Nassau, Bahamas - Today, Wednesday June 23, 2010, The National Development Party has taken another momentous step for and on behalf of true representative democracy for the Bahamian people. As this party has made history in the process of naming its candidate in the Elizabeth By-election through the first ever constituency primary held in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas in January of this year, we are therefore pleased to announce our first three candidates to contest the next general election who were also subject to the primary process, however without any challenge to their candidacy at this time.
These three distinguished members of this Party, having shown themselves to be genuinely interested in the welfare and the wellbeing of our nation, are fully committed to the same for the constituents in their respective area in which they will be running in the next election. The NDP is therefore pleased to present to the public Mr. Latore Mackey for the Clifton Constituency, Mr. Lavade Darling for the Garden Hills Constituency and Mr. Paul Moss for the St Cecilia Constituency.
The National Development Party has come to the Kingdom for such a time as this and as a Political party we are continuing to grow from strength to strength. We anticipate that we will be naming other candidates in the not too distant future, several of whom the party is now in very productive discussions with. As we consider the NDP as the healthy alternative Political Party that is best suited at this time in our history to usher in the change that you the Bahamian people are desperately crying out for: and, as we intend to attain the governance of The Bahamas to return the ownership of this country back to you the people, The NDP invites the Bahamian citizen of all races, societal class and economic status who are interested in changing the country for the better, to offer yourselves as Candidates under The NDP’s banner in the next general election.
BIOGRAPHY- Mr. Lavade Darling
Lavade Matthew Darling was born in Nassau, The Bahamas, on September 21st 1964. Proud parents Ramon Theophilus Darling and Bernadette Lee Flowers-Darling welcomed their first child.
Lavade is a product of the public education system, and knows and understands what needs to be done to fix it. He attended Yellow Elder Primary School, S.C.McPherson Jr. High School and the A.F. Adderley Sr. High School where he graduated in 1981 with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.3.
In later years Mr. Darling served as president of the Parents Teachers Association of his high school alma mater, A.F. Adderley Jr. High School, and was presented the keys to the school at the end of his second term in 2002.
Technically a part of the 85% of Bahamians who do not have a post-secondary education, Mr. Darling made an early commitment to life-long learning. As an employee of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Mr. Darling was afforded the opportunity to enroll in the A.B.I.B., Associate of The Bahamas Institute of Bankers Program, at the College of The Bahamas. During this period Mr. Darling easily attained and maintained a 4.0 grade point average, despite being a part-time student. He also has the distinction of being one of the few students to attain an A grade, on the essay component of English 120 while enrolled at the Bahamas Baptist Community College. No wonder then, that Mr. Darling is today recognized as one of The Bahamas’ better writers.
No stranger to public advocacy, Mr. Darling is a fixture in the local consumer movement. In 1987 he became founding president of The Bahamas National Consumers Union (BNCU). This organization was successful in influencing the expansion of the listing of ‘bread basket’ items, and in the creation of both a stand-alone Ministry of Consumer Affairs and a Public Utilities Commission. In 1995 Mr. Darling again as one of the leaders of the local consumer movement, became founding president of The Bahamas Coalition for Consumer Education (BCCE), and conceptualized and introduced to the local market its official publication, Consumerism Today magazine, in October of 1996, serving as its founding Publisher/Editor-in-Chief. Multitalented, in 1998 Mr. Darling also produced and co-hosted ‘Consumerism Today Interactive, a live 1-hour radio talk show on 1540 ZNS 1 radio, and spin-off of Consumerism Today magazine.
Christened Anglican but raised Roman Catholic, Mr. Darling married the former Gladys Hall on December 26th 1987. The couple applied for an uncontested divorce in 2009. They have two sons, Latario Matthew Darling (March 30th 1987), and Mikhail Stefan Darling (June 28th 1988).
Mr. Darling presently worships at St. George’s Anglican Church, and St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church.
Meet La Tore’
EARLY YEARS
La Tore Mackey was born in Nassau, Bahamas on June 21st, 1977. His father, Vann Thomas Mackey., was born and raised in Gregory Town Eleuthera, where he grew up in his teen years farming, and exploring the agricultural world with his grandparents Ruth and Wilfred Mackey, renowned in that settlement and island for their pineapple farming and strength in social and religious organizations on that island.
La Tore’s mother, Vernise Brennen – Armbrister – now deceased, grew up in Nassau Bahamas. She schooled and gave birth to seven children, of which La Tore’ was the second and two of whom are also deceased. Her mother was a straw vendor and raised all her children on the fact that, if you work hard, you will accomplish your goals in life. La Tore’ has Aunts, cousins and friends he has affiliated with, still working in the Straw Market today.
THE COLLEGE YEARS
Remembering the values of empathy and service that his mother taught him, After continuing his secondary education at the Governor’s Harbour High School in Palmetto Point Eleuthera, where he excelled in his academic studies, receiving Meritorious Achievement awards in 10 subjects of note upon Graduation. La Tore went on to furthering his education at Bahamas Hotel Training College in Nassau receiving his Associate of Arts degree in Hospitality Management.
At the tender age of 16, La Tore was hired at the Le Meridien Royal Bahamian Resort as a full time employee, where he worked until the hotel was sold to the now Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa, where he was called back to further his expertise in the Hospitality Industry. Mr. Mackey, with the ambition to excel in the business world, sought to continue his education in the business field as he aspired to become an astute businessman. After resigning from Sandals Royal Bahamian, he took a position at CIBC Bank as a CSR1, as he ventured in the world of finance. La Tore’ then continued his education as the University of Rochester, Rochester New York, where he acquired his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration – Marketing and Finance where he graduated “cum laude” – with honors!
La Tore’ then returned to Nassau and acquired a position at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island where he excelled and received numerous promotions to the position of Suite Administrator, where he was responsible for the suite guests, VIP’s, Celebrities and Royals staying at the World Class Resort’s, Royal Towers.
Remembering the values of empathy and service that his mother taught him, La Tore also involved himself in many religious, social and civic groups, where as he enhanced himself, he would have the opportunity to also serve others. La Tore’ became a community organizer with a church-based group seeking to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods, encouraging young Bahamians to take their rightful places in society and encouraged a converted life to serve God. He was never afraid to enter with others in the outreach, areas plagued with crime and high unemployment.
The group had some success, but La Tore’ had come to realize that in order to truly improve the lives of people in that community and other communities, it would take not just a change at the local level, but a change in our laws and in our politics.
POLITICAL CAREER
It has been the rich and varied experiences of La Tore’s life – travelling and exposed to different places with people who had differing ideas - that have animated his political journey. Amid the partisanship and bickering of today's public debate, he still believes in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose - a politics that puts solving the challenges of everyday Bahamians ahead of partisan calculation and political gain.
In the our current political climate, this means working with both PLP’s and FNM’s to help working families get ahead by creating programs like “The National Service”, designed by himself, which in the first 10 years would have accumulated over $745 million in educational scholarships, employment opportunities and national service and training for all Bahamians across the country. He also believes that pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and working cohesively with law enforcement officials, church leaders, civic groups, politicians, activists, corporate leaders, small business owners and educators is the only path that will lead to our self reliance and independence and a disciplined and secure nation.
In the media, online through the various youth groups, and pages he has founded and continues to support, he has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and a politics that no longer settles for the lowest common denominator. Measures to rebuild trust in government by allowing every Bahamian to go have access to and how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent. He has also been a lead voice in championing ethics reform, election finance reform and electoral reform in an effort to rid our country of corruption in Government.
As a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), initial secretariat for the first Association of Caribbean Chiefs of Police (ACCP) ever held here in the Bahamas a few years ago, Represented the country with the former Commissioner of Police on a National Security Advisor tract, extending from the Directorship appointment on the Professional Security Association of the Bahamas (PSAB), a member of the Toastmasters Club 1600, President of Junior Achievement on Eleuthera, various exchange programs throughout the Caribbean representing the Bahamas, La Tore’ has fought to keeping our nation secure from enemies both foreign and domestic, whilst standing firm to the belief that we must invest in educating our youth above all else and ensure we are competitive on the world class level.
Knowing the threat we face to our economy and our security from the Bahamas’ dependence on imported energy , he's working to bring auto companies, unions, farmers, businesses and politicians of all parties together to promote the greater use of alternative fuels and higher fuel standards in our cars, homes and daily lives. Whether it's the poverty exposed by unemployment, the foreign agenda of the special interest so prevalent in our executive decisions, or the role of faith in our politics, La Tore’ continues to speak out on the issues that will define the Bahamas in the 21st century.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time, We are the ones we have been waiting for, we are the ones we seek! Let the change begin in you! Let’s Keep them Honest, Transparent and Accountable in government Bahamas” – La Tore’ V Mackey
Lavade Matthew Darling was born in Nassau, The Bahamas, on September 21st 1964. Proud parents Ramon Theophilus Darling and Bernadette Lee Flowers-Darling welcomed their first child.
Lavade is a product of the public education system, and knows and understands what needs to be done to fix it. He attended Yellow Elder Primary School, S.C.McPherson Jr. High School and the A.F. Adderley Sr. High School where he graduated in 1981 with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.3.
In later years Mr. Darling served as president of the Parents Teachers Association of his high school alma mater, A.F. Adderley Jr. High School, and was presented the keys to the school at the end of his second term in 2002.
Technically a part of the 85% of Bahamians who do not have a post-secondary education, Mr. Darling made an early commitment to life-long learning. As an employee of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Mr. Darling was afforded the opportunity to enroll in the A.B.I.B., Associate of The Bahamas Institute of Bankers Program, at the College of The Bahamas. During this period Mr. Darling easily attained and maintained a 4.0 grade point average, despite being a part-time student. He also has the distinction of being one of the few students to attain an A grade, on the essay component of English 120 while enrolled at the Bahamas Baptist Community College. No wonder then, that Mr. Darling is today recognized as one of The Bahamas’ better writers.
No stranger to public advocacy, Mr. Darling is a fixture in the local consumer movement. In 1987 he became founding president of The Bahamas National Consumers Union (BNCU). This organization was successful in influencing the expansion of the listing of ‘bread basket’ items, and in the creation of both a stand-alone Ministry of Consumer Affairs and a Public Utilities Commission. In 1995 Mr. Darling again as one of the leaders of the local consumer movement, became founding president of The Bahamas Coalition for Consumer Education (BCCE), and conceptualized and introduced to the local market its official publication, Consumerism Today magazine, in October of 1996, serving as its founding Publisher/Editor-in-Chief. Multitalented, in 1998 Mr. Darling also produced and co-hosted ‘Consumerism Today Interactive, a live 1-hour radio talk show on 1540 ZNS 1 radio, and spin-off of Consumerism Today magazine.
Christened Anglican but raised Roman Catholic, Mr. Darling married the former Gladys Hall on December 26th 1987. The couple applied for an uncontested divorce in 2009. They have two sons, Latario Matthew Darling (March 30th 1987), and Mikhail Stefan Darling (June 28th 1988).
Mr. Darling presently worships at St. George’s Anglican Church, and St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church.
Like most Bahamians I was of the view, until joining the National Development Party, that politics was a dirty and dishonourable game dominated by party affiliation over love of country, and where loyalty and allegiances are constantly bought and sold.
In observing the sad state of our nation, it has become painfully obvious that our Bahamaland will be lost were we to continue with our present political leadership, and if no real alternative is presented. My decision to answer the call of frontline politics therefore, has been greatly influenced by two scriptures; Better a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked in his ways and rich, Proverbs 19:1 and Then I heard the voice of The Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said; “send me!” Isaiah 6:8
My campaign is essentially about answering the call, about having the strength and courage of my convictions and beliefs and applying myself to the betterment of the constituents of Garden Hills and by extension the people of The Bahamas through servant leadership.
Fellow Bahamians, it is time to fix our dysfunctional educational system and rescue our young people from a life of crime and despair. Allow us, the National Development Party to rid the Department of Lands and Surveys of corruption, so that ALL Bahamians, not just the connected and foreigners will have unconditional access to crown land. Let us stop the practice of paying foreigners 3 times as much as Bahamians simply because they are foreign and white. It is time for Bahamians to be first in their own country. I am ready for a change, are you?
ABOUT THE CANDIDATE
Name: Lavade Matthew Darling
Born: September 21st 1964 (Nassau, The Bahamas)
Schools: Yellow Elder, S.C. McPherson, A.F. Adderley, College of The Bahamas and Bahamas Baptist Community College
Children: Latario Matthew Darling and Mikhail Stefan Darling
E-mail:
lavadedarling@hotmail.
com
Facebook: Lavade Darling
Hobbies: reading and writing
