By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday said he was personally disappointed in Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins’ recent public statements that have been critical of him and his administration.

However, yesterday Dr Rollins did not let up on his critique of his party and charged that the Progressive Liberal Party was no different from the United Bahamian Party in its decision to uphold the prohibition against casino gaming for residents.

Dr Rollins also told The Tribune he was not phased by the indirect hints for him to resign from the party and attempts to build support against him. He added that he felt his views were held by the majority of PLP supporters.

Mr Christie addressed personal criticisms against his leadership, morality, and integrity during his wrap-up contribution to debate on the Gaming Bill in the House of Assembly.

He said that while he acknowledged his imperfections, it was difficult to accept personal attacks on his commitment to honest governance after eight consecutive terms in Parliament.

Mr Christie pointed out that he would only have nine more years if he was given the opportunity to live as long as his mother, adding that he had already surpassed former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling in age. His comments were in response to speculation over whether he would run for office in the 2017 general election.

He charged that any party member that fundamentally disagreed with his position as leader was free to leave as the PLP has a “revolving door”.

He added that it was not his intention to engage in public debate with someone who could have met with him in person to discuss and settle matters.

“That’s why I’m personally disappointed in the member for Fort Charlotte,” Mr Christie said.

“(Dr Rollins) knows the confidence I had in him,” he said. “He knows the confidence I have in his ability, his mother knows the confidence I have in his ability. He knows the extent to which I personally am responsible for his nomination, he knows that.

“I don’t take away from him his right to speak, I don’t want to, it’s not my style, but just allow me to be who I am in all of my imperfections. Allow me to be who I am.

“I have been in public life for a very long time, during the process I have been instrumental in facilitating many persons coming into public life,” he added. “I’ve done so on the basis of my judgment on what I think would be right for the PLP and the country. Sometimes we make mistakes.”

Speaking of his experience as a party dissenter earlier in his political career, Mr Christie explained that he was able to get elected as an Independent due to his political base and support from the Free National Movement, who did not run a candidate.

He had not received a nomination from the Progressive Liberal Party.

“When people on my side in the process of governance disagrees fundamentally with me,” he said, “they have a choice firstly to recognise that the PLP operates on a revolving door. The door swings in and it swings out, so you are free at all times to stay or to leave.

Mr Christie added: “There is no problem with me in my leadership in that regard.”

When asked afterwards to respond to Mr Christie and criticism from other members of his party, Dr Rollins said: “There are those in the party with tremendous influence that don’t want me to remain in the party, but we live in a free society, it’s a democracy, I can handle the hints.

“If they wanted to they could revoke my membership in the party, not they as individuals, but the council.

He added: “I personally believe that I speak for the majority of persons who support the Progressive Liberal Party.”

“I think that there are some in leadership who are trying to drop hints to supporters of the PLP to express disapproval for the views that I have espoused,” Dr Rollins said, “they would like to convey to the PLP’s base and those who support the PLP that I am no longer welcome and therefore they should no longer welcome me. They’re not coming out directly and saying they don’t support me, they are trying to influence the thinking of those who support the PLP so that they can voice disapproval of me.

“At the end of the day,” he said, “the persons who support the Progressive Liberal Party, I believe support the empowerment of all Bahamians. They see the contradictions, they see the hypocrisy in pushing for legislation in 2014 that the founders of the PLP fought against in 1953 and 1967.”