NASSAU, Bahamas – Sixty-nine year-old Perry Gladstone Christie was sworn in for a second stint as Prime Minister of this archipelago of 700 islands on Tuesday, after he led his Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to a resounding victory in Monday’s general election.
At a ceremony attended by relatives, supporters and close friends, Christie, who first headed a government here from 2002-2007, pledged to “hit the ground running” after his PLP won an at least 29 of the 38 seats contested in the general election.
“Be assured that in the days and months ahead you will witness that steady systematic fulfillment of all that we have promised you. May Almighty God guides us and may the great people of our country assist us as we now set about the urgent task of making our country safe and prosperous for all its people,” Christie said soon after taking the oath.
The PLP reversed the 2007 defeat to the Free National Movement (FNM) of Hubert Ingraham. The former prime minister immediately announced his resignation from active politics, telling supporters: “I shall not go on to lead this party as the opposition. I shall not set my feet in the House of Assembly, and I shall return to private life from whence I came.”
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA), which had promised to “shake up the establishment” failed to win a seat in the election that was observed by teams from the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community I(CARICOM) and the United States.
Christie said that the election victory was tantamount to the voice of the people being heard yesterday “with great thunder and awesome power”. (CMC)
