Some parts of the exchange between Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Prime Minister Perry Christie when they met last Monday remain speculation, but in the House yesterday the PM certainly had some tough Bush talk.
“I told Governor Bush … this government of a Black country would be discriminating against Haitians in favour of how we deal with Cuban nationals, and I am refusing to do that.”
The PM arrived in the House as the Leader of the Opposition Hubert Ingraham was winding up his presentation, thanking the Governor-General Arthur Hanna for reading the Speech from the Throne. But before that he had some tough talk of his own: “I’m back – back to take it back,” he shouted, in what could be interpreted as the FNM’s ’07 election kick-off.
There were also a few noteworthy asides to his presentation. He alluded to a fact of 1984 when he, PM Christie and G-G Hanna left the Pindling government albeit not through the same door. He and PM Christie were fired, but G-G Hanna resigned. “It is ironic, Mr Speaker, that all of us went on to hold high political office – two as Leader of the Opposition and then-Prime Minister and now, one as Governor-General. Still more ironic is that today each of us holds high political office as Governor-General, Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition.”
Mr Ingraham also offered a correction to West End and Bimini MP Obie Wilchombe who referred to the G-G as Head of State and Mr Ingraham as Leader of the Official Opposition. The correct designations are: ‘The Queen’s Representative’ and ‘The Opposition Leader.’
The Nassau Guardian
