Former Prime Minister Perry Christie.
By SANCHESKA DORSETT
Tribune Staff Reporter
sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie admitted on Sunday he was “in politics too long” but said he had an “exceptional run” in public life.
In an interview with Wendall Jones on the Jones Communication Network, Mr Christie also said he believes he lost his Centreville seat because he “did not campaign” and was instead dedicated “to finishing polices” before the general election.
Last May, in a surprising and humbling defeat at the polls, Mr Christie lost his seat in the Centreville constituency by four votes after representing the area since 1977.
“When I apply retroactive thinking to it, objectively, I can make the judgement that I have been in politics too long,” Mr Christie said.
“Take for example how I dealt with Centreville, I should not have lost that seat in Centreville, it is impossible virtually, but I did not campaign. I reached the point where I dedicated myself to finishing policies, one of which was a major intervention on the supply of electricity at an affordable price for Bahamians and I left in place a package that we will talk about later on... People seem to want me to stay in politics because when you tell egregious ignorant lies about me, it really bothers me... I have had an exceptional run in public life and I owe a great deal of gratitude to thousands of Bahamians who made it possible for me to sustain myself in public life for so long.
“I am in the company of Sir Roland Symonette who did 50 years and Sir Lynden Pindling who did 41 years and when you add my public life it’s 43 years and so I am in very rarefied company in terms of the history of our country. There have only been three of us who have been able to put that kind of time in.”
Mr Christie entered frontline politics in 1974 as one of the youngest senators ever appointed at the age of 31. He joined the House of Assembly after the 1977 general election as the member for Centreville and went on to win his seat eight consecutive times, including the 1987 general election when he contested the seat as an independent candidate.
When asked by Mr Jones about his wishes for 2018, Mr Christie said he hopes the current government can work more with the opposition for the betterment of Bahamians.
“My wish for the New Year is for this government (to) see the significance of bringing all us together to advance the country and create a new paradigm,” he said.
“Let’s assume they say it has never been done before, well we are able to look back and know if we all take advantage of our strengths the country will be much better off, notwithstanding the fact that we can agree to disagree on many of those issues.”
Comments
realitycheck242 6 years, 10 months ago
Hind sight is like a promise, Just a comfort to a fool. Did not the auto biography of men Mugabe, Castro, Saddam, Kadafy, Pinochet,and Chavez teach you anything Mr PGC. It seams not because power is so sweet it blinds one to the true realities of so many of the citizens you swore to give good representation to. Your leadership has caused this country to fall behind in so many crucial areas. You ran this country like a ponzi scheme, enriching the few croonies while the masses suffer. May the likes of the PLP never see the reigns of power again.
proudloudandfnm 6 years, 10 months ago
You dedicated yourself to stealing. You are a traitor.
joeblow 6 years, 10 months ago
My nausea was just starting to improve from his prolonged absence and then they ran this article!
BahamasForBahamians 6 years, 10 months ago
Damn, To think we will have to endure a similar interview for our worst articulate PM in history in 2022.. It is paining me already just thinking about Hubert Minnis' exit interview when he's sacked.
Emac 6 years, 10 months ago
Sorry but no one can ever surpass Christie as the worst prime minister of the Bahamas.
stillwaters 6 years, 10 months ago
My New Year's resolution is to totally erase anything PLP from my mind. These jokers need to go away.
TheMadHatter 6 years, 10 months ago
The sad thing is, no matter how many of them "stay too long" the rest that come after don't learn and do the same. They also cover each other's backsides by not ammending the Constitution to have term limits. Of course, this could be done much more easily within their Party constitutions just like the DNA did.
Honestman 6 years, 10 months ago
“When I apply retroactive thinking to it, objectively, I can make the judgement that I have been in politics too long,” Mr Christie said.
The Bahamian people made that judgment a long time ago! There is nothing to debate. Perry Christie and his party have been a disaster for The Bahamas. The PLP's last term in office has set the country back for at least a generation.
John 6 years, 10 months ago
It’s not a matter of staying too long, it was more a question of how many times you put the country through the wringer with incompetence and your inability to control and/or address corruption and dishonesty within your party and your cabinet. But the new political culture is to get in, get the job done and get the hell out. How many living presidents does the US have, Obama being the youngest among then. Can you imagine the restraint he must use when Donald Trump attacks him personally or his policies. So yes Christie, like Hubert Ingraham, will have the opportunity to sit in the rocking chair and relive the time he spent in office. And as a private citizen he will be able to feel the effects of some of the policies he left in place, the corruption he let go unchecked and the stealing too. Just as long as he doesn’t get the idea to go dye his hair and try seek another term in politics.
birdiestrachan 6 years, 10 months ago
The Truth Mr: Christie is a great man Urbane Renewal Christie, BAMSI Christie, University of the Bahamas Christie. Bah Mar Christie, I will end here A music Festival Call it what you may, is positive.
Now you negative folks HOLD On You all are about to see the worst PM and the worst Government ever. There will be much wailing and weeping yet.
birdiestrachan 6 years, 10 months ago
Mr: Christie go on in the strength of the Lord. It is said the best revenge is living well. You look great continue to live well. I did not mind the lost. It is your time now to enjoy the rest of your life.
Porcupine 6 years, 10 months ago
Yikes. No wonder our country is in the shape it is in. Are you living in this world birdie?
TalRussell 6 years, 10 months ago
Comrades! The Bahamaland is better for it when the sun set on the political careers of premier Pop's Symonette, prime ministers Lynden Pindling, Papa Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie, it marks the beginning of another more silent chapter in their respective lives. Excepting for Pop's Symonette. neither three man's left office much wealth and certainly not with more than they entered office with. In a way they tried their best.
hrysippus 6 years, 10 months ago
So Perry thinks he stayed too long, ........... ..... But doesn't see his term was wrong. ........... ........ Churning out deceit and lies, .......... . ...... He long ignored the people's cries, ......... ................. When minister in seventy nine, . . ..................... Hatchet Bay was looking fine, ............... ............... ... But once acquired by those PLP's... ...................... ............... The farm and dairy ceased to be... ................... ........ The land has been a mess since then, ................... .............. Thanks to all those ministry men, ............... ............. .... He ran cabinet so bad, ................ .......................... .................................. thecrooked-est one we ever had,. ................................................. He swam through vomit to come out on top, ........................ .... But anyway you look he's been a flop. ............ .....
He only wanted the ridiculous large pension, only payable after two terms.
birdiestrachan 6 years, 10 months ago
The masterful liars, are in high place. it use to be said that the pen was a sharp sword. not so any longer. many have the pen. and they can speak truth . Can it be imagined that any one in the print media, pretending as if the wyan Group . is some great invention of the FNM. The PLP Government left Wyan in place.
EasternGate 6 years, 10 months ago
Perry just looking for sympathy
licks2 6 years, 10 months ago
Tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo late fer him. . .we must forget him and all other "PLPS". . .that party is a crime syndicate. . .only PLPS can play when they are government. . .their times has done gone. . .ween want nothing to do with that bunch. . .
licks2 6 years, 10 months ago
Tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo late fer him. . .we must forget him and all other "PLPS". . .that party is a crime syndicate. . .only PLPS can play when they are government. . .their times has done gone. . .ween want nothing to do with that bunch. . .
CatIslandBoy 6 years, 10 months ago
I do feel a little sympathy for Mr. Christie. He had two opportunities to really make a difference in our Bahamaland, but accomplished nothing of significance. I really believe that he was limited in his achievements by a funadamental deficiency, that might have not have been completely his fault. He had always found himself in the shadows of Ingraham, even though a partner in their law firm. He never got the big cases, and, unlike Junior partner, Brave,was always forced to feed at the bottom. While I don't believe he personally set out to plunder, loot and pillage from the Public's Purse, he will never be able to convince me, and many other Bahamian voters, that he was not at least complicit in turning a blind eye, or remaining silent, in the face of overwhelming signs of the shenanigans of his cabinet ministers.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 10 months ago
Too Long???? .......... Why is he not DEAD yet??????? ....... He does not deserve to live off the Public Treasury ......... Or is the Panama accounts for real???????
bahamama 6 years, 10 months ago
“...I have been in politics too long”
I think this may be the most honest thing I’ve heard Christie say.
SP 6 years, 10 months ago
When the electorate applies retroactive thinking to Christie's total failure as constituency representative for Centreville, and prime minister of the country, objectively, we can make the judgment that the dancing Buffon shouldn't have been in politics at all!
Good riddance to Perry Gladstone Christie, Hubert Alexander Ingraham, Sir Lynden Pindling and Sir Roland Symonette for betraying the peoples' trust!
The lot of them should be imprisoned for treason!
JohnDoe 6 years, 10 months ago
Thank you for your public service and yes you stayed too long but that is not your biggest flaw. In addition to staying too long you have been thoroughly ineffective and incompetent as a politician and leader, very similar to most politicians that currently lead this country and those in opposition. If you and them have a fatal flaw, it is that all of you think that you are much smarter than you really are. In other words, you don't know what you don't know and therefore you assume that you know it all. Recipe for disaster.
bahamama 6 years, 10 months ago
“In other words, you don't know what you don't know and therefore you assume that you know it all. Recipe for disaster.”
@JohnDoe - BOL!! And very true - Your post can apply for most politicians...
bogart 6 years, 10 months ago
Thank you for your service. We survived as a nation better than many other nations. Praise or condemnation must be taken in light of that we are a Democratic parliamentary nation with checks and bslamces and to every decision good or bad there was an Official democratically OPPOSITION PARTY whose job is not just to sit across the table. We the people do not want passive silent acquisence but ferocious, vigorous arguments. , protests, carry on dead bad.Use the committees agencies to invrstigate, are we still waiting for MPs to publish their lawfully required finsncial statements? All sides seem to be connected or as the DNA was saying the other two parties are the same coin. Regardless who wins we have a nomenklatura related politicians, both sides The role of the Opposition needs to be reevaluated in that with small numbers it can become overwhelminging to fully do justice and bring good representation to a significant percentage of the voting population. Apart from cries of gerrymandering it is evident that we can have significant percentage of voters for an Opposition but only receiving a few seats and less time to oppose and then the people having to wait years and then doing the reverse voting pattern. Look where we come from in the majority of voters used to get a few seats and the few voters winning most of the seats in parliament to now where we still have a significant percentage voters still getting a few seats and limited opposition.
licks2 6 years, 10 months ago
He still don't get it. . .what a sad man. . .delusional till the very end I guess. . .what sad way to go. . .poor man!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 10 months ago
He has repeatedly spat in our eyes, given us the proverbial finger and now laughs at us as he and his family enjoy their ill-gotten wealth effectively stolen from the Bahamian people.
Greentea 6 years, 10 months ago
You and far too many stay too long. Some like Lanisha Rolle prove daily that they should have never gotten into politics in the first place. Most politicians are painfully average in their thinking and do more harm than good. Few are memorable. Too many are corrupt.
joeblow 6 years, 10 months ago
The length of Christie's stay in politics has nothing to do with it. It was his gross incompetence and inability to understand what he was elected to do which finally caught up with him! He could dance and shuffle, but he did not produce where it mattered.
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