Prime Minister Perry Christie
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
NO politician has stepped up and shown that he or she can replace Prime Minister Perry Christie as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, former PLP Cabinet minister George Smith said yesterday.
His comments came a day after he and PLP chairman Bradley Roberts said there would be widespread support for Mr Christie remaining leader of the PLP in 2017, especially if former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham returned to the political fray as rumours have suggested.
Mr Smith yesterday dismissed calls for Mr Christie to prepare to step down and make way for a younger successor, adding that no current Member of Parliament has done what it takes to warrant being leader of the party.
He said: “There are people out there who says that the older, more mature and experienced people in a party must step aside to make room for others, but that begs the question, make room for whom? Who are they and what have the done?
“Politics is about earning your position. You have to get to know the party, the people who come to the convention to elect a leader, the young, the old, the experienced, the inexperienced, you can’t become a leader just because you look in the mirror and say, I’m a good fella, I’m smart, I got these degrees –– you have to know how the system operates.”
And, Mr Smith said, there are currently “people in the House of Assembly who never should have gotten there to begin with, who don’t know much about the fine system that is the Westminster System, and who don’t know and understand the democratic system we have.”
“There are people in the House of Assembly who can’t contribute in a debate without having to read from a prepared speech. When I was in the house, you participated in debate; you spoke from copious notes – no one read speeches. Today they all are reading and sometimes they are reading it and you can tell they have done very little in terms of preparing it.
“No one has stepped up to the plate yet and demonstrated that they could capture the imagination of the Bahamian people, take the lead in forming policies, platforms and programmes that will cause the people to feel they could lead the party and the country.”
Mr Smith also defended Mr Christie’s performance as Prime Minister, saying that under his leadership there have been “signs of improvement in education, the economy and in addressing some of the social and health problems in the country.”
He said: “I believe the Prime Minister is making a genuine effort to try and get investors. He very often lays out a good plan and agenda and it is for the ministers to say, the Prime Minister is laying out a good plan and it’s in my portfolio to carry out.”
Comments
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 2 months ago
Stepped up?
Um, no. Step down. Yes.
Worst PM in Bahamas history. And man that says so much... LOL!!
birdiestrachan 10 years, 2 months ago
Mr>. Christie is a great man. all politics aside. and I love him dearly He really cares about the less fortunate. But I would like for him to step aside and allow some one else to lead the PLP. Not because he is not capable and qualified to do so, But I would love to see him spend time with his beautiful wife. and enjoy the rest of his life. He has done WELL. and God will reward him.
Time is precious, and at the end of his life,. the time he spends with his family will mean the most to him.
banker 10 years, 2 months ago
Ummm ... what was George Smith guilty of again? Why is he not in politics? And why does his opinion matter? What is Smith's ulterior motive for talking such poppycock? Does he want in on the PLP gravy train again?
This is more of this PLP believe what I tell you and not what your eyes see.
Honestman 10 years, 2 months ago
"His comments came a day after he and PLP chairman Bradley Roberts said there would be widespread support for Mr Christie remaining leader of the PLP in 2017, especially if former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham returned to the political fray as rumours have suggested."
Why is the Prime Minister so obsessed with Hubert Ingraham? Can't he just put the good of the country ahead of juvenile rivalry? Aren't we supposed to become wiser and less self absorbed as we get older? I believe the vast majority of Bahamians want to see the end of both Christie and Ingraham in Bahamian political life. They have had their day and it is time for new blood and, more importantly, new thoughts on how to fix this broken society. The Bahamas has lost its way and needs an injection of intellectual minds and honourable leaders who think more about their country than their personal legacy.
Reality_Check 10 years, 2 months ago
Georgie Porgy's unrelenting kissing of the PM's butt makes most people wonder what favour he is looking for. Our PM does not seem the least bit phased with that saying: "Birds of a feather flock together." According to the findings of a Commission of Inquiry, Georgie Porgy should best be described as a "Jail Bird"!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 2 months ago
no current Member of Parliament has done what it takes to warrant being leader of the party
I can really believe this statement since Perry Christie hasn't even done what it takes to lead the party..
Mr Smith also defended Mr Christie’s performance as Prime Minister, saying that under his leadership there have been “signs of improvement in education, the economy and in addressing some of the social and health problems in the country.
What signs? The national D average? The falling cruise ship numbers? The new hospital constructed under Hubert Ingraham's administration?
sheeprunner12 10 years, 2 months ago
Political surrogates like George Smith, Bradley Roberts, Snake Wilson etc are the worse thing for any political party...................................they control the Executive Council. Perry is the protector of the Old Guard gravy train
The PLP new breed are stymied by a political machinery that rewards the Old Guard ................. so the PLP will have to collapse and the Pingdomites will have to all die in order for new PLP leadership to rise. There's nothing new about this "new PLP".
Sad but True.......................... birdiestrachan?????????????????????????/
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