By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie said yesterday that he seeks to continue leading the Progressive Liberal Party, including into the next general election, because young members of his government have urged him to do so.

He also suggested that instability would arise in the party if he were no longer leader, similar to what is occurring in the Official Opposition.

He did not name the government members who he said have urged him to continue to lead the party.

His comments came during an appearance on the “Ed Fields Live” show on Kiss FM yesterday evening.

When asked about his political future, he said: “There are two things. One, that I have enough young people who are a part of my government who have asked me to stay on. Two, that with respect to staying on, everyday of my life I recognise that I provide stability.

“My leadership provides stability to my side. You see what instability means when you look at the opposition and I daresay that this could happen when I demit office as well.

“The country has moved to Pindling, to Ingraham, division in the FNM, to Christie, he’s holding right now, no division in the PLP.

“And so the question for us is, moving forward, one of the great advantages the PLP offers to this

country is a very stable government, one with the capacity to guarantee continuity in governance and one that has been meaningfully employed in major reforms in this country, the latest one of which is the University of the Bahamas.”

Political pundits frequently talk about succession planning and the future of the PLP, with some Bahamians critical of Mr Christie’s decision to hold on to the leadership of his party.

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

In January 2015, he said it would take a “compelling, tangible” reason for him to lead his party into the next general election.

But last September, in the face of speculation that Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis was eyeing a leadership run, Mr Christie declared that he would go into the PLP’s convention as leader and emerge as leader.

The party’s convention is scheduled for November after several delays. The PLP has not held a convention since 2009, even though the party is mandated by its constitution to hold one each year.