By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson said yesterday that Works Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is the “fellow to beat” if Prime Minister Perry Christie steps aside as leader of the PLP, but added that this depends on whether or not Mr Christie “endorses” Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe for the party’s leadership.

However, Mr Watson, who served in the first Ingraham administration, added that Mr Christie is the cause of the “confusion” surrounding who would succeed him as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party by not yet declaring a definitive position on his future in politics.

His comments came in response to questions from The Tribune.

Recently, four names have emerged in discussions surrounding the future leadership of the PLP – Mr Davis, Mr Wilchcombe, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell and Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald.

On Sunday Mr Wilchcombe revealed he has interest in leading the PLP and if he had the chance to become prime minister he would take it. Then on Tuesday, Mr Davis said that he was “ready for the job” if there were a vacancy. Both men said their plans depended on whether Mr Christie offered himself for re-election.

Mr Mitchell remained tightlipped on the matter when asked earlier this week and Mr Fitzgerald has not yet offered comment on the issue.

Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Watson said: “I think Christie is creating the confusion because he (previously) indicated he was going to leave at midterm and he said nothing, so obviously Brave and Obie had determined that they’re going to make preparations in case he leaves.

“I think if (Mr Christie) does go, I do believe that Brave is going to be the fellow to beat. Unless, in going, (Mr Christie) endorses Obie. I don’t know how that will go down.

“So I expect there’s going to be some friction. Even if he stays there’s going to be some friction. That’s good for (the FNM). If this thing is allowed to play out itself, I think Brave is going to get it.”

Mr Christie, who is currently serving his second, non-consecutive term, has not given any clear indication of his political future.

While in opposition, Mr Christie indicated that he would consider stepping down as party leader mid-term and name a successor. However, he later said he intended to serve a full term if elected as prime minister in 2012.

In January, during a televised interview with State of Affairs, Mr Christie, 71, said it would take a “compelling, tangible” reason for him to lead his party into the next general election. He revealed that he told his family in the lead-up to the last general election that the 2012 campaign would be his last. Nonetheless, he said that people across the country continually urge him to remain leader of the party.

Earlier this week, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said the party will hold its first convention since 2009 during the last week in October. The party’s leadership and other positions will be contested at the time.

Observers will be paying close attention to whether Mr Christie will seek to remain leader of the party.

Some PLP insiders insist the 71-year-old will step aside as leader, but will delay declaring a definite position on his future for as long as possible in order to ensure party stability ahead of a leadership race that is expected to be robust.

Last month, former PLP Immigration Minister Loftus Roker expressed concern about the party’s future, saying that it lacks a leader who could successfully succeed Mr Christie.

Mr Roker, lamenting on what he saw as a paucity of leadership talent within the ranks of the party, dismissed Mr Davis as a potential successor, saying the deputy prime minister is “indecisive.”