Prime Minister Perry Christie.
Reader poll
Do you think the PLP is in a stronger position after the party's convention?
- Yes
- No
271 total votes.
By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday castigated Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis for likening the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to a group of “drowning men,” calling the Killarney MP a “minor player” in the House of Assembly who should “try his best to keep quiet” after having his job as leader of the Official Opposition “taken” from him by Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner.
Mr Christie, in a scathing rebuke of Dr Minnis, suggested that the FNM leader has no right to speak ill of the PLP while experiencing “real difficulty” in coping with being stripped of his post as well as having lost the support of most of his members in the House.
Mr Christie said he expected better from the Killarney MP, but said a “naïve” Dr Minnis now finds himself “in an impossible position of trying to strike out at people who are sitting and smiling at him”.
And, striking a condescending tone towards Dr Minnis, Mr Christie cautioned the FNM leader not to cause him or members of his administration to highlight his shortcomings and “inadequacies”.
Last week, Dr Minnis criticised the final night of the PLP’s national convention, suggesting that events such as the publicly declared support for Mr Christie by several former FNM members shows that the PLP was desperate and acting “like drowning men, reaching for straws to survive”.
Dr Minnis especially criticised the support for Mr Christie by the former FNM members, which included Algernon Allen, Byron Woodside, Lester Turnquest, Ivoine Ingraham and Anthony Miller, calling the gesture a “replay of 1992 when the PLP was on the verge of defeat”.
“Minnis speaks about desperation on my part,” Mr Christie said in response. “You cannot be a Progressive Liberal Party leader in today’s Bahamas and evidence desperation. We’re the government. We are the governing party now. Minnis has lost his position as leader of the opposition. Minnis has lost the membership in the House of Assembly. He is a minor player in the House of Assembly.”
The Prime Minister spoke on the sidelines of an event at D W Davis Junior High School yesterday.
“He should try his best to keep quiet so that we do not highlight the levels of inadequacies and ineffectiveness that is plaguing him. We have tried our best to allow our democracy to flourish. We have not spoken ill of him, even though from a factual point of view, we can. I want Dr Minnis to have a good career, but I will do my best not to have that career flourish at this stage in our country.
“And so I don’t want to be able to say what (Dr Minnis’) real difficulty is, because Loretta Butler-Turner has taken his job from him. He ought to have seen it coming. I knew it was coming. I even warned him that they’ve made an effort to go to Government House. But he’s so innocent and naive that he allows these things to happen and then he finds himself in an impossible position of trying to strike out at people, who are sitting and smiling at him, and that’s what I’m doing. I’m sitting and smiling at him.”
Mr Christie went on to suggest that Dr Minnis’ comments regarding the former FNM members that now support the PLP were ill-advised, as he argued that what took place during the final night of the convention was something to be expected in a democracy, particularly leading up to a general election.
“A party with the heritage of the Progressive Liberal Party ought to attract a wiser comment from the leader of the FNM,” Mr Christie said. “The leader of the FNM, he’s actually speaking about people who were members of his organisation and supporters of his organisation, people who have given much to the country. And so when I speak of Hubert Ingraham or even Hubert Minnis, I have to allow for that fact, that they have made sacrifices. Algernon Allen is no different.
“Those who were not elected members, they were party mechanics. They worked hard for their party. Lester Turnquest and Woodside, those people who I really respect. They’ve made a choice to come and support Perry Christie and/or the PLP. I support that, that’s what our democracy is about.
“There are people who would leave us and go to the other side. It happens that way, and we have to accord them respect for their views. We are disappointed sometimes when they leave us, but we most certainly have to respect their right to do that.”
Mr Christie added: “There are others who we have not yet announced their names, who are in fact joining us, and we are gratified for that. They are making a wise choice I believe, and most certainly they are making a choice that they feel is the right choice for them.”
General election
Mr Christie also suggested that the governing party will be ready to launch a very effective campaign whenever the general election is called, adding that the party is of the view “that people are going to make a good choice that there is compelling evidence for them to support the Progressive Liberal Party”.
Mr Christie also said he feels that the success of the PLP’s national convention “will cause more people to get registered”.
Although insisting that there is no “magic number” of persons the government wants to see registered to vote before calling the next general election, he said the party would focus on ensuring that persons register to vote.
“The Prime Minister of the country has the right to call an election when he thinks the country is not only prepared for it, but when he is prepared for it and his political organisation,” he said. “They (citizens) must not take the chance of not being registered. So I think the safest bet for our democracy is for me to continue to encourage people to go and get registered and not leave it for the last moments when they know that something is about to happen.”
He added: “I think every leader who has the responsibility of calling for elections would want to know that he has given the people of the country full opportunity to register and satisfy to himself that he has made additional efforts to get them registered and giving them further notice that they must do so. And then there comes a time when he will give a final notice. Then dog eat your lunch, that’s the time.
“And you know it’s now a limited time between now and when elections are constitutionally due by which time. So I think people must see to it … and the Bahamas has been an extraordinary place in terms of the number of people participating in our democracy. And you know I’ve won and I’ve lost, and so you get used to that, and that happens to be the working of democracy.”
The next election must be held by May.
Comments
banker 7 years, 10 months ago
Jumping Jehoshaphat, there is more intelligence in my farts than in anything that Crisco Butt says.
Publius 7 years, 10 months ago
In the context of the composition of Parliament, which is what Christie was referring to, he is right. Minnis is now a minor player in the House among Opposition members. He is minor in every other substantive way too, but Christie is speaking about the composition of the members Opposite.
What blind and deaf FNMs likely missed or ignored is Christie speaking about often giving Minnis advice. Christie is not lying here. Minnis often went to him about FNM internal matters and it is well known within the Parliament. Whenever he wanted to hurt members of his own party, he went to Christie for advice on how to do so. This is the kind of "leader" the FNM has. It is one of the reasons Christie keeps telling Minnis to be quiet. It is his taunting way of reminding Minnis that he has far more on him than the reverse.
Sickened 7 years, 10 months ago
First time i'm hearing this. Are you an MP? Seeing how demented Christie is and knowing that Christie's own members don't talk with him before acting or speaking out, I find it REALLY hard to believe that Minnis would seek advice from him.
Publius 7 years, 10 months ago
Ask anyone in Parliament, it is not a secret. Even after Loretta did what she did, he went running to Christie for advice on what to do and how to proceed. Christie told him to try to fire the MPs from the party. Why? Christie knew it would ultimately backfire and knew that it was something Minnis did not have the Constitutional power to do on his own in his party, after which time Christie sits back and laughs at how easy it is to manipulate Minnis. It is why Christie chided Minnis as being "naive", and smiled knowingly while saying it. Christie knows Minnis is way out of his depth and is too easily misguided because of his gross lack of knowledge and political acumen. Do you know how many times Christie has gotten Minnis to go along with him on things, only for it to backfire on Minnis in the end? In at least two major Bills and Resolutions, Christie talked Minnis into going along with him, knowing it would weaken Minnis, and Minnis happily went along. It would shock Bahamians to know what goes on behind the scenes with politicians they believe are on opposing sides.
licks2 7 years, 10 months ago
Bouy. . .you "gat it bad nah". . .ya think the doc does say he prayers before he goes to bed at knight. . .now watch you "run on" about how he and the devil does "talk" about "geeing him" the election or some dumb stuff like so. . .lol!
Zakary 7 years, 10 months ago
I find this hard to believe as well considering that Ingraham hinted on a news broadcast some time ago that Minnis wasn’t even listening or taking advice from him. Why go to the PM, leader of the PLP for advice on internal FNM affairs? That makes no sense, even for Minnis. You must have a lot of insider info.
Publius 7 years, 10 months ago
I do.
Also, you make the assumption that because a Hubert Ingraham is being ignored, a Perry Christie should not even be considered. It would be a safe assumption were it not for the many variables that exist in Bahamian politics; a goodly number of which that are never even remotely seen in the public eye. One also would need to understand how Minnis thinks, as well as his paranoid fear of Hubert Ingraham's influence and his resentment that 10 of him could not match one Ingraham. One would need to appreciate why he thinks running to Christie for advice shows up his former predecessor. In short Minnis is a total and complete a**.
sealice 7 years, 10 months ago
Minnis maybe a Minor player Mr. PM but you are a MAJOR fuck up!!
OMG 7 years, 10 months ago
Not a PLP supporter but Christie makes Minnis look like a rank amateur. Minnis has given this election away along with Butler. Sad but true.
Publius 7 years, 10 months ago
Quite true. Christie is what he is no doubt, but so are Minnis and Butler-Turner. The problem with Bahamians is if we disapprove of one side, we turn a blind eye to what is true about the other side we may support. All of them are colossal failures and the country is the weaker for it.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 10 months ago
For Red China (and the numbers bosses) it remains absolutely imperative that Crooked Christie's corrupt PLP government retain power. So much so for Red China that they allotted upwards of a total of $150,000,000 (that's right, $150 million) for allocation to the pockets of Crooked Christie, Dimwit Doc Minnis, Bigger than Big LBT and Irrelevant McCartney. These four, thanks to Red China, are now mega-multi-millionaires for the roles they have played in ensuring the existing Crooked Christie-led corrupt PLP government retains power after the next general election. We poor Bahamians have been swayed by the hijacking of our entire political system by Red China as a result of the greed and collusion of Christie, Minnis, LBT and McCartney. Yes folks, these 4 Bahamians have colluded to sell our sovereignty to Red China for a handsome buck placed in each of their pocket books!
DDK 7 years, 10 months ago
Is this what they call "fake news"?
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 10 months ago
Not at all. You only have to know a thing or two about how Red China has gone about securing complete political control over several African nations that it has a significant strategic and economic interest in. More importantly though, you should ask yourself why does Crooked Christie now have a Red China installed secure communication channel with his new found yellow friends that not even the NSA can listen in on or decipher!
licks2 7 years, 10 months ago
Oh. . .see that other flying saucer flyin over ya head there. . .now about that other bridge you was trying to sell ma nah? Now I gern do something else. . the "stupidy" squad is on this one. . .its a dang shame when smart lose they head with hate and start talkin crap. . .I out. . .be back when these jokers find they breens them back! Lol!
sheeprunner12 7 years, 10 months ago
Sealice said it best ................... but Perry is so far out in lala land that he will never admit that he is the worst Prime Minister in the history of The Bahamas ........ we have to vote him out
TalRussell 7 years, 10 months ago
Comrades! Are we not all beyond the appropriate age to still be talking about tooth fairy tales and other myths that this governing party or any other political party will bring the required change the people need and want.
Rather than wait around for the known tooth fairies to deliver - why not start a new country by purchasing unused crown islands - and do it before the foreigners finish buying we islands up for themselves?
Wait too long and the natives will have to negotiate the purchase of "foreign-owned" islands from the foreigner owners.
John 7 years, 10 months ago
Do you think the PLP is in a stronger position after the party's convention? Yes 39 votes 30.23% No 90 votes 69.77% 129 total votes
They say people who throw stones should not live in glass houses. So now that Christie is throwing stones back at Minnis, he should worry about the upcoming election and the fact that he may no longer be prime minister after May 2017. Not only does the above poll show that the PLP is still unpopular, but reports from the central bank shows that up to October 2016, the economy was continuing to shrink and shrivel up under PLP governance. Vat returns are down (obvious indication that businesses are doing less sales activity, the fiscal deficit has grown by 75%, (the VAT money ain't doing what it is suppose to do and this is despite government collecting more taxes, including property taxes, higher business licence fees, web shop licence fees and commissions). The biggest mistake Chrisite and Lying Halkatis made was trying to grow government revenue by trying to squeeze every dollar out of local businesses rather than trying to grow the economy. Then when you add that murder over the four months totaled around 50 (Times that by 3 and the country may be headed for another record year of murders). The only project that seems to be on the economic horizon is the long delayed and much trouble filled Bah Mar. (The Pointe is too far off in the distance to have any immediate impact, and definitely none before election because the construction workers will be mostly Chinese. Minnis needs to continue to "goosey" the pm and remind the electorate that despite their bragging an boasting at their own convention.. the country is close to being a failed state. And they government sill cannot tell you where the VAT money gone.
DEDDIE 7 years, 10 months ago
It appears that some of you drank some of the same Kool Aid Perry got at the convention. During the last election more people oppose the PLP compared to those who supported them. Eight seats the PLP won by less than 100 votes. Consider the fact that another 10,000 youths have graduate and are without work. Even though, the majority of them are unemployable they cast the blame on the government. They are looking for a scapegoat.
Publius 7 years, 10 months ago
And yet the PLP is the government. If opposition factions were not drinking their own koolaid, they would accept why this ended up becoming the case and govern themselves accordingly. But sadly, that ship in that regard has sailed.
John 7 years, 10 months ago
coincidentally the same thing is being said about Donald Trump. It is beyond voter apathy. It is when the average voter gets to the point that he really feel his vote cannot make a difference..An sense of hopelessness for sure.
The_Oracle 7 years, 10 months ago
Amazing (and sad) that we seem to gobble up the petty personal digs and jabs these fools lob at each other which incidentally seems to be all they're good for. Sure ain't good at proper Governance! Looking at track records, all those who have been and are Prime ministers, have failed. Minor successes perhaps, but in sum, failures. (but damn good at self enrichment) Minnis has not yet failed, as he has not yet been Prime Minister. For me that is a genuine plus! Might he fail? Perhaps. Might he succeed? Maybe. For sure he has been stabbed in the back, a common occurrence in politics. Seems a common Bahamian trait in General.
Publius 7 years, 10 months ago
He held the second highest constitutional post in our system of government. It is a pity that more of us do not appreciate the critical importance of the Opposition in a democracy. When the Opposition fails, the democracy itself is weakened. He has demonstrated that if given a higher office, he cannot be trusted to perform. How is that not failure where it counts the most for the nation? Is this where The Bahamas is at now, where we are forced to put persons who have failed miserably at their job training, in the highest offices in the land and actually praise such a thing? Everybody with sense knows the PLP is a national disaster. And everyone with sense knows Minnis cant even lead the way in cleaning up the disaster that is his party, much less the mess the country is now in.
licks2 7 years, 10 months ago
Yoon making sense again there dude. . .of course he een ger solve them problems . . .das why he gets some good persons to his team to solve the problems. . .das why they have them things that ya call cabinets. . . but I don't expect you to use ya good common sense when it comes to rockin doc. . .
BahamaPundit 7 years, 10 months ago
Listening to Christie is listening to the worst the world has to offer. His voice and thoughts should be illegal.
John 7 years, 10 months ago
In Chrisite's mind he has not failed. He has a a political career that expans over 40 years. In addition to holding a number of portfolios in government, none of which his performance has been spectacular or even outstanding, he has held the high office of prime minister twice. A whole two times. Take that! And he and many will argue that his second term in office was better than the first. Remember when he left office in 1997 how the roads were filled with pot holes,some big as lake Killarney, and near to two feet deep. Not one single traffic light in New Providence was working and the defence force boats were docked side by side because there was no gas to send them out to see (see whats going on out to sea).The hospital was out of medicine and other critical supplies and civil servants were being paid on a staggered schedule. Christie took one of the biggest projects in the Caribbean and help feed it to the wolves, And then goes out to claim that he swam between sharks teeth to help save the project and put it back on firm footing, and has wowed to get the project partially open by April 2017, and fully open by fall 2017. (Well some ads say winter and others say 'next fall/winter' which can mean next year.) The country has suffered no less than four credit downgrades under his watch and crime is still a monster to be tamed. The economy is still in bad shape as local businesses fight to keep their doors open and Bahamian families struggle to keep bread on the table. Many have given up on trying to keep the light on. Never mind the many millions that have gone missing from the government purse. Perry Chrisite the great bahamian success story. Prove it wrong.
SP 7 years, 10 months ago
...... Minnis Might Be A Minor Player, But I'd Rather Gamble With Him Than Christie!......
This country simply CANNOT survive another 5 years under Christie and the PLP.
Even if Minnis is perceived as not the "perfect" choice, he certainly CANNOT be worse than Perry Christie and the country definitely needs change.
Contrary to popular opinion that the PLP might win by default as a result of a disjointed opposition, the same is even more true for Minnis and the FNM who also could win by default because the electorate are totally fed up with Christie and the PLP.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 10 months ago
I know for sure polls in the Bahamas do not mean much. Bahamians will tell you what you want to hear. When they say they are going West they have gone East a long time ago I was surprised to learn that they mean nothing in the USA.That is why there is a president named Trump and not Hillary.
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