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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 Nassau, Bahamas - Remarks by Bradley B. Roberts, Chairman, National General Council of the Progressive Liberal Party's Monthly Meeting on August 4th 2016:
Dear Councilors, it is said that time waits for no man and, here we are tonight at the eighth meeting for 2016. As you are aware, we postponed our meeting last week in keeping with a local political tradition not to hold a major and competing political event when the official opposition is holding its convention. To those who watched the worst political convention ever in The Bahamas witnessed an embarrassing spectacle which centered on a fierce circus type leadership fight in the FNM between the “Betta with Retta” crew verses the “Roc wit Doc” forces. Loretta Butler-Turner and serial loser Dr. Duane Sands who were facing an embarrassing defeat fell on their proverbial swords, quitting at 2am on Friday, just hours before the polls opened.
Mrs. Butler-Turner accused Dr. Minnis of criminal behavior and that he presides over a corrupt organization, the FNM.
Despite Dr. Minnis’ claim in his final address at his convention that the FNM was united, public and closed door infighting in the FNM continues to rage on. The FNM in full public view demonstrated that they were a fractured and bitterly divided party yet they want Bahamians to vote for them to govern The Bahamas. Can you imagine that crew forming the government of the Bahamas?
The other very sad and shocking event at the FNM convention was the call made by madman MP Richard Lightbourn for the state to tie the tubes of unwed mothers after having two children. Richard Lightbourn said his recommendation was misinterpreted but we say NOT SO. Lightbourn was a practicing attorney of many years standing and clearly had given much thought to his recommendation as the same was outlined in his address. He is a very dangerous man and must resign and get lost.
Nobody has any reason to believe the sincerity of Minnis’ repudiation of Mr. Lightbourn’s ill advised remarks a full six days later because he allowed the comments to fester and escalate to a crisis level where it drew the ire of concerned citizens in the form of a demonstration; rebukes from local human rights organizations and attention from the international media. His FNM proposal was a well thought out dog whistle laced with racial and fascist overtones that have no place in the free, modern democratic Bahamian society. Minnis’ feeble claim that repeated attempts to preview Lightbourn’s speech were rebuffed by Lightbourn is indicative of his leadership and so when Dr. Minnis gets up on his soap box and talks about trust, accountability and intolerance to corruption, he comes across as laughable.
HE WAS INEPT IN HIS MANAGEMENT OF THE CONVENTION AND HANDLED THE LIGHTBOURN DEBACLE POORLY!! ON THE ONE HAND MINNIS WAS SELLING HIMSELF AS A CHAMPION OF THE POOR WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROPOSING TO SYSTEMATICALLY WIPE THEM OUT THROUGH INVOLUNTARY STERILIZATION.
The FNM convention showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that the FNM must not form the next government of the Bahamas. A house divided cannot stand and could only lead to disaster for our Bahamaland.
While the Butler and Minnis forces were engaged in mortal combat, your Progressive Liberal Party Government headed by the Rt. Hon Perry Gladstone Christie was busy advancing the interests of our people.
Your PLP has led the vast majority of the progressive programs in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas for almost one half century and this people empowering campaign continues in earnest in the fulfillment of the policy objectives laid out in our Charter of Governance.
Recently Parliament unanimously passed legislation to establish the University of the Bahamas. It is important to note that every successful civilization and sovereign state had at its center, a university that drove culture and intellectual thought that formed the bases of the solutions to many of its national challenges. Through research and development, these universities also drove social and economic development. With the University of The Bahamas playing a prominent role in the execution of our National Development Plan, we are optimistic and confident that its promotion of intellectual independence and propriety will facilitate and spur our continued growth and development.
Dr. Perry Gomez MP for North Andros and the Berry Islands yesterday tabled the enabling legislation that will finally introduce National Health Insurance for all Bahamians. This institution was a long time in coming and stands squarely in line with the PLP’s fundamental tenet and founding principle of social justice. We believe that all Bahamians should live in dignity and have an equal opportunity at a full and healthy life through equal access to affordable and quality health care. Like education, universal health care is a human right, not a privilege.
Bahamians everywhere and especially Grand Bahamians have every right to be optimistic about the future of Grand Bahama. The Grand Bahama (Port Area) Investment Incentives Bill tabled by Prime Minister Christie yesterday provides for a clearer vision for the future of Grand Bahama with greater accountability, transparency, stronger corporate governance, broader participation and the accrual of more rights to port stakeholders. In this new dispensation, concessions will be tied to performance and investors will be held accountable through periodic reviews to measure progress and performance levels. Further, the equity stake of the Bahamian tax payer in the Grand Bahama Port Authority will be commensurate with the level of subvention or injection of tax dollars in support of the growth and development of Grand Bahama. Additionally, new ownership coupled with new capital injection will provide the GBPA with the requisite financial muscle, vision and added business expertise to achieve many of its capital and business objectives.
The Contractors Bill, the Freedom of Information Act and enabling legislation in connection with the government’s recently revamped Mortgage Relief Program prove beyond a shadow of any doubt that the best party to lead this country at this time is the Progressive Liberal Party. This aggressive, progressive and transformational legislative agenda under the leadership of the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie should leave no doubt about who has the best and most practical vision for the future development of The Bahamas.
Even when the independence of our Parliament comes under threat, it falls to the PLP to vigorously defend its independence and integrity because to a great extent, our system of democracy is based on an independent Parliament where members are free to speak on any number of issues of national import with the protection of privilege. The FNM parliamentarians failed to lift their voice in defense of the Bahamas parliament. This is unthinkable and unbelievable.
Fellow Councilors, notwithstanding the noise in the market and the gloom and doom spewed in the public domain on a daily basis, The Bahamas is in good hands with team PLP as we move with haste to complete our agenda on behalf of the Bahamian people.
So tonight we continue the process of shaping, forming and building the electoral and executive team that will lead this great country of ours into 2017 and beyond. Tonight we approve three more competent, tried and proven leaders as our candidates for the 2017 General Elections, with Minister Arnold Forbes for Mt. Moriah, the Hon. Leslie Miller for Tall Pines and Deputy Speaker of the House the Hon. Dion Smith for Nassau Village.
It’s the responsibility of the Candidates Committee to accelerate the ratification process and it may be necessary to hold additional meetings of the National General Council to achieve this desired result. It is our intention to launch our Grand Bahama Candidates in Grand Bahama before the end on the month.
So without further ado, we transition into the highly anticipated ratification ceremony.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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