With a total of 58 votes, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell won a poll to be become the next leader of the Progressive Liberal Party.

The unscientific poll was conducted yesterday on Love 97 FM’s radio talk show ‘Issues of the Day,’ where callers were allowed to vote on who they think should become the next leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, if Prime Minister Perry Christie decides to step down and not run in the next general election.

A total of 103 callers voted in the poll, which presented a sample of the public’s opinion concerning the next leader of the PLP, who would become the prime minister, if the PLP wins the 2017 general election.

The callers were initially allowed to vote for PLP MPs who already expressed their desire to lead the party. The MPs included Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini Obie Wilchcombe, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell, MP for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador Philip Davis, and Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald.

However, there were some callers who voted for other Members of Parliament.

But 51 per cent of the votes went to Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell, who the majority of callers considered as the “right man for the job.”

Davis, who is also the deputy prime minister, came in second place with 25 votes. Wilchcombe, who is also the minister of tourism, received four votes. Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis received six votes. Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin received two votes. Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson received six votes and Minister for Grand Bahama Michael Darville and former Fort Charlotte MP Alfred Sears received one vote each. Fitzgerald received no votes.

Many of the callers, who were Fox Hill constituents, used the time to express why they think Mitchell would make a good leader for the PLP.

One caller said, “I would appoint Mr. Mitchell. I think he is doing a very good job in immigration at this time and he is very elegant and firm when it comes to his speech. He is a very intelligent man.”

A Fox Hill constituent said, “I think Mr. Mitchell is one of the most honourable ministers in this country because anything that happens in Fox Hill, whether it’s good or bad, Mr. Mitchell is there. If your sister, brother, cousin, or auntie dies he attends their funeral.”

Another called added, “I would like to vote for Mr. Mitchell to be the next prime minister of The Bahamas. My reason is Mr. Mitchell is a man of distinction. Mr. Mitchell has represented this country over the years with great distinction and I think he is most qualified to be the next prime minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

However, there was one caller who expressed that Mr. Mitchell should get married before becoming the next leader of the PLP.

“I would vote for Fred Mitchell, but the one thing he would have to do for me is he would have to get married,” the caller said.

But there was one caller who viewed Mitchell’s unmarried status as a plus for leadership.

“I think Fred Mitchell not being married is a plus because he has no distractions and I think he would be like he is now, focused on the work at hand,” the caller said.

Some callers also expressed their decisions for voting for the other MPs.

A caller who voted for Wilchcombe said the minister of tourism is ready for the job because his charisma and style shows that he is ready to lead the PLP.

“Look at Obie’s performance as minister of tourism. I think he did a good job. I think he’ll make a good prime minister,” another caller added.

Davis’ supporters felt the same way too.

“My vote is for the Hon. Brave Davis. I believe he is a great leader. He is very articulate and he reminds me of the Hon. Sir Lynden Pindling,” a caller explained.

“Brave Davis is very dedicated to his country and dedicated to Cat Island and every Bahamian. He is very mature,” another caller added.

Currently, the prime minister hasn’t made any indication as to whether he will or will not lead the PLP in the 2017 general election.

The PLP recently announced that the party will host a convention in October and at this time the party’s leadership will be discussed.