After nearly two months of convalescing and some speculation that his condition is far worse that what doctors lead on, a seemingly rejuvenated Prime Minister Perry Christie returned to work early yesterday, eager to get back to business.
“God has given me an opportunity to go to the edge of the Jordan and look over,” he told reporters.
It was a return government Ministers had waited for, for weeks.
They lined the steps of the Cabinet Office in Parliament Square, their faces beaming as they welcomed the nation’s chief with a hearty applause, hugs and kisses.
“How do I look?” Mr. Christie asked, opening his suit jacket. “I am back and I am ready and there is still room for improvement.”
Mr. Christie extended thanks to the thousands of Bahamians who have wished him well over the past several weeks.
“It has been a very difficult period for me (and my family) as you would imagine. But I am going to have the opportunity to thank everyone, to speak to the nation, to speak to the issues that have arisen since I have been sick,” he promised.
“I’m strong. I am getting stronger. I am getting stronger. I am confident – I am so happy. I am not going to be distracted, but truly I have had the opportunity to review particularly some of the social conditions and challenges of our country. I have some programmes I wish to discuss with my Ministers. And so, this is going to be an exciting period not only for me, but for The Bahamas.”
Mr. Christie recently returned from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland where he underwent a final checkup after suffering a slight stroke in early May.
Upon his return, Dr. Conville Brown, one of the Prime Minister’s physicians, who traveled with him to Maryland, told The Bahama Journal that Mr. Christie has been advised that he can work half days – and that is no more than four to six hours.
According to Dr. Brown, within six weeks, the Prime Minister should be back to work full time.
Asked whether he will be physically prepared to lead the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) into the next general election, Mr. Christie simply said: “Only God knows who will be strong enough and who will be around for the next election. I am blessed.”
Mr. Christie’s return came as Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt – who has served as Acting Prime Minister since Mr. Christie’s illness – left the country to attend the Global Summit of Women in Mexico City, Mexico.
Minister Pratt is expected to serve as the Honourary Co-chair of the two- day conclave, a premier gathering of women business, professional and governmental leaders from around the globe to advance women’s economic and entrepreneurial progress worldwide.
By: Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
