Prime Minister Perry Christie giving his official address at the Majority Rule march. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE a term in office defined by controversy and criticism, Prime Minister Perry Christie insisted yesterday that his administration has done an “outstanding job” for and on behalf of Bahamians.
While the nation’s leader said he wouldn’t describe himself at this point as “confident” headed into the impending general election, Mr Christie said he believed that if justice is done Bahamians will see that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has earned their confidence in being able to govern the country for the next five years.
Asked whether he was any closer to announcing a date for the 2017 general election, he suggested that the Constituencies Commission has prevented him from making the decision. He went on to urge Bahamians to register to vote.
He was responding to a question from The Tribune during a press conference to announce that The Bahamas successfully negotiated ownership of its own airspace from the United States. He was asked whether this development or movement with the Baha Mar resort made him confident headed into election season.
“Constitutionally the prime minister has to play a role in the redistricting, if it takes place, of the Constituencies Commission. Ultimately the report goes to the prime minister who has the responsibility of reviewing it and if necessary using his own powers that exist to make decisions with respect to what has been recommended,” Mr Christie said yesterday. “That process for example has not been completed and you could not even conceive of having election until we have reached a point where we have determined which constituencies will exist as is and what constituencies will change. That’s a process that the Constituencies Commission is now involved in.
“We anticipate (it) will soon be brought to a conclusion and so therefore the second point that I’d like to make is to urge people to recognise that it is important that they register. That the prime minister and the government obviously has an agenda that is rapidly arriving at its completion stage and that there are no secrets to what time we have left between the month of January and the month of May. Therefore people are best advised if they want to exercise their constitutional right that they could only do so if they are registered and that is what I would say in respect to that.”
On Monday, House Speaker Dr Kendal Major, who is also chairman of the Constituencies Commission, said he was “disappointed” that the group has not completed its report, while revealing that several factors, including low voter registration numbers and “contention” among members, delayed its progress.
He explained that the contention among the rank and file of the commission was sparked by the leak of information into the public domain and published in local newspapers and social media. This, he said, was displeasing.
Mr Christie continued: “As to confidence you know we are observers as a government of what is happening in the country. We read and we listen. We attend to our duties as members of Parliament as best we can. We believe that regardless to what has been said and what is believed by some, that we have done an outstanding job for and on the behalf of the Bahamian people. We believe in the fullness of time that it is our responsibility to allow the Bahamian people to see why we are able to say that we think we have done a great job for them. That is our duty and our job to do that. My colleagues know that we are unable to control opinions of the written press nor should we be. People have the right to arrive at their own conclusions and their own recommendations.
“All I would do is urge my colleagues to understand is that we have a responsibility for ensuring that the people of The Bahamas understands the truth as we see it so that there is balance in what people are able to decide upon and that’s our obligation as well to ensure that whatever assets we have as a government to enable people to arrive at a fair and just decision about events in their countries.
“We do not hesitate to use them to the maximum advantage to enable people to have access to information such as this what we have done, such as Baha Mar what we have done, without it being clouded by a political opinion and negative political conclusions, which will come about by people who are partial to their point of view,” he said.
“So I don’t think confidence for me is the word I would use at this stage. I happen to have a conviction that if justice is done that the people of the Bahamas will see that we have earned the right for their respect in how we have gone about governing and that we have earned their confidence in their being able to determine that we ought to be given an opportunity to form a new government after the next general election.
“What I want to conclude with is that we have protected the democracy during our term and that we have a wonderful democracy in our country and every day that we have the privilege to govern ourselves feel privileged that the Bahamian people have given us the opportunity at this stage in our history,” Mr Christie said.
Comments
sheeprunner12 7 years, 3 months ago
Of course he has done an outstanding job .......... for the PLP elite, cronies, families, friends and lovers .......... But not for the other 80% of the Bahamian population
That is why he is so desperate to convince the rest of us to vote for the PLP Mafia again!!!!!!!
goodbyebahamas 7 years, 3 months ago
http://thetribune.media.clients.ellin...">Don Christie by goodbyebahamas
shonkai 7 years, 3 months ago
Democracy? Two referenda during this term, what happened?
justthefactsplease 7 years, 3 months ago
This man is lost. My goodness. The people are telling him that he has done a lousy job and he dares to insist that they have been outstanding. PM, if you had, we would have been the ones telling you, not the other way around. The only ones who would probably agree with you are the Chinese and the few Bahamian families that benefit from your Christienomics
goodbyebahamas 7 years, 3 months ago
This nut house should have his blood taken at the hospital right now and checked for drugs; there is no way in hell this crackhead is straight, no F-ing way. Is this $hit head living in Nassau, or is he in Switzerland?
PastorTroy 7 years, 3 months ago
Dinosaur Politicians, too stupid to realize it's 2017 and not ca. 20 BC.
Bahamians vs. Dinosaurs
BahamasElection
SP 7 years, 3 months ago
............................ Undeniable Proof "Mouth" Could Say Anything ...................................
thephoenix562 7 years, 3 months ago
Time will tell.
viewersmatters 7 years, 3 months ago
LMAO KML LOL, LMAO LMAO LOL LOL KML, LOL,LOL, LOL, LMAO, LMAO, LMAO, LMAO, LMAO, KML, KKMLO, HAAAHHHHAAAAHAAAAAAAHHAAAAAHHHHAAAAAAAHHHHHAAA, OH SHYT OH SHYT MY RIBS HURTS LOL LMAO LMOA,, HAAAAAAAAAA
sheeprunner12 7 years, 3 months ago
Perry .............. you voodoo game is up ........... Call the election and we will press DELETE ............ BOL
OMG 7 years, 3 months ago
If justice is done then this government who spend spend spend and then tax tax tax will be gone before the dollar is devalued.
happyfly 7 years, 3 months ago
Dear Mr Christie. Your opinion of outstanding has officially been given junk status.
What is really outstanding is how far back you have set back the clock in 4 short years. Back to 1992. Crime, no hope or prosperity for honest hard working middle and working class. Just a bunch of crooks running around making up their own rules. A country for sale except instead of Colombians it is Chinese. PLP equals sell the country
BahamaPundit 7 years, 3 months ago
Aside from, in my opinion, being by far the worst leader the Bahamas has ever seen. I believe Mr. Christie to be one of the worst leaders this world has ever seen. His most annoying attribute is his inability to understand that Bahamians are intelligent enough to see his nakedness and abject failure at progressing the Bahamas to the next level.
Porcupine 7 years, 3 months ago
Perry says, "we read and we listen" Yes, but what could you possibly read and who do you listen to? Bahamians are waking up to your failed attempts at "running" a country. "We the people" mean nothing to this government.
B_I_D___ 7 years, 3 months ago
I need some of the drugs this man must be on to be this delusional. My world would be a happier place if I could be so demented.
sealice 7 years, 3 months ago
and as he passes around the PLP KoolAid (read bribes) all the cronies dem ga say it too......
John 7 years, 3 months ago
Ok so maybe the Bahamian people's expectations were just too high. Maybe they didn't expect that crime would still be this bad with over 100 Young Bahamian men getting executed every year. Over 500 have been slaughtered since you and your government came to office and possibly another 55 will lose their lives before the next election. Maybe they didn't expect the country's financial ratings to be downgraded FOUR times! Maybe they didn't expect Bah Mar to be open by now, and maybe it is too much to expect to get a job and earn a decent, honest living. Maybe there is nothing wrong with so many local businesses closing down and the cost of living beyond the reach of many. Yes you did a good job as prime minister. Just that the people you served had too many high expectations. And they were selfish and ungrateful. That's why you want another term right?
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