The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND Luck CEO Sebas Bastian yesterday denied speculation that he plans to run on the Progressive Liberal Party’s ticket in the 2017 general election, citing having to “tow the party line” as part of a political organisation as the primary reason he would “never enter politics.”

Mr Bastian said while he has “zero” interest in being a politician, his only incentive for entering politics would be the absolute assurance that he would be leader of the party of his choice, be it the Free National Movement, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), or the PLP, to which he has been reportedly linked. Mr Bastian also said he is more interested in serving his country “in the capacity in which I serve it now.”

However, he said, he already sees himself as a member of Parliament of sorts because he represents the “hopeless and everybody that needs opportunity and help on a daily basis.”

Mr Bastian was responding to speculation that he had been tapped to receive the PLP’s nomination to run in North Eleuthera for the upcoming general election, a post currently held by FNM Theo Neilly.

The rumours gained traction ever since the government regulated the web shop sector last year, an industry in which Mr Bastian is arguably the most influential member.

“I leave politics to politicians; I am not a politician,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “I have zero aspirations of becoming a politician. I can serve my country better in the capacity in which I serve it now, in the private sector where I can invoke positive change. I don’t want to be a part of any political party at this particular time because I’m focused on my own career, my own aspirations and my own goals.”

He added: “I’m already a member of Parliament in my perspective because I represent the hopeless and everybody that needs opportunity and help on a daily basis, so I represent the Bahamas now.”

On a possible political future, Mr Bastian said: “I’m running in The Bahamas, the entire Bahamas, and I’m going to be the voice of the people in the private sector.

“…One of the reasons I would never enter into politics is because I was never born to be a follower, I could only lead. And in the political climate there is today you have to tow the line to lead, and I ain’t going to tow no line to lead no party.

“So with all that said, if you want to see me in Eleuthera, better hope I’m on vacation . . .I’ll be in (North) Eleuthera, North Andros, Long Island, wherever it is that I can help and Bahamians need help, that’s where I’ll be. So my constituency is all 38 of them.”