Deputy house speaker and Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC) Chairman Dion Smith says Prime Minister Perry Christie has taken the country out of treacherous waters which makes him a shoo-in come the 2017 general elections.

During a press conference held at the BAIC headquarters, Mr. Smith told reporters that he fully supports Mr. Christie as one of the youngest sitting Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP’s come what may.

Over the last four years, Smith says he’s gleaned tremendously from the PLP’s leader.

“His keen insight and focus has gone a long way in steering the country out of treacherous waters,” he said.

“I’ve concluded that it is in the best interest of your party at this time to lead us into the next general election. I am a part of the new generation of leaders, I am proud to say that I have asked Mr. Christie to stay on. I am committed to serving under his leadership.”

However, should former Attorney General and PLP candidate for Fort Charlotte win the PLP’s leadership race, he said he is prepared to fall in line.

“As it relates to if he was to if he was to win whether I would serve under him that would mean that the democracy of party was working well,” Mr. Smith said.

“He would have been properly elected and I would have no difficulty if at the time the majority of the party decided to go with Mr. Sears.”

Mr. Smith further shared his view on the fact that the feels a person who was a member in Parliament might have ha d a better chance of leading.

“I don’t have much to say about his chances,” he said.

“I think that if perhaps I was running for leadership of the party maybe I would have gotten support especially from the members is it with.”

The MP also announced he would be accepting the party’s nomination to represent the constituents of Nassau village for another term.