Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday dismissed Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis' call for an early election, adding that "everybody in The Bahamas knows that Minnis is not ready for it".

Christie said Minnis' comments were "silly" and should not be taken seriously. "The first thing you should tell the leader of the opposition is, 'never ask for in politics what you can't handle'.

That's the first thing," Christie told reporters on the sidelines of a UNESCO meeting at SuperClubs Breezes. "He does not have the capacity at this stage to even dream of something like that."

On Monday, Minnis called on Prime Minister Perry Christie and his entire Cabinet to resign and call an early general election before the administration "destroys the country".

Minnis claimed that the Christie administration's "record of poor judgment in governance" has placed The Bahamas on a path to "disaster".

Minnis also said "bad decisions" by the government have led to a loss of confidence among the public, and the best solution is to seek a new mandate from the electorate.

But Christie brushed aside those criticisms, adding that Minnis was merely looking for a way to stay relevant. Christie said the government has not forgotten the promises it made to the Bahamian people.

"We have been elected for a five year period," he said. "We have had a platform that we have not resiled from, meaning we intend to carry out what we were elected to do.

"For the economy, we were elected to cause there to be a resurgence in the economy. We are on our way to doing that. I am very optimistic as we go into each month of this year and to next year. "Bahamians will see, feel and touch the improvements that will be taking place in the economy."

Christie said the government is also devoted to its pledge to reduce criminal activity in the country. "With respect to crime, we are clearly committed to working and working and working to putting our hands around the situation of crime, because it doesn't help our economy and it doesn't help the young people who are involved in it.

So we have a multi-faceted approach. "And we are not dismayed. We are continuing our resolute commitment to bring crime under control."

Explaining his call for an early election, Minnis listed several examples where he believes the government has shown poor judgment. "They have ignored the vote of the people," he said.

"They went to referendum and they ignored it. "They have shown poor judgment in the hiring of Ishmael Lightbourne, who was proven to be a tax evader, but he was going to be in charge of the government's [new] tax system.

"Poor judgement when Leslie Miller, who had problems in terms of bills at BEC, but yet he was placed in charge. Poor judgment with [Dr.] Elliston Rahming as ambassador [to Washington]. "Poor judgment with what's going on with Renward Wells. A parliamentary secretary don't sign such documents. That should have been a Cabinet decision."

Minnis was referencing a letter of intent Wells reportedly signed with Stellar Waste to Energy Bahamas to construct a $650 million to $675 million waste-to-energy plant that Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said he does not have the authority to sign.

Christie said the government will not "be distracted by silly little interventions by the leader of the opposition". "He can do that for the next several years as we continue to govern," he added.

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