Mr. Christie said the public is inclined to give people second chances and he said the two men still had political futures who were engaged in a “push and shove” encounter following a private parliamentary meeting weeks ago, preferring for constituents to judge them instead.
He was asked to gauge the potential for political fallout for the ruling Progressive Liberal Party because of the physical confrontation between Kennedy MP Kenyatta Gibson and Mt. Moriah MP Keod Smith. Both men resigned early this month from their respective positions as Gaming Board and Bahamas Environment Science and Technology [BEST] Commission chairmen.
When asked about possible consequences, Mr. Christie said: “The people of the country and the people of constituencies make a decision as to the extent to which they should respond negatively to an incident.
“I made a specific reference to acts that have taken place in the past. One personality of which is the deputy leader of the Opposition party. The good people of Montagu, in sufficient numbers, seem to have elected him so it is for the judgment of the people not the judgment of myself.”
He responded to a barrage of questions put to him by members of the media at his Cable Beach office on Tuesday after he confirmed that the men had resigned from their positions.
On Wednesday Mr. Smith said if he secures the PLP nomination for Mr. Moriah he would run on the party’s ticket. He also branded the encounter between himself and Mr. Gibson “inconsequential.”
Mr. Christie said the public is inclined to give people second chances and he said the two men still had political futures.
Mr. Christie said he had seen expressions of anger and major differences that have been easily overcome.
The prime minister also sought to castigate the Opposition Free National Movement for any attempts to gain political mileage out of the issue.
“The opposition really ought to be ashamed of themselves if in fact they are trying to exploit this issue because they have some major corrections and major flaws and they haveﾅ[a] frame that we can assault at any timeﾅas it relates to political differences and that is my commentary on that.”
Mr. Christie also strenuously denied that Messrs Gibson and Smith had resigned based on assurances that they would be given the PLPﾒs nominations as candidates in the upcoming general election.
He denied having marched to the tune of any drummer.
The partyﾒs Candidates Committee nominates candidates and the National General Council carries out the ratification.
“The prime minister as leader of the PLP does not have the power to negotiate that privilege and right from people who are duly appointed to make those decisions,” he said.
By: Tameka Lundy, The Bahama Journal
