Elizabeth, it is an
honor for me to be here tonight, chiefly in support of our Candidate for the upcoming
Bye-Election, Mr. Ryan Pinder. Ladies and Gentlemen, Ryan Pinder is young man
age 35. The record shows that the less than 40
age category is currently insufficiently represented in Parliament, if fact
there is only one. Ryan’s generation is the future of the Bahamas and brings a different perspective to the challenge our Bahamas faces. Ryan Pinder represents a breath of fresh air and new
vision and focus.
Elizabeth, Ryan is no stranger to this constituency as he got to know the district when his dad former Cabinet
Minister and MP for Malcolm Creek Marvin Pinder represented much of the area
that now comprises Elizabeth. Ryan therefore has a long-time association with the
district from a young boy who campaigned with his dad.
Elizabeth, Ryan is a humble, highly qualified academically
and is deeply committed to fight
crime, which, together with unemployment are your main concerns. Ryan’s strong
economic background provides him with the unique skills in attracting investors
to the Bahamas thereby creating good paying jobs which are one of the keys
to fighting crime.
Since my
last public address, some sections of the media have attempted to cast me in a
negative light over my comments on the resignation of your former Member of
Parliament, Malcolm Adderley
. I have already
defended my position, and I can assure you that throughout the highways and
by-ways of our Country, the common man is in agreement with me, that there was
no better way to describe the likes of Malcolm Adderley than with the language I
chose to use. To affirm the descript words I used; Hubert Ingraham reconfirmed
them when he declared that Malcolm “cashed in” on the Elizabeth seat. All of us would be shocked if the Tribune
Editor would chastise the Prime Minister for what he said. I am satisfied that
she believes that Hubert is some kind of Demi-God.
With that, I
leave Mr. Malcolm Adderley alone. Based on rumors circulating I hear he has
enough to worry about. What he left you for Elizabeth, he may not
get. As I understand that the judge-ship ain’ looking’ too promising. You know
what they say about a promise
, it is a
comfort to a fool.
But he
played his part in what is nothing but a fiasco to use you, Elizabeth to take
our minds off of a failing economy, and a society wrought by crime and violence.
Another
issue Prime Minister Ingraham and the FNM will try to use to distract us is the
Earthquake in Haiti. Given the
sensitive nature of the issue, our Leader and our shadow Minister of Foreign
Affairs will comment publicly on the matter and the position of the Hubert
Ingraham’s FNM Government on the matter. Hence, I wish to extend profound words
of sympathy and support to Haiti and the
Haitian community here in The Bahamas and around the world, and to assure you
that the Progressive Liberal Party is committed to doing its part to contribute
to the relief efforts in our neighboring Country.
Let me warn
the Government, in particular, the Prime Minister that behind the scenes
however, I am assessing whether or not he is seeking to use the tragedy in Haiti to gain
political mileage here in Elizabeth. I am being
asked around town if there was any inference to be made during his first press
briefing when he allowed Dr. Duane Sands to sit next to him as he pledged our
Country’s support to Haiti and
announced the release of the Haitian Nationals in our detention facility.
Was he
sending any signals as Papa sat next to Doc? Is he wooing any support in Elizabeth as Papa
walks about the Haitian communities with Doc? With even the Punch alluding now to
his dictatorial style on the handling of this Haitian crisis, is there any
connection between the imagery of Papa and Doc, Papa-Doc? I am watching and I
know you are watching too.
Again, our
Party is taking a deliberate approach to the public commentary on the matter.
We are friends of the Haitian Bahamian community who assure us that they will
not be duped again by the FNM Government, who has done nothing but betray their
trust since being voted into office in May 2007.
I hear there
aren’t many voters in Elizabeth who want to
be fooled by the FNM Government and their trust agenda anymore. On the ground,
no matter the promises being made and no matter the money and gifts being
distributed, the constituents of Elizabeth I understand, want to send a strong
message to Hubert Ingraham and the FNM that as far as they are concerned, that
there has been a
MASSAIVE BETRAYAL OF
TRUST.
Many
residents of Elizabeth say since
voting the FNM into office, they have lost their jobs unable to take care of
critical family obligations. They blame Hubert and the FNM for a serious
betrayal of trust.
Many say
since May 2007, they have had to take their children out of private school.
They blame Hubert and the FNM for a
heavy
betrayal of trust.
Many
Families are vexed that the doors to College/University education was slammed
in their faces with the last minute cancelation of the Scholarship Loan
Program. They blame Hubert and the FNM
for
a betrayal of trust.
Others say
they have lost their homes and many are behind in their mortgage and car
payment and on a daily basis having to decide between gas and food. They blame
Hubert Ingraham and the
FNM for a
betrayal of trust.
Worst of
all, there are some right here in Elizabeth who must live without electricity.
They too blame the FNM
for a betrayal of
trust.
In spite of
all of this, after putting this Country in the worst imaginable economic
condition of modern times, the FNM thinks that it can convince you, the
residents of Elizabeth to continue
to believe in
a TRUST agenda. I wonder
what they take you for.
Let me give
them a reality check. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Free National Movement has been
a colossal failure in their management of our economic affairs. Hubert Ingraham
told the Bahamian people in 2002 that he had taken the Bahamas as far as
he could . True words were never spoken by Hubert Ingraham. Indeed Hubert since
his return in 2007 has presided over the largest economic decline in our
history. Yet the FNM is promoting him as a man the Bahamian People should trust
as an effective Leader. The truth is Hubert has been a destructive Leader.
This
government has failed to effectively manage our tourism product and protect the
jobs of thousands of workers in this most vital sector. Under this FNM
government’s stewardship, the record shows that stopover arrivals have
declined, occupancy levels have declined, tourism expenditure has declined, the
budget for tourism was reduced, and mass displacement of hotel workers has
become the order of the day. The record will show that in this region, our
neighbours and competitors have enjoyed measurable growth in their tourism
sector in the face of the same global economic challenges faced by the Bahamas. The Bahamas is no
longer the leader in tourism in our area.
For no
sensible reason, the government has displaced thousands of workers in the
public sector, Customs Officers, Immigration Officers, Police Officers and on
and on directly contributing to the increase in unemployment.
The government has not been unable to attract
any new and meaningful capital injection into our ailing economy to facilitate
an economic stimulus that will create jobs, create spin off industries and
improve the revenue performance of the government.
This
government is on record as imposing the single largest tax increase on the
Bahamian people through increases in custom duties and excise taxes.
This government’s stop, review, and cancel
policy and infamous delay tactics have not only caused the Bahamian economy to
stall, but has frightened many investors and would-be investors away who could
very well be hesitant about investing in the Bahamas and understandably so. The
treatment of the principals of the Bahamar project is just one example.
The PLP
submits that the baneful actions of the government, and in some cases their
inaction, have together significantly contributed to the current levels of
unemployment. We point out that this high level of unemployment is redundant
and it did not have to be this way. The government simply failed to demonstrate
the vision, the requisite political maturity and political will required to
focus on the wellbeing of the Bahamian people and the future security of our
country. It opted for petty partisan politics and political tribalism.
The
government has borrowed some $877 million to date, tripling the foreign
currency component of the national debt to more than $1.0 billion, placing the
value of the Bahamian dollar at risk. We can thank Hubert Ingraham for
facilitating two downgrades of our sovereign credit rating in two years as he
assisted in the deterioration of government revenue performance, failed to
expand the revenue base, and failed to curtail unsustainable borrowing.
This is the
economic state of our not so fair commonwealth after two and one half years of
failed governance:
TRIED AND TESTED
LEADERSHIP MY FOOT. ELIZABETH, YOU NEED HUBERT INGRAHAM AND THE
FNM LIKE YOU NEED THE SWINE FLU. AS A MATTER OF FACT, HIS RETURN IS TANTAMOUNT
TO THE BLACK PLAGUE OF EUROPE SOME CENTURIES AGO.
So Elizabeth we know
what we can Trust Hubert Ingraham and the FNM to continue doing. The best
advice I have for you is to send them a message that
enough is enough. Be the first to clearly tell them to start
packing.
Be the first to demonstrate
that this Country must return to the PLP.
The record
of stewardship under the PLP administration is clear; the record is stubborn
and no attempt to rewrite history can change the facts. The record clearly
shows that under the Christie administration, some $5.0 billion worth of wealth
was created in the Bahamas, with $2.5
billion being created through our local financial market.
Further,
with the pension funds of over 15,000 Bahamians invested in BISX, many
thousands of Bahamians enjoyed measurable expansion in their personal wealth
and net worth of their estates; this was buttressed by the creation of over
20,000 jobs, more than $4.5 billion in net foreign direct investment, and an
increase in household income from $39,000 in 2002 to over $42,000 in 2006, the
last full year in office of the PLP.
During this period, our fair commonwealth
experienced record tourist arrivals, record tourism revenues (in excess of $2.0
billion), and record government revenues (in excess of $1.5 billion) and the
Country was headed towards full employment.
Throughout this
campaign you will hear more on just how the PLP outperformed the FNM and why we
are the best option to govern the affairs of this Country.
Until next time then I ask you to stay tuned. I
ask you to throw your support behind Ryan Pinder and the PLP. And I ask you to
unlike some, do not be bought. Do what is best for your Country in this
bye-election.
