The following are remarks by Reginald William Smith who is a native Exumian contesting the Exuma Ragged Island Constituency.

Hello Exuma and Ragged Island,

Today I am announcing my candidacy to be your representative in the new Parliament which will be elected early this  year. This is my first time seeking political office and I do so as an Independent candidate. Ever since returning home in 2004 I have been watching developments in the Exuma/Ragged Island constituency particularly here on Great Exuma and the Exuma Cays. I have made several attempts to assist in bringing change in a number of areas. I am now convinced that the only way to bring real change is to become involved in the day to day running of our island. I believe that there is a better way to do business. I believe that there needs to be more focus on planning and that we must take a long range view of where we want our islands to be in the years ahead. I believe we can plan that future and work to make it happen. And to do this we must invest in our people.  We must create a sustainable environment in which to live and work. We must rebuild our communities and find better ways to utilize our lands and seas. We must create industries that help to feed our people and we cannot depend on government alone. I believe that if we lead the way then government will have no choice but to follow us. We have not seen any of this from our present leadership and now find ourselves in dire straits going forward. But together we can change all this.

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And so I ask that you give me your consideration and the opportunity to work with whatever party forms the next government to bring about meaningful and positive change to the Exuma/Ragged Island constituency. I must confess that throughout my life I have always believed and worked with the team concept. Exuma/Ragged Island has among its citizens some of the most productive, talented people in the entire country but we have not been able to tap in to this resource to help ourselves. We are devastated by partisanship. By a learned behavior that we cannot differ and still work together. The time has come for us to put this all behind us. To appreciate that we can belong to different groups so long as we respect each other’s rights and to be able come together in common purpose for the greater good. 

I am also keenly aware that past political practices argue against my running as an Independent. That it is impossible to get things done as an Independent. Yet we have had in both instances representation that did little for this constituency. In fact you have been represented in name only. So that is a very weak reason for not voting for an independent candidate; for a lack of vision and an inability to bring our people together. It is also a devastating means of setting us against each other. I believe that in this twenty-first century it is the individual, who must take the lead; who must bring new ideas and new thinking to the table.

And so I ask you to cast your vote for this independent candidate so that together, we can work shoulder to shoulder for a brighter future for us all.

I leave you with the words of two great men: Mahatma Gandhi who said the “we must be the change we want to see in this world.” And our own Timothy Gibson who when he penned the words to our national anthem encouraged us to “life up our heads to the rising sun and that we “pledge to excel through love and unity”. He asks that “pressing onwards” we should “march together to a common loftier goal.” And that the world will “mark the manner of our bearing.” I say to you Exuma and Ragged Island, that there can be no greater challenge to us than what is written in the words of our national anthem. That we let these words be our guide in the coming elections, and on into the future. I ask that you send me as your next representative to do your bidding in the new parliament in 2012. Thank you for listening.

God bless you. God bless the Bahamas and God Bless this great constituency of Exuma and Ragged Island.