by Rick Lowe
Having lost the general election and going from a 30 seat majority to an 18 seat opposition, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has much soul searching to do with regard to their leadership going forward.
With the ranks of their Cabinet decimated at the polls their bench for a new leader is remarkably thin.
Assuming that former Prime Minister Christie will resign, not only because that is a tradition within the Westminster System that governs us, but also because of his health issues. Besides, he is not a young man.
Now for the dilemma:
Dr. Bernard Nottage only recently rejoined the PLP after several years in the "wilderness" as leader of the CDR. But he is over sixty which will place him around seventy years old if the next election cycle of five years holds. That will be the year 2012.
Obie Wilchombe seems to present a viable alternative if his alleged vote buying scandal during the recent poll does not bring him down.
This leaves Fred Mitchell and Alfred Sears.
Unfortunately they are both less than inspiring public speakers and do not seem to have much weight within the PLP itself.
From where I sit, the PLP is left in a quandary, which poses a problem for our democracy going forward if no solid leader emerges over the next couple years.
On the other hand, one important thing in the PLP's favour is that with 18 seats in Parliament they have an opportunity for a real shadow cabinet. This should help our democracy down the road and help the PLP's shallow bench develop.
What do you think?
