West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe yesterday expressed support for Prime Minister Perry Christie to stay on as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), noting that this is "Christie's run". He said he is confident Christie will emerge from the PLP's November convention as leader. He was responding to questions from the media about PLP candidate for Fort Charlotte Alfred Sears' bid for leader of the PLP.

Wilchcombe suggested Sears would have been better suited to enter the leadership race if he was still a member of Parliament, an argument Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald made on Monday.

"It is an impractical approach... because you are going to lead people from outside when you should be inside to lead," Wilchcombe said outside Parliament.

"I think what he might be doing is getting his name in the hat, ensuring that he makes the country aware that he would wish to be leader one day, so when a real race is had, his name will be common."

Wilchcombe said his statement was not a criticism of anyone who wishes to run for leadership, "but I guarantee you, Perry Christie will remain leader of the PLP".

In his expression of support for Christie, Wilchcombe said, "We have a system that works and a machine that continues to work.

"We don't want to find our party in a situation where we are fighting for leadership at this particular stage. Perry Christie has put a number of things in place. In fact, we are debating very historic legislation (National Health Insurance Bill), and that is all intended to advance the country.

"This is Perry Christie's run. It's on his watch and we are not going to cause any disequilibrium at the moment. We are going to maintain the status [quo].

"Mr. Christie has proven that he has kept the party together. Throughout the country he enjoys the support of PLP delegates. That is what is fundamentally important."

Sears announced over the weekend that he intends to run for leader of the PLP.

Asked about his chances against Christie, Sears said, "I think my chances are excellent..."

When Christie was asked about Sears' bid for leader on Monday, he said, "You can see how petrified I am."

Wilchcombe, who said last June he was prepared to lead the PLP, said his aspiration remains.

But he said his aspiration is "predicated on preparation".

"What you do, as you aspire, is you have to prepare," he said.

"If you want to be a good athlete, you have to continue to work and improve your capacity.

"The same holds for politics. If you want to lead an organization, then first of all you have to understand the organization.

"You have to work hard.

"You have to get those in the organization to support you and see your value, and then at the right time, you then propose.

"But that will happen at the end of Perry Christie's leadership because our party works that way."

Wilchcombe said the PLP is a mature party, and Christie is aware of those who wish to lead the organization.

Sears is the only person to announce that he will challenge Christie. He was first elected in 2002 and served in Christie's Cabinet as attorney general and minister of education. Sears also won his seat in 2007, but did not seek a nomination in 2012

The last PLP convention was in 2009, when Dr. Bernard Nottage challenged Christie and lost.

Christie has been leader of the PLP since 1997.

Royston Jones Jr., Guardian Staff Reporter

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