Published On:Wednesday, March 17, 2010

By PAUL G TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

pturnquest@tribunemedia.net

IN a move which will undoubtedly affect his chances for winning the St Cecilia seat, Paul Moss officially tendered his resignation from the PLP yesterday, citing his increasing divergence of views and "disenchantment" with the party.

Mr Moss has been the leading voice for the nomination of the party to run in the PLP stronghold of St Cecilia which is currently represented by the party's former deputy leader Cynthia Pratt for some time now.

However, his public pronouncements of late, and the fact that he had challenged the leader of the party, Perry Christie, at the PLP's 51st National Convention last year has put a damper on the political newcomer's prospects within the party.

In a statement issued to The Tribune yesterday, Mr Moss said that when he first joined the PLP back in 2007 he felt it was a time when the party needed to regroup and rebuild and as such it was a perfect opportunity for "new blood" to shore up the party's image and very existence.

"I advocated that the party should keep all that was good and solid, while identifying, embracing and utilizing new talents with which to build.

"Almost three years later, that has not happened. Much of the PLP leadership belongs to an earlier generation, where old ideas and old ways of doing things remain, stubbornly, the order of the day. There appears to be no room or patience for fresh, new perspectives. And so my time has come for me to make my exit," he said.

While Mr Moss has been quite vocal of his opinion that the PLP could not win another election under the leadership of Mr Christie, he thanked the party leader for his support and wished him "good luck" with his future endeavors.

In his letter addressed to Mr Christie, Mr Moss said, "Out of respect for the position you hold and in deference to the genial relationship we have at most times shared I write to advise you in advance of a public announcement that I am tendering my resignation from the PLP with immediate effect.

"This decision did not come easily for me. In fact, I have hoped against hope that my increasing divergence of views and my creeping disenchantment with the Party would fade if given enough time. I gave it time, and it has not.

"I am confident that it is time to move on and that my time and talents can be better spent in pursuits that will impact in a positive way my Bahamian brothers and sister; they were my main motivation in joining the PLP in May 2007, and they are my motivation now as I am compelled to make my exit," he said.

Expressing his appreciation for the opportunity to work with Mr Christie, Mr Moss also thanked the PLP leader for the advice that he has given him in the past.

"I have learnt much from my time in the PLP; obviously not all of the lessons were positive, hence this decision. But the saying still holds true - whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

"I remain strongly committed to the original philology of the PLP as espoused by the late, great leader Sir Lynden Pindling; his philosophies and those of the early visionaries are imbedded in my heart. Again, thank you for your support. I wish you good luck and continued success in your endeavors," he said.

Mr Moss wrote another letter to the party's chairman Bradley Roberts in which he explained that he will forever be grateful for the experience and invaluable insights he has gained as a member of the party.

As such he thanked both Mr Christie and Mr Roberts and wished them as well as all the members of the PLP, "God speed and every success in the future."