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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 Remarks by The Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis, MP, & Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition During the FNM Convention “New Vision” Friday 21st November 2014, in Nassau, Bahamas:
Tonight I am humbled by your support and grateful for your vote of confidence. We have come a long way these past 2 ½ years. You have never left my side! I have only succeeded because of your prayers, love and support; Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Your vote today is about the future!! A bright FNM future!!
Your vote is a call to action; it is a call for a more energized, a more united, and a more focused leadership. I hear you!
Our leadership team hears you! And I will make sure the entire Bahamas hears you!!
These are serious times, we have many challenges to overcome but with your help and through God’s grace, we in the FNM will rise to meet every challenge, the future of our country depends on it.
Let me extend my deepest appreciation to my wife Patricia. Patricia, you have supported me throughout this very difficult process. Your love, advice, patience and tireless work sustained me. Thanks to the coordinating teams who have organized every dimension of our campaign and have spent countless hours supporting and enlarging my vision for a better Party and nation. I am grateful to every delegate who placed their confidence in me. I am truly humbled by your expression of support.
I will continue to work tirelessly to improve your lives and the lives of every Bahamian. And to those who did not support me, I may not have gained your vote but I have listened to your voice. Please know that you are an important part of this party and I will double my efforts to earn your confidence and support going forward. The leadership election is over; so join with me now to kick the PLP out and make the FNM the next government of the Bahamas!!!
Tonight I stand on the shoulders of our founding fathers and the mothers who gave birth to this great Party and nurtured it during its political infancy. Join with me in saluting them tonight! We pause for a moment of silence for our fallen fathers particularly Warren Levarity, who was reposed yesterday.
There are hundreds of you all across this nation who have made countless sacrifices to build and sustain this organization over the last 4 decades. I thank you! I say thanks to all our past national and constituency leaders for your dedication and loyalty to the mission and work of building a nation.
Thank you, to every young person, and new member of this party, we value your contribution and welcome you to the fold.
Only through the vision and remarkable work of Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, we were prepared and formed a government in the sunshine. A government, led by my predecessor, one of the most outstanding leaders this region has ever produced, The Rt. Honourable Hubert Alexander Ingraham. Thank you PM Ingraham. We honor you today.
Whether you are old, or young, MCM or torchbearer, whether you joined with Sir Cecil, Ingraham or Minnis it is time to UNITE! WE ARE ONE FNM!! TOGETHER WE STAND, AND DIVIDED WE FALL!!
LET US STAND TOGETHER !!!
I commend the women and men who offered themselves for service. You have already proven yourself by simply offering yourself to serve. While everyone could not win, everyone can serve. You must continue to play a pivotal role in our growth and development. Thank you for the past service you have rendered and now join me, Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest, Chairman Michael Pintard, Secretary General Michael Foulkes, and our entire leadership team as we ready our great Party for the battle for the hearts and minds of our people.
Our former Deputy, the Honourable Loretta Butler-Turner has clearly demonstrated that our bench is deep and multiple persons in the FNM are prepared to lead this organization and country. I salute her and wish to say publicly that you are formidable and like your grandfather - fearless. Your tenacity and clarity of purpose has no doubt inspired many to commit themselves to our mission to replace this ineffective government, in order to continue the work to transform the lives of Bahamians. I say to you today, unequivocally and without reservation, there is a place for you in the FNM. The FNM needs you, I need you and the people all across this country need you. You have taught me much over these past few months and have made me even more battle ready. Thank you very much Loretta.
Leading up to this race a renewed team spirit emerged. FNMs of all ages worked together sharing ideas about the kind of country we wish to build, the kinds of initiatives we must launch to restore hope and demonstrate the depth of our care for the condition of our people. I saw and heard stories about veteran FNMs working alongside Torchbearers, Former Cabinet Ministers and Speakers of the House working alongside persons who recently joined the movement for change! Tonight, I am keenly aware that tens of thousands of Bahamians-FNMs, PLPs, DNAs and others, who love this country are calling for a new kind of leadership. Leaders who are able to look beyond the red, yellow and green and see the aqua, gold and black, it’s time for new leadership in this country.
Come 2017, there will be new leadership in this country and it will be F N M !!!!!
We may be politicians but it cannot be politics as usual. For over 40 years this country has had three leaders who have served their country well. It is now time for a new era in politics!!
Bahamians all across this nation, are tired of this do nothing, self-centered, and weak PLP government. They have looked out for their friends, their family and their lovers long enough. But come 2017, there will be new leadership in this country!!
A NEW FNM GOVERNMENT!
Together, we must construct a nation where our citizens are given the opportunity to drive development in each sector. We must construct a nation where the citizens are the primary beneficiaries of the prosperity not the politicians.
Together, we must construct a nation where all of our citizens are valued and given opportunities whether they hail from Masons Addition, Chippingham, San Souci, Salina Point Acklins, Mangrove Cay Andros, New Bight, Cat Island, or Hepburn Town Grand Bahama.
Forward Upward Onward Together To A new vision, a new FNM and a new Bahamas!!!!
Under a Free National Movement government, we will place merit and talent over cronyism and nepotism. A great nation cannot be developed merely by friends, family and lovers. This approach to governance must end with the PLPs defeat in the next general election.
FNMs, Delegates, fellow Bahamians only together can we make this nation great. We can transform our inner city communities in ways only dreamt about and under this government only talked about. It cannot be right that 40 years after I moved out of Bain and Grants town that families still live without light and water, while their leaders live lavishly boasting about their representation and supposed love for those that suffer daily. We need transformation.
As one of seven children born to a single mother we wanted more; in our spirit we knew we deserved more. Where we started out did not place a ceiling on our dreams, nor were the tough conditions strong enough to keep us down. But our hope for the improvement of the lives of the families who still battle poverty is stronger than ever. This is where my heart lies; it is my story, and my struggle that has shaped my passion and purpose. It has formed my vision for a better Bahamas. Elements of this vision I will reveal tonight.
Delegates, my vision includes Transformation of Urban Centres, and communities. NO MORE public relation exercises where one house out of 500 is touched while other families struggle to feed their children. I will no longer tolerate the wholesale neglect of our inner cities!!!! Change is coming!!
I will lead a government that will provide incentives to residents and businesses who participate in meaningful ways in our community revitalization program. This will involve inner city tax free zones. Our people must live in dignity. Habitats that breed criminality must be fundamentally changed. If we are to change their lives, we must first start by changing their environment.
Delegates, and My fellow Bahamians, Crime continues to grip this nation. We will not follow the path of the PLP. As Prime Minister, your safety and security will be my top priority. Crime is a multifaceted problem and we must address it in the same manor. We must provide our police with all the necessary tools to do their jobs. But we also need a transparent and accountable police force that our citizens trust. We must support local community groups and churches. We will bring real community policing. We must build a country where our laws are enforced and all are accountable for their actions. One law for all!
My vision includes Educational Reform, The FNM has always led in education reform and as Prime Minister, I will do the same.
If we are going to successfully compete globally, then we must produce a world class workforce. Under my leadership, focused attention would be given to implementing best practices and developing top performing schools throughout our system. We must promote educational hubs, where we encourage the development of educational institutions in science and technology, maritime studies and a range of specialty disciplines specific to our region, our environment and our future.
My father grew up in Andros and I know how difficult it is for a family island student. Family island students who qualify for College of the Bahamas will be provided with room and board along with a monthly stipend inclusive of free tuition.
Real change, real reform. We have had enough talk, the FNM will act!!!
My fellow Bahamians, my vision includes the continued Development of our Family Islands. The FNM has a track record for modernizing many of our family islands. Despite our wonderful work there is much left to be done and we shall move quickly to empower residents in our Family Islands by focusing on domestic tourism incentives, ensuring that proper infrastructure like roads, docks and clinics are provided. A percentage of taxes collected in the respective islands would be allocated to those islands for their enhanced development. New Providence is not the Bahamas!! This perception must change.
Fixing our economy will be a priority. We must reinforce and sure up the industries of Tourism and Financial Services. But, we must be deliberately searching for new industries which will provide long term sustainable employment. Incentives and concessions will be given under the existing Acts and new legislations to stimulate and drive development by local entrepreneurs. However, particular attention must be paid to domestic incentives for Bahamians who want to invest in the Family islands, in particular the island of their birth or island where their family originates.
The PLP have failed on their promise to fix the economy, failed on their promise to provide 10,000 jobs, and come 2017 we will VOTE THEM OUT!!!
Delegates, my new FNM government will include the further Development and recovery of Grand Bahama. We will make the role of the Minister of Grand Bahama more effective. The people of Grand Bahama deserve better and we will provide better.
A key part of my vision involves real economic empowerment. Over the years, I have learned that land ownership brings real economic empowerment. The FNM will ensure that any Bahamian family who can qualify will have their own affordable home. We will create effective and efficient means by which families can obtain title to generation and commonage land. Our Land Reform policies will be designed to increase Bahamian ownership. For far too long, thousands of Bahamians have not been able to get clear title to generation or commonage land so that they could have collateral when pursuing financing for a business or home. This will change under us. We will enable Family Islanders at home and abroad to purchase land at a concessionary rate to build homes.
Together we can create a new generation of wealthy Bahamians in this country. The FNM will take you there.
FNMs, fellow Bahamians, far too much of our personal and family resources are being spent on energy costs. When last in government, we began an ambitious program to drive the development and increased utilization of Renewable energy. We will launch the most ambitious energy conservation program ever undertaken in our country!!!!
Unlike the PLP we will not promise what we cannot deliver and we will deliver what we promise.
We must bring into force the Freedom of Information Act, The Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Contractors Bill. Government must function at a high standard. We must restore the public trust in Politicians, public officials and public servants and we, must lead by example. We will abide by the law and insist that every citizen does so. Investors must never complain or even hint that government official require payment for approval.
We will have integrity in governance!
We must ensure that every Bahamian is treated fairly by their government and will provide an independent Ombudsman who will give the public a voice and will advocate for them.
We will have equity in governance!
The FNM has led the way on government reform and we will continue we must remember the principles our party was founded on. Selflessness, transparency, accountability, and honesty, remember we are the government in the sunshine and will fight against the blatant and rampant corruption of the PLP!!!
Delegates, and my fellow FNMs, Now is the time to prepare for leadership. Remember people will not automatically support us because the PLP has failed. We must show them different. We must get battle ready. Within the next few weeks and months I will be meeting with you, providing counsel and your marching orders to move across the length and breadth of this country carrying the FNM message of hope, change and effective governance. National officers, each of you will have a job to do. From the Deputy Leader down, we will function like a well-oiled, focused machine, with one goal, one mission and one vision.
Delegates, FNMs, I began by thanking you and calling you to unite. I renew this call. Bahamians all across this nation are crying out for a change. The PLP are good talkers and they know how to take care of themselves. But, the Bahamas needs more than a good talker. The Bahamas needs more than empty promises. The Bahamas needs me and the Bahamas needs you!!
Bahamians everywhere are crying out for leaders of integrity, leaders who will not comprise and leaders who will listen and act in the best interest of the people and not themselves.
FNMs it’s our time now!! The road is not easy and the task ahead is hard but our brothers and sisters are depending on us. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on letting them down. We cannot fail!
It will require sacrifice and struggle, but I ask you to join me in changing this nation, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood and island by island.
Bahamas, this is our moment, this is our time. We are one party, we are all together and …
Change is coming to the Bahamas !!!
If we have the courage to work for it and fight for it !!
Change is coming to the Bahamas !!!
May God Bless you
May God Bless this great party and
May God bless the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
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