Blurred vision

Mon, Dec 15th 2014, 11:52 AM

Much has changed since those campaign days when Perry Christie touted his new generation leaders as an exciting lineup for the future.
Several of them in fact have been fired from the positions he appointed them to in his administration.
These include Marco City MP Gregory Moss, who was fired in 2013 as chairman of the National Insurance Board; Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins, who was fired this year as chairman of the Gaming Board, and Renward Wells, who was fired this year as parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works.
Those three have created headaches and embarrassing scenarios for Christie.
Christie is now about to watch the departure from his Cabinet of another new generation leader, Financial Services Minister Ryan Pinder, who resigned for greener pastures in private banking.
It might be a mere coincidence that Pinder's departure from Cabinet comes as Christie gives increasing signals that his bridge to the future is much longer than he had let on.
But it is nevertheless interesting to note that Christie seems to be preparing for another run at the polls, a decision that would be bad for the country.
In 2011 when he could taste an election victory, an energized Christie spoke of the exciting team of young, promising leaders he was assembling.
Pinder, now 40, was widely viewed as having a lot of ambition.
Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said Pinder was "considered one of the few bright spots in this current PLP Cabinet".
Turnquest, the shadow minister of finance, said, "We are sure his presence in financial, trade and international taxation matters will be missed on that level."
Given what many saw as burning ambition and solid potential, it is therefore understandable why some people were surprised at Pinder's resignation from Cabinet.
For his part, Christie said he understood the decision as it would be hard for anyone to turn down the "extraordinary, mind-blowing offer" Deltec bank made to the minister.
While Pinder will remain in the House of Assembly, representing the people of Elizabeth, he loses the clout and influence that comes with a seat at the Cabinet table.
After weighing his options, Pinder decided that "the once-in-a-lifetime" offer could not be passed up.
Speaking of Pinder in 2011, Christie said, "Make no mistake about it. Ryan has proven himself to be a key member of the new generation of future leadership that is taking shape within the PLP.
"I expect even greater things of this young man in the years to come. Indeed, I am confident that Ryan Pinder is destined to play an important, possibly even an historic part in the next generation of leadership that is emerging within our great party."
Christie made the declaration at a rally in Elizabeth to celebrate the first anniversary of the PLP's victory in the 2010 by-election.
Though Pinder won the seat by a razor-thin margin after the matter was taken to Election Court, that election was a temperature gauge of the mood of the electorate as the PLP prepared to win control of the government once again.
It had had an arduous and at times humiliating time in the opposition wilderness.
While he was largely shut away at his Cable Beach home planting trees and no doubt licking his wounds in the first few months after the 2007 defeat, the Christie of 2011 was a healed and emboldened leader, organizing the team that would do battle against Hubert Ingraham and the Free National Movement in 2012.
Christie used new generation leaders to freshen up his own image and promote himself as a leader serious about succession planning.
Pinder's exit from the Christie Cabinet shows that financial considerations were more important to him than any grand idea Christie had about his future leadership role.
We do not mean to suggest that it is impossible for Pinder to return to fulfill Christie's vision for his future, but his political light has certainly been dimmed by his resignation.
In his statements to reporters after the resignation was revealed, Pinder pledged his commitment to and support of Christie and the PLP.
He said, "The relationship between myself and the prime minister remains very strong and very committed, and I support the government, the prime minister and all decisions by the government completely."
While Christie spoke of Deltec's mind-blowing offer to Pinder, he also said he does not think money was the only factor that influenced Pinder's decision.
Christie spoke of Pinder having a role as a "power broker" in private banking in the international arena.
Pinder's resignation has taken place at roughly the half-way point of the Christie term.
Christie is hugely unpopular and there is widespread buyer's remorse.
It is no wonder then that some people are also speculating that Pinder sees this as a perfect opportunity to jump off "a sinking ship".

No more love fest
Pinder was not the only new-generation leader Christie highlighted at that Elizabeth anniversary rally in 2011.
Christie also spoke of his hopes for Rollins, the former National Development Party chairman whose antics during nomination day in 2010 had seriously annoyed PLPs.
The PLP leader in 2011 described Rollins as "a well-trained, intelligent, young Bahamian with a solid vision for The Bahamas and strong ideas of how best it can be governed".
"We know the soul searching and analyzing that he has gone through and we are pleased that at the end of a long and thoughtful process, he has chosen the PLP as his political home," Christie said.
He said Rollins, "is an example to young Bahamians of the PLP's willingness to involve in a meaningful way young Bahamians in shaping and influencing the PLP's plans and strategies for the development of The Bahamas and the empowerment of our people".
Christie said he was impressed by Rollins.
"...I am most sincere in my belief that there is a role for Dr. Rollins in the public affairs of our country and Iook forward to our holding productive discussions with him," he said.
These days, Rollins is waiting to learn his political fate. A PLP disciplinary committee has yet to announce its decision after considering how to punish Rollins for insulting Christie on the floor of the House multiple times, and for refusing to apologize after the party asked him to.
From all that we could tell on the 2012 campaign trail, those new generation leaders bought into Christie's stated vision for them.
At a February 16 rally, for instance, Renward Wells declared that he joined the PLP "because Perry Christie has shown himself to be a real leader and man of vision".
Wells said Christie, aided by a "visionary energetic team of new generation leaders", was about to propel the country "into a brighter, more prosperous future".
Nearly three years after that declaration, thousands await this prosperity.
Wells and Christie, meanwhile, have long ended their love fest.
Of course, some of the so-called new generation leaders are still hanging on.
Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis and Minister of State for Investments Khaalis Rolle, however, seem more comfortable in a supporting role, which appears valuable to Christie.
As the bridge to the future gets longer, the new generation line at the end of that bridge appears to be getting shorter.
If he is still interested in 2017, Pinder could still make another run for Elizabeth.
But the lucrative private banking field could easily snatch him from public life for good.
There are widespread expectations though that the others (Rollins, Wells and Moss) have no more than a half term left on the SSPLP.

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