In a fiery keynote address Prime Minister Perry Christie warned his longtime friend and law partner, opposition leader Hubert Ingraham, that he was finished politically and will be “beaten back into retirement.”
Speaking at the packed 49th National Convention of his Progressive Liberal Party, Mr Christie said former prime minister Ingraham was “yesterday’s man, finished and done”.
Hubert, my friend, you have had your time, my brother,” Mr Christie said. “I want you to look at me when I say it. You are finished! All finished and done! You are yesterday’s man! Your days of power are all behind you. You will be beaten back into retirement once and for all.”
Roars of approval were heard from the crowd whose average age was approximately 55. Mr Christie reminded his audience of the historic win of the Free National Movement in 1992 and words said by Mr Ingraham to his predecessor after his Party’s victory, “Do you remember when Mr. lngraham came to the House of Assembly in 1992 and said to Sir Lynden, “Ah! The rabbit now gat the gun!”, he said to roars of laughter.
“But tonight I say, the farmer now has the gun and don’t you forget it. I heard him mutter something when he was leaving the platform the other day after he won his leadership. “He said, ‘All that fellow good for is talk and Junkanoo shuffle’. “He said that just because he gat two left foot and can’t dance. If you behave, I might show you what I gat for him – a double shuffle.”
Mr. Christie told PLP delegates and supporters that they are to be reminded of the differences of the PLP and the party that opposes them (FNM).
He said after last week’s FNM Convention the Party has become even more profound.
“I should not mention that Party without extending congratulations to new leaders of the FNM Hubert Ingraham and new heir apparent to the throne Brent Symonette,” he said.
“Anything about Mr Ingraham’s manner of return should not be taken from my words but everyone should listen to Sir Arthur Foulkes one of the founding members of that party who said there are those who are in politics who believe there are no rules unless those that are broken; that politics is a blood sport.
“Sir Arthur said that young men and women entering the political arena for the first time should not fall into the trap of believing politics is a dirty game.
“There are dirty people in it but there are also dirty people everywhere even in the church. There is no calling nobler than politics.’
Mr Christie welcomed back his longtime friend B.J. Nottage who had deserted the PLP after losing the race for leadership and formed his own party, Coalition for Democratic Reform.
Mr Nottage returned to the PLP on Thursday, the fourth day of that Party’s Convention.
The prime minister called Nottage one of his oldest and dearest friends, who has given sterling service to his country in a variety of capacities – public and private. He called Nottage a man of many talents.
“I will be appointing this man to play an important role in the Commonwealth,” Mr Christie said.
“It would not be constitutionally appropriate to make such an announcement here. He will become an important part of our team and he is my dear friend – Dr Bernard J. Nottage.’
He also welcomed back Nottage’s wife Portia and those in the CDR who have decided to choose PLP. He said there is a role for each of them to play.
By: TANYA M. CARTWRIGHT, Nassau Guardian Associate Editor
