“…Arise, Sir Perry…”

I want to let you in on one of my ‘seems to me’ formulations. Today it seems to me that in time; we shall all live on in the past tense. This all includes me, you and every other human person now alive on God’s green earth.

To be honest with you, it does not just seem to me, it is a fact that in time, the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie, his esteemed deputy and now Acting Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, his other Cabinet colleagues, and the rest of us for that matter, will find the exit from this life, and entrance into Time eternal.

So have the Rt. Hon. Sir Lynden O. Pindling and so very many others who served with him as pioneers in the building of the modern Bahamas. And even as one or two of the hardier ones hold on to one or two cherished life-strands, everyone knows that it is only a matter of time before they too, find the exit.

Truth is that we are –each of us- mere pilgrim travelers.

My mind is turned in this direction as I reflect on some of the matters that are now making today’s news. One of these concerns the health of our beloved prime minister, and its implications for his party, our nation, and the future.

But before I get there, do let me say (albeit parenthetically) that the tempo of these times would have been so deliciously different had there not been such a nasty war between men who should have remained friends. Here my reference is to the two former prime ministers of these Bahamas, namely Lynden O. Pindling and his protégé Hubert A. Ingraham.

Imagine how different life would be in today’s Bahamas had a victorious Hubert A. Ingraham and a victorious Free National Movement decided to make a defeated Sir Lynden Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

I assure you that this country would today be all the better had that happened.

Well, it did not. And that’s that.

But I tell you what, what was not, might yet serve as prescription for what might be.

I am seriously suggesting that those whose duty it is to make the suggestions as to who should be what, and who should do what on behalf of you know who, should seriously consider proposing that the next Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas should be none other than Perry Gladstone Christie.

Arise, Sir Perry.

I speak thus as I reflect on certain matters political in this-now-moment in this so-called and self-named Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

And I speak for the proposition that Perry Gladstone Christie should lay down sword and shield and study war no more. His illness should be a wake-up call for him and his family. It’s time for him to take it easy.

My unsolicited advice is that he should move up town; and take up residence in Government owned property on Mount Fitzwilliam.

Arise, Sir Perry.

Every one and his uncle know that he is eminently qualified for a Knighthood. The man is a hero to millions of people around the world, inclusive of hundreds of thousands in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Arise, Sir Perry.

The bare bones of his illustrious career give a number of clues as to why I say what I do on this blessed Thursday.

Some of these now follow:

"Victorious in the newly created Farm Road constituency in the general election, he was appointed Leader of the Opposition by the Governor-General on April 07, 1997. He had been elected leader of the PLP at a special convention on April 05. Mr. Christie thus succeeded the late Rt. Hon. Sir Lynden Pindling, M.P., who had led the PLP since 1956 as both Leader of the Opposition and leader of the party.

"Mr. Christie, who was re-elected to the House of Assembly in the March 14, 1997, general election, defeated Dr. Bernard J. Nottage and Mr. Philip C. Galanis, both former M.P’s, in a poll for party leader.

"Born in Nassau August 21, 1943, Mr. Christie is the eldest son of cab driver Gladstone L. Christie and Nurse Naomi Christie, both of whom are deceased. He attended the Eastern Senior School in New Providence, the University Tutorial College, London, Inner Temple and Birmingham University, from which he graduated with honours in 1969…

"In 1984, however, he was dismissed from the Cabinet, and during the 1987 general election ran as an independent candidate. He retained his seat in the Centreville constituency. Three years later – in March 1990 – Mr. Christie returned to the fold of the Progressive Liberal Party, and was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Trade and Industry by the Prime Minister…

"In January, 1993, following the PLP’s defeat in the August, 1992, general election, Mr. Christie was elected Co-deputy leader of the PLP with responsibility for party activities outside parliament….

"An Anglican, Mr. Christie is married to the former Bernadette Joan Hanna, chartered accountant and attorney-at-law. They have two sons, Steffan and Adam, and a daughter, Alexandra."

In time, all that is will be no more. My mind is today turned in this direction as I observe so many of my master-builder brothers and sisters’ who are today so very busy ripping this up; tearing that down. Some of these flesh and blood stone cold fools act as if they are going to be here forever.

Interestingly –however- there are some brothers and sisters who are today experiencing the joys and terrors implicit in the recognition of their imminent departure from Time to Eternity.

Our beloved prime minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie is one such person. As a direct consequence of his brush with serious illness, he has had a most wonderful wake-up call. And as he himself avers, he has a renewed appreciation for life; for family, and for community.

Seems to me that his brush with time’s whip has left him with a fuller appreciation of so much that is important in this life. And for sure, I am not talking about anchor projects, Heads of Agreement and political maneuverings; lies and chicanery; but about family and community and decency and dignity and fair play and justice.

Point here is that Perry Gladstone Christie is now experiencing an epiphany moment. He is being taught the lesson that the wisest man who has ever lived had learned at the end of his days, namely that all is vanity and vexation to the spirit.

My conclusion to the whole matter at hand –as regards prime minister Christie; his pension and his leadership of the Progressive Liberal Party, is that he should run for his life; retire from front-line politics; do one last shuffle; and have himself made Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Well, it did not. And that’s that.

But I tell you what, what was not, might yet serve as prescription for what might be.

I am seriously suggesting that those whose duty it is to make the suggestions as to who should be what, and who should do what on behalf of you know who, should seriously consider proposing that the next Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas should be none other than Perry Gladstone Christie.

Arise, Sir Perry.