By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

PLP chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday denied claims he is retiring from the post due to “health and personal reasons”.

A local daily reported yesterday that Mr Roberts has decided to step down as party chairman next month after doctors advised him to “reduce his stress levels.”

However, Mr Roberts, who was just recently named the chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation, said he has no intentions of leaving the party any time soon and called the article “hogwash”.

“That’s is not true. I am not going anywhere. I was away for three weeks on vacation,” he said.

“Prior to that, I was in Doctors Hospital for minor surgery. I had a goitre removed. But I have recuperated and I’ve been back to work. So that story is not true.”

Mr Roberts said now that he is back from vacation, his main focus is preparing for the upcoming North Abaco by-election.

He said he will ensure that seat is “returned to the PLP”.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has held the North Abaco seat for 35 years.

However, the seat became vacant today as Mr Inrgaham’s resignation officially took effect.

While the FNM’s Greg Gomez, the PLP’s Renardo Curry and the Bahamas Constitution Party’s Ali Mcintosh have offered themselves to run for the seat, the government has yet to announce a by-election date.

Last week, Mr Ingraham cleared the air, insisting that he would resign as planned, despite widespread reports that he would change his mind and remain as MP.

Although the FNM was defeated by the PLP in the May 2012 general elections, Mr Ingraham retained his Coopers Town seat.

He conceded the defeat of his government to the PLP and resigned as leader of the FNM just hours after that loss on May 7.

Mr Ingraham has speculated that Prime Minster Perry Christie will announce the by election on September 2.