Former Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday he disagrees with the decision of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to only consider those who applied for the West Grand Bahama and Bimini nomination ahead of the 2021 general election as potential candidates to represent the party in the upcoming by-election.

Former member of Parliament Obie Wilchcombe died unexpectedly on September 25 at age 64, resulting in the seat becoming vacant.

Despite letters from some PLP branch executives in support of the nomination of former Golden Gates representative Shane Gibson for the nomination, PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell has maintained that no former MP will be nominated.

Mitchell said only those who offered for the nomination ahead of the 2021 general election will be considered.

But Christie said he does not believe that is the best approach.

"Right now, based on what the party is saying, he is not under consideration," he said outside the House of Assembly where Wilchcombe lies in state.

"And the only people who are under consideration are the persons who applied in last election for that seat. That is the present position of the party.

"Now, I disagree with that position, but that is the position."

Christie also said, "In a democracy, anyone of my colleagues who wants to run, I applaud them for wanting to do what they have to do; and Shane is no different, and we will see what we have to see.

"I think the party has taken a position on the matter ... and it's not for me as a former leader of the party to enter into the public arena in any position at this moment in opposition to what the party is doing."

Aside from Wilchcombe, the pool of 2021 nomination hopefuls included Ginger Moxey, who is now the MP for Pineridge; Kingsley Smith, who is the chief passport officer; Paco Deal and Lewis Astwood.

Party insiders say Smith is the favorite among the PLP leadership for the by-election nomination.

However, Mitchell has insisted that the PLP has not yet begun any work with regards to an official candidate selection for the by-election and will not do so until after Wilchcombe's funeral, which takes place today.

"No process has been sanctioned or begun by the PLP since the passing of our colleague, and nothing will happen until Thursday at sunset after the official funeral is done," Mitchell said yesterday.

In the September 16, 2021 election, Wilchcombe received 53 percent of the 3,856 votes cast in West Grand Bahama and Bimini.

The Free National Movement's (FNM) Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe got 38 percent.

In 2017, she received 52 percent of the votes to Wilchcombe's 47 percent.

Wilchcombe also represented that constituency from 2002 to 2017.

Yesterday, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard said, "In the not too distant future, we will have a chance to have candid discussions about the way forward, not just for West Grand Bahama, but for a Grand Bahama that is struggling at the moment, that needs central government leadership, that needs municipal government leadership and needs stakeholders to all be at the table."

He added, "What is coming up is not about any individual. It's not about our dear brother who has passed. It's not about any of the parties competing. It's about the residents that all of us, including Obie, loved and we should be about the business of putting forward proposals that can change their lives for the better."

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