spur of the movement won't be so necessary.
TalRussell 8 years, 9 months ago
Oh Comrade Emac, should your above "Tal-Grow up" slight at me means you should now be tagged as being offensive toward midgets?
TruePeople 8 years, 9 months ago
Youse a Midget aye? cus i ein see nuttin bout height in what Emac said. He said grow up, not get taller.... There is actually a difference....
Emac 8 years, 9 months ago
P.S. Why is the dead PM of the Bahamas wasting the tax payers money on someone as useless at Bethel????? WHAT? Are they Shagging each other or something???? Shit! Are Bahamians so ignorant in these politicians in their eyes that they really don't give a shit about hoodwinking us??? Hope the stroke do its cause next time! SMFT! Go ahead Tribune, do your censor ting. I really could give a shit.
banker 8 years, 9 months ago
I hope that the Tribune doesn't censor it because what Emac says is true. Baltron Bethel ran the hotel corporation to the ground. He doesn't know how to use email - when he accidentally sent the Baha Mar strategy to the opposition lawyers, and he is a leech on the public purse. And yet no one cares!
I guess that their strategy of a dumb electorate is really working.
Godson 8 years, 9 months ago
Emac, remember what I told you earlier? If not it's right above your comments to this one. The Guardian is hinting to what I suspect. Here is the link: http://www.thenassauguardian.com/bahama…
Emac 8 years, 9 months ago
Yes, Godson. But it all boils down to the fact that Perry dem trying to save face. Why are they paying so much attention to this matter, that is poised to be a fiasco? Because they would lose the next election if people lose more jobs, particularly in Freeport, that's why. Freeport is very fragile now. But my point is, Perry dem treating this matter as urgent because they want to keep on governing. They are not for the sake of the people.
Chucky 8 years, 9 months ago
What is wrong when people accept their Prime Minister travelling to another country to meet with business leaders about a deal. Do we think Obama would go there to meet with them, do we think Canada's PM would go there to meet with them?
No, of course not!
What is wrong with this picture? If they want to do business here, then they had better get their team here to meet with us.
Godson 8 years, 9 months ago
Chucky is on to something Emac... Keep your eyes on Chucky and hold onto his coat tail and you won't be left too far behind. Very good intuitive observation Chucky.
TruePeople 8 years, 9 months ago
YEAH BUT, US and Canada are World Powers, Part of the G8, Leaders in international Trade, with ALOT of Natural marketable Resources, and world leaders in terms of good governance, policy, human rights, education, research, technology, manufacturing and 'intellectual' industries / professional services.
Bahamas is a hot place with beaches that people like to go to for a few days of vacation.
In the global marketplace, the Bahamas is nothing.... when will Bahamians realize this? We have failed to become a nation that controls its destiny and are still completely reliant of foreign business and investments. The development of our islands is closely linked to tourism, with tourist areas being the first to be developed, and the priority in terms of maintenance. What great contributions has the Bahamas made to the world? Why is our ego so inflated?
No one has to come to us for business!!!! If they want a hot vacation spot, there is the REST of the Caribbean, in this respect we're not even special or unique. So why should we even entertain the idea that the PM can sit in his ivory tower and business and investors will flock to his greatness?!?!
Oh yeah, i forgot, just look at how international investors are fighting over Purchasing Bahamar.... Obviously our country is a hot commodity!
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