By LISA JOHNSON

THE funeral of Dr Myles Munroe and his wife, Ruth, on Thursday will be state-recognised, the Cabinet Office announced yesterday.

Prime Minister Perry Christie said he has never underestimated Dr. Hubert Minnis despite public criticisms of the re-elected Free National Movement (FNM) leader.
Christie, who spoke to the media following a ceremony to mark his 40th anniversary in public life at Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) headquarters on Thursday night, said he "anticipated" Minnis would win the FNM leadership race.
"Remember now, y'all threw the book at Minnis," said Christie as he turned toward The Nassau Guardian.
"I mean people said he shouldn't win, he can't do this. But listen, a person cannot be an American board certified gynecologist and surgeon and be uneducated.
"You cannot be a successful young businessman in the country and be uneducated.
"Clearly he may not be as articulate, he may not be as colorful, he may not seize the moment, but he, in fact, got where he got because he succeeded at what he was doing.
"I would never underestimate him, not for one moment.
"Anyone who could stay in the backline of the Saxons [Junkanoo group] and shake cowbells as a part of the backline and not be tempted to go up front and be seen, you have to watch him. That takes some fortitude.
"And the one thing my political successes and political mistakes taught to me is that I must never underestimate anyone in this regard, and I must always be prepared, and I am always prepared, trust me when I say that, always prepared."
This week, National Review said it has been extremely difficult to convey Minnis' leadership abilities.
It said that "some party insiders believe that with the right coaching, and with the distraction of his former deputy leader now out of the way, it is still possible to mount a convincing campaign against the PLP".
However, NR said with Minnis as leader, this will be difficult.
Minnis was challenged and beat former FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner by three-to-one for the top leadership post at the FNM's one-day convention last Friday.
Turnquest beat former FNM Chairman Darron Cash and former FNM Deputy Chairman Dr. Duane Sands for the deputy leader position.
Asked to expound of his reasons for predicting Minnis would be elected as FNM leader, Christie said anyone who examined the candidates would observe that Minnis visited numerous constituencies while the "other people weren't in his party".
"He was obviously preparing, and knowing who his delegates would be, and knowing that he would bring them in, and knowing how they would vote, so I clearly anticipated that," the prime minister said.
"And I anticipated that even though only 48-hours notice was given that the young man from East Grand Bahama, Mr. Turnquest, who was elected deputy leader, would come in on the coattails of the winning side, because if Minnis was going to win he would have the delegates vote for the person he wanted. I expected that."
Christie was also asked whether the PLP is encouraged about the next general election with Minnis at the helm of the official opposition.
He noted that a significant portion of the population vote against, and not for an administration.
He said if a government does not do enough to cause the electorate to have confidence in it and see "positive outcomes" the electorate will vote against the government of the day.
"Unlike the people who make criticisms of Minnis, Minnis would be the beneficiary of that," Christie said.
"No matter what people think he deficiencies, his shortcomings to be, once he is able to put a credible team together - obviously the DNA poses a hazard to both parties really, as a third party, depending on whether or not people see it as a credible option for them - I think on an increasing basis that the FNM, as it becomes more obviously ready for general elections, will be looked at by people as the alternative to the PLP. That's the sense of the two party democracy."
However, Christie said he is confident his administration will have a strong term, notwithstanding the "scar" that is crime.
To that end, Christie said he is intent of mounting a major attack on crime, which he admitted is a real threat to the stability of The Bahamas' reputation.

Dear Editor,
Political leadership in The Bahamas has always been convoluted and based on strong personalities. The late, great and deeply lamented Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling personified this style of leadership while displaying signs of empathy and Christian principles. He was, of course, a political cutthroat, in my view of the highest order. Not in a bad way, but a way which brooked no opposition and certainly no overt displays of independence from 'The Chief'.
It has long been rumored that Sir Lynden saw Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie as his best students. If they were, it is small wonder that this wonderful country of ours has been jacked up, big time, between the two of them. We have a massive national debt which hovers above $6 billion and change. Our annual deficit is in the declared area of $500 million and counting.
This month marked some 40 odd years since the entry of Perry Gladstone Christie into front line politics. He has done remarkably well for himself and his immediate family. Twice in his stellar career, he has ascended to the very top of the greasy pole. While he is seen as a consensus leader, he is widely viewed, even by his most ardent supporters, as visionless and 'the great meanderer'.
Ingraham was an entirely different leader. He knew the direction in which he wanted to take the nation, regardless of the consequences for the average Bahamian. He was just like the proverbial bull in a china shop. It was either his way or hit the highway. The political casualties wrought by Ingraham are well known and are legendary.
Unfortunately for this wonderful nation, none of the three prime ministers since independence were/are economists or well versed, if at all, in economics and high finance. Yes, we have had ministers of state within the Ministry of Finance, as we do to this very day, but the substantive minister of finance, traditionally, has also been the prime minister of the day. Havoc has resulted and economic dislocation, especially for the average Bahamian, is staggering.
The economy has been stagnant for almost a decade and no national 'leader' has yet to formulate and implement a realistic plan of action to stimulate and grow the same. Yes, a few hundred jobs may have been generated in fits and starts but tens of thousands of Bahamians are out of work and have little prospects of finding a job any time soon. Entrepreneurs are faced with no access to capital and a huge amount of red tape.
Political leadership is an art or a subject which must be studied and researched over a long period of time. Leaders must be able to show a successful track record in some field of endeavor, especially before entry into frontline politics. Ingraham and Christie were, basically, legal hacks who never really had an apparent and overt appetite for the actual practice of the law. Pindling used the law as a vehicle to garner popularity and to grasp the leadership of the then fledging Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) from the then almost geriatric leaders.
Sir Lynden was the 'smoothest of the smooth' and knew how to manipulate and pull levers to his distinct advantage. He was also blessed to have a cadre of sycophantic followers, inclusive of me, who would have, literally, died for his cause. This was one of the main reasons why he was able to 'rule' The Bahamas for so long.
With the reelection of Hubert Minnis as leader of the FNM, he now has another opportunity to reset the remote control, so to speak, and rise to the occasion as a viable and believable leader. I have confidence that he will so do but the million dollar question is whether or not he and the splintered FNM will be able to heal and come together in time to successfully challenge the PLP in 2017 or whenever a general election is called.
Within the PLP, many wish that Christie would step aside now, as he had promised. I do not subscribe to this. The PM still has a lot to offer and the agenda to cement his political legacy is not yet completed. I would advise the iconic PLP to allow Christie to remain at the helm until next year May and then guide him towards and through an honorable and comfortable mandatory retirement. He would, by then, have successfully completed his course.
The ongoing Renward Wells (PLP-Bamboo Town) issue is a strong indictment on the leadership style of Christie. Wells, whether he knows it or not, has belittled the PM in a very public way, both in the country and within the party. The stench over this now infamous letter of intent is unbearable. Either Wells needs to explain or Christie should, exactly what went down; who authorized the generation of the LOI; was there any monetary benefit to anyone and, if so, who? We also need to know why the minister of works, apparently, was not kept in the loop.
Of course, I fully expect Philip 'Brave' Davis (PLP-Cat Island), deputy prime minister and minister of works, to emerge as party leader and by extension, prime minister. It is only at this juncture that The Bahamas will see real and concrete movement forward over all. Brave has displayed all of the right ingredients of successful leadership. Plus, unlike the three prime ministers to date, he is a self made man who did not rely, solely, on politics to line his pockets.
It has been said that God creates leaders and that may well be the case. This country is badly in need of fresh and bold leadership. Fresh, yes but there must be a mature and seasoned individual at the wheel. This is where Brave comes in.
To God then, in all things, be the glory.
- Ortland H. Bodie Jr.