Several Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Cabinet ministers and members of Parliament are "miserable and lousy" and should not be re-nominated as candidates for the next general election, former PLP MP Philip Galanis said yesterday. Galanis, who was a guest on the Star 106.5FM show "Jeffrey" with host Jeffrey Lloyd, said many of them "are not carrying their weight as they should".
"Many of whom in my opinion are not providing solutions to the challenges that are facing this country today. Many of whom ... are not visiting their constituents and are out of touch with what's going on and are disconnected," he said.
Galanis said with Prime Minister Perry Christie as leader, he fears that many of them will be renominated.
"We need to find better candidates. Already I've heard about several candidates who have said it's their intention to run. They are miserable. They are lousy candidates."
Galanis declined to say specifically which MPs he was referring to. However, when asked about re-nomination of several senior PLP MPs, Galanis indicated who he thought was doing a good job. When asked about Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of State for Investments Khaalis Rolle, Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson and Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller, Galanis suggested that they would all make good candidates. However, when asked about Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V. Alfred Gray, and Minister of Labour Shane Gibson, Galanis offered "no comment".
Before Lloyd could ask about any other MPs, Galanis declined to comment on the matter further. Galanis has for some time been urging the party to get its act together. He said it is even more critical now as campaign season nears. Galanis previously said if the PLP is to have a shot at winning it needs to take decisive action, including electing new leadership. He said yesterday that he has been criticized for his statements but hopes that people will listen.
Galans supports Deputy Prime Minister Phillip Brave Davis to lead the PLP. But Davis has not stated any plans to challenge Christie at the party's convention in November.
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