(EDITOR’S NOTE: I absolutely had to share this excellent birthday tribute to former Prime Minister Perry Christie by Andrew Burrows as a Guest Commentary. Although we knew each other from our teenage years when he was an outstanding athlete and I was a sports reporter with The Nassau Daily Tribune, Perry and I became very good friends during the year (1968-1969) that I spent in London receiving advanced training in journalism on the staff of the London Evening Standard.
He and many other Bahamian students studying in the United Kingdom at the time often visited my flat at 3 Seagrave Road, S.W., London, for the parties that I hosted. Of course, I was not hamstrung by the usual financial constraints of some Bahamian students because I was paid the normal salary for beginning reporters at The Evening Standard and my salary as Assistant Editor at Bahamian Times, where I worked when I went to London, was deposited in my bank account at the Bank of Nova Scotia.
So, let me also take this opportunity to wish my good friend Perry Christie HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
GUEST COMMENTARY BY ANDREW J. BURROWS
NASSAU, Bahamas, August 21, 2020 — It’s a shame many don’t know what a cool fella he is because of the politics. If they knew him, they’d know that he actually does care about people. They’d also know that he’s no pushover either.
They’d know that he’s incredibly smart but always deflects it on others. They’ll know that he is incredibly funny too. Intentionally and unintentionally. He could actually be a comedian if he wanted to. His mind is fast, his wit impeccable and his time is perfect for it. He thinks he can sing and he loves old cowboy movies. I pray someone finds him his bowl of conch salad today or maybe he will make it himself.
He can do that.
Happy birthday, Perry. He’d do whatever he wishes right after he walks however many laps around his yard in his plastic suit, swims 50 laps and then brags about how he could have done more if the sun didn’t come up. You will go to see how he’s doing but he’ll be more concerned with how you’re doing. What’s going on with you? He keeps track. He remembers names and will ask about folks you’d swear he didn’t know about.
I would visit him but with COVID-19, no chances taken. I understand. Today is his birthday. I stopped counting after 72. LOL. You think he’s getting his hair touched up? Probably not. I remember seeing him months after the last elections and he had allowed his grey to come in. I told him he looked good. He said he looked old. I said “you are old.” He said “but that doesn’t mean I have to look it.” I said girls dig the grey. He said “they don’t have to live with it.” Touche.
Happy birthday Perry.
