MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson distanced himself from comments he made about Prime Minister Perry Christie, releasing a statement yesterday that denied a report that he wants the nation’s leader gone.

His statement was in response to a Nassau Guardian article published on Monday, which ran under the headline “Johnson wants Christie gone”.

The article quotes Dr Johnson as saying he wants to see Mr Christie “transition” within “the next 10 to 12 months.”

However, Dr Johnson was quick to issue a statement - which was released by PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts – walking back from those remarks.

“I never say Christie should go,” said Dr Johnson in the statement. “I always say we have the best team to govern this country and he (Prime Minister Christie) is our head coach. A great team led by the best coach wins championships and I stand by that position.”

The statement also says that on the issue of transition, Dr Johnson “confirmed that he stated to the media that the whole country is in transition, the PLP is still the best brand to lead this country (in the midst of this transition), and Prime Minister Christie ‘must be calling the plays and leading the transition.’

“This is in no way a call for Mr Christie to step down as leader but an endorsement of his leadership. To the contrary said Dr Johnson, the PLP’s parliamentary team takes its cue from the leader, Prime Minister Christie.

“We are a better party with a sound politically relevant philosophy and together we must share our vision for the 21st century. Dr Johnson credits this ‘best team’ to the leadership of Prime Minister Christie,” the statement added.

However, his remarks appear to be divergent from comments attributed to him in The Nassau Guardian.

“What you see coming is a seismic shift in our agenda, philosophy, ideology, and you will see new political leaders emerging in the next 12 months,” he said in that earlier interview.

He is also quoted as saying about Mr Christie: “I believe in what he said, that he was a bridge. I believe he has done such a good job at holding that bridge together, and now I want to see what comes over the bridge.”

Dr Johnson is also quoted as saying: “I’m not the one who is going to lead, but I see a platform building for our new leadership. It’s coming. It’s fantastic. It’s coming. You can’t stop it. It’s coming. But it’s not Danny Johnson.”

This comes a week after Mr Christie revealed he has plans to stay on as leader of the PLP for the foreseeable future because young members of his government have asked him to, also suggesting the party would become unstable without him at the helm.

Last week, Dr Johnson, who represents the Carmichael constituency, also announced he will not seek re-election to that area. He has recommended Senator Keith Bell to replace him as the party’s standard-bearer for that constituency.