Prime Minister Perry Christie
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday repeated that he was not “delusional” while again promising that this year his administration would get a handle on crime, focus on stabilising the economy and ensure that the stalled Baha Mar resort opens its doors.
With a little more than a year remaining in his administration’s term before the next general election, Mr Christie told reporters that he was confident that his critics would be silenced when the government’s plans for the nation were manifested.
He added that these plans were not just focused on New Providence, but that Bahamians in the Family Islands would see changes as a result of his governance.
He spoke following the launch of e-services at the Registrar General’s Office where he also said the government plans to spend $50m on airport expansion initiatives.
“You may not recognise, for example, that I know, for example, this year I have to trigger off certain developments in the economy – one of them is Baha Mar,” the prime minister said after the event.
“So you are going to therefore find that all the talks about delusion and dreaming and so forth and so on (the plans) will manifest itself where people, young people in particular, where there is an acute need to let them know and let them feel confident that there is a future for them and that they are going to be able to see that around the Bahamas in what is taking place.”
He continued: “I know and I have a commitment to doing it that where Bimini has an exceptional future where there is nothing that people can ask for in Bimini that they are not getting now. It will be the same thing in Abaco where there will be increased development, the same thing in Exuma and the same thing is going to happen in Eleuthera and it’s going to happen this year.”
Members of the Free National Movement have frequently accused the prime minister of being “delusional” in the face of his optimism in the midst of adversity and unfulfilled promises.
Last year, Mr Christie’s public stance on the two biggest issues of the year - the stalled Baha Mar project and the rise of violent crime - was characterised by false signals and vague allusions to impending actions that never materialised.
From May to December 2015, Mr Christie predicted an imminent resolution to Baha Mar’s problems that would result in the remobilisation of the resort, even as some stakeholders increasingly cautioned him in the press to choose his words more carefully on a matter hardly under his control.
With respect to crime, he told the press throughout autumn that his government would roll out new policies to counteract the rise in violence.
But in both instances, the actions he alluded to never materialised.
Mr Christie frequently spoke indirectly about when the impending action would take place, an analysis published in The Tribune earlier this week shows, often using ambiguous terms and phrases that granted considerable and convenient flexibility to the timeline of his promises – pledging action “soon,” “in the not too distant future” and “in a few weeks.”
Regarding false signals, among his greater errors, Mr Christie on May 13, 2015 said Baha Mar was not running out of the cash needed to finish the multi-billion dollar project, a view reiterated by Baha Mar’s public relations director at the time.
However, Baha Mar filed for bankruptcy in a US Delaware Court a month later, fearing that its financial situation had become too precarious.
And as 2015 ended, Baha Mar’s subcontractors remained unpaid.
More recently, Mr Christie told the press on December 26 that he expects Baha Mar to be completed early this year, although he failed to give a specific date for the restart of construction at the resort or a date for when the property might open.
With respect to crime, Mr Christie increased his utterances on the matter as homicides soared to record breaking heights in 2015. During his Christmas address to the nation, he pledged that stronger measures on crime would be rolled out in 2016.
Comments
cmiller 8 years, 11 months ago
“So you are going to therefore find that all the talks about delusion and dreaming and so forth and so on (the plans) will manifest itself where people, young people in particular, where there is an acute need to let them know and let them feel confident that there is a future for them and that they are going to be able to see that around the Bahamas in what is taking place.
The talks will manifest itself where there is a need to let them know and feel confident and see that around the Bahamas in what is taking place. God, I tried summarizing......but ?????????
sealice 8 years, 11 months ago
He's delusional if he thinks anyone believes his BS He's delusional if he thinks he & the PLP are going to actually do anything He's delusional period coming or going
B_I_D___ 8 years, 11 months ago
LMFAO...just laughed some of my Coke soda through my nose when I read that headline!!
asiseeit 8 years, 11 months ago
The man is a habitual speaker of untruths. He has called wolf so many times it is impossible to believe a word that he utters. Gambling, "I will respect the peoples wishes" a LIE. Bah Mar, "It will be dead good soon", a LIE. Crime, "we have the answer on day one", a LIE. The man is pathetic and nothing but a dishonest sack of excrement!
mangogirl01 8 years, 11 months ago
The Prime Minister don't believe his own words, his facial expressions always give him away and when he is lying he plays with his pinky or his ears! Body language a dead give away!
sansoucireader 8 years, 11 months ago
Not calling any names, but I believe if anyone looked up DELUSIONAL in the dictionary they would see a photo of the person this article is about.
banker 8 years, 11 months ago
Not to worry. He is going to fix everything thisyear that he hasn't been able to fix in the past. Dead good. All dead good!
Fitmiss 8 years, 11 months ago
This headline caught my attention immediately. Delusional is such a politically correct word to use. I know that the Bible says that if you have faith enough to tell a mountain move, it shall, but his faith in himself is astronomical. I really needed this story to end my day on. I wonder if anyone committed to Sandilands Rehabilitation Center actually say that they are delusional/crazy?
Franklyn 8 years, 11 months ago
Politicians are killing this country and have done little to advance the economic and social situation of the masses. In the past 25 years, economically challenged men/and some women have entered politics for nothing less than for the glory of power; and greed. And others, for their own personal agendas to advance opportunities for party associates, family and friends. There still exist a culture of “table scraps” for Bahamians attitude, which was the oppressive systems of control, practiced by the UBP. But in retrospect had the UBP stayed in power for a few more years they may have done more for the advancement of The Bahamas – than what the 1967 revolution has deliver for us today. “The Party” play games when political parties come to office as the governing party, through an outdated election process; begins a practice of revenge, discrimination and political assassination. This self-defeating and petty minded policy has being the single most impediment to our social and economic growth distribution. Day (1) on the job should be the end the party game play and governing in the best interest of Bahamians - all Bahamians, should be the priority and only priority. But we have a self-defeating culture of; “it’s our time” (party supporter time) which is killing this country and it has stagnated our development as a people. It is said: “the condition of a country is a reflection of its leadership” and if not Delusional then inept.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 11 months ago
If a professional team (football/basketball/hockey etc) is not doing well ............ the coach/manager is fired. In this case, the Cabinet is not doing well, so Perry should be fired . it is as simple as that ............ or else, we do not call our present politicians "professionals" (if they are amateurs, then we should expect to keep getting what we are getting now) ......... that's how the real world sees it.
marrcus 8 years, 11 months ago
In 2012, DNA managed to siphon off enough votes to give the PLP a 29/9 victory. IF you take all the DNA votes and put them in the FNM column (lets be honest, ain't no PLP voting for DNA) IF all those votes went to FNM, the result would have been FNM 24 - PLP 14. If Bran runs a full slate in the next election (38 candidates) then PGC gets an easy win. PLP FOREVER....get used to it!
Franklyn 8 years, 11 months ago
Reply ↵Suggest removal Post comment for being an idiot.
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