Remarks
By
Bradley B Roberts PLP Nat Chairman
At the opening of Yamacraw
Headquarters
Nassau, Bahamas
Feb. 13th, 2012
We
are at the gate after five long years counting the day when the Free National
Movement Government will be sent home packing.
Mr.
Party Leader,
Mr.
Deputy Leader,
The
Great Lady of Yamacraw Melanie Griffin,
To
the wonderful deep loving people of Yamacraw;
Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Evening!
I am extremely delighted to be here this
evening in Yamacraw to lend my full support and to endorse and strongly commend
an outstanding Bahamian woman, mother and wife whose unmatched record of
service is known not only by the people of Yamacraw but throughout the length
and breadth of the Bahamas.
My Brother and Sisters, I remind all that it
was Melanie Griffin who sent FNM former female standout Janet Bostwick into
political retirement. During her term as a member of the Senate Melanie played
a major role in exposing the corruption in the FNM Government leading up to the
2002 general elections. Her record as Minister of Social Services during
2002-2007 disclose that major social legislation was enacted an is unsurpassed
and even with dual ministers under the present the administration they have not
been able to drag her shoes.
My
brothers and sister, with the time allocated; wish to touch on briefly on
crime, the economy and the FNM candidate.
Crime
Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to emphasis that each Bahamian
and resident of the Bahamas has an inalienable right to life.
There is no more fundamental role for government than the
protection of its citizens.
The most fundamental role of government is to allow its
citizens to live peaceful and quiet lives.
The Government must actively and aggressively protect its
citizens from violent criminals. The state’s highest function is to make sure
people are reasonably safe, in and out of their homes.
The Government is mandated to insure a well-functioning
judicial system—operating on clear and consistent laws that legitimately
protect people—as well as effective law enforcement are essential to the maintenance
of law and order.
Any evaluation of these mandates and obligations by right
thinking Bahamian will conclude that the Bahamas Government headed by PM Hubert
Ingraham, DPM Brent Symonette and Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest
have disgracefully failed to keep its citizens safe as murders have doubled
during the under the FNM watch during the past almost five years. Home
invasions, arm robberies, rapes, car thefts, crimes against our little darlings
have all escalated under the FNM and the promised comprehensive plan promised
by the FNM to reduce crime in 2007 is still some where blowing in the wind. On these
very serious issues thinking Bahamians must reject Hubert Ingraham and the FNM
for failing to keep Bahamians safe from crime.
I am happy to report tonight
that the soon to be outgoing regime of the FNM will come in just weeks not long
from now!
The
great and dreadful day for the FNM is upon us.
The
hand of the Bahamian people shall fall like a thunderbolt from the heavens on
this UNCARING, UNCHRISTIAN, UNGODLY FREE NATIONAL MOVEMENT GOVERNMENT!
They
are saddled with SCANDAL, they have defrauded the Bahamian people, and they are
desperate and are on the run.
Scandal
sits in the FNM like an unruly child that misbehaves inside and outside the
house. You know what I mean.
Like
bad children running around making life a nightmare for many.
When
I say scandal, I am reminded of one bad child by the name of Dion Foulkes.
Yes,
Foulkes, the present Minister for Labour and Social Development.
I
understand he proposes to come in this decent community seeking support.
Dion
Foulkes many of you remember was a part of that ‘dream team’, which turned into
a fiasco that went up in flames just prior to the May 2, 2002 general
elections.
Him
and his then partner in crime both sat in the Cabinet of the Bahamas and were
involved in some shady business when he served as Minister of Education.
Contracts
for votes were issued by the minister without ever going to tender. You
remember that?
I
have information which points to another minister who is doing the same kind of
shadiness in Andros right now.
As
I speak, there is clear evidence that the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth
condones this kind of behavior. The abuse of the public purse is rank within
the FNM!
They
gave no SHAME!
When
Dion Foulkes and his side-kick Tommy T hands were caught together in the Cookie
Jar, Hubert Ingraham had nothing to say.
He
said nothing then and today he is saying nothing now.
Yamacraw!
You
remember those residents of Steven Close? Remember how some Dion Foulkes was
involved in giving bad legal advice to those struggling families who bought
property in that proposed community?
Well
let me jog your memory.
Nine
families invested life savings in the proposed community at the time. Foulkes
was the sitting Cabinet Minister back in 2007 when the Scandal broke.
You
would remember the families alleged him along with another former FNM Senator
and a realtor was at the center of the Scandal.
After
the residents’ monies were collected the realtor fled the country and return
with warrants still outstanding.
The
proposed new subdivision was just off Cowpen Road. The distressed families put
their case before members of the media at the time calling for the resignation
of the Minister of Labour, Dion Foulkes.
Five
years later after the realtor became untouchable and after the money paid by
the families vanished the Prime Minister still has Dion Foulkes sitting pretty
and smiling in that scandal riddled Cabinet; while refusing to meet with the
families.
Transparent
Government my foot!
Yamacraw,
is that the kind of representation you wish to have voicing matters for you in
the Parliament?
Do
you want someone who will fight for Bahamians? Or do you want someone who will
help kill the Bahamian dream?
Yamacraw!
Let’s
look at this situation about unemployment in the Bahamas, and guess what, Dion
Foulkes, heads up that department too.
The
maximum leader in the FNM wants to send you the man who has delivered a record
unemployment rate.
Under
Hubert Ingraham, Dion Foulkes and the FNM unemployment in the Bahamas is at an all-time
high.
And
while thousands of young people could not find a job, Hubert Ingraham, Dion
Foulkes and the FNM were all over the country planting foreigners at URCA, BAHA
MAR, at the commercial banks, on the roads project, at the airport and the list
goes on and on.
And
while Brent Symonette granted permit after permit, Dion Foulkes sat like a
church mouse inhaling incense while Bahamians suffered and were told they need
not apply.
Our
leader, the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie was right! The FNM should find
the confession box, ask for absolution from the Bishop, and seek forgiveness
from the Bahamian people – NOT VOTES!
But
they are desperate Yamacraw.
They
could hear the feet of the Bahamian people behind them. They could smell your
intent in the ballot box, so much so they are stalling to call the General
Elections.
Hubert
Ingraham has become a desperate man, issuing contracts to friends by the day.
Planting trees, renaming schools named almost 60 years ago, opening incomplete
buildings and is kissing babies wherever he could find them.
In
Andros over the weekend they were showcasing person like chattels, posting them
on the FNM election stage to send the message that if you are FNM you can
qualify for the Jumpstart Program; once again using the public purse for votes.
Just
the other day the DESPERATE leader of the FNM went to Elizabeth to tell the
people up there how he instructed BEC to enter negotiations with consumers who
were disconnected from electricity supply.
What
Mr. Ingraham failed to tell the Bahamian people is this; it was his government
who increased basic electricity rates bills after the Perry Christie Government
had reduced rates for the first time in BEC history.
Yamacraw,
Hubert Ingraham is a desperate man!
Yamacraw!
I
want you to know we have them all on the run.
Laing
the Mona Vie man is running, Collie is running, Butler-Turner is running,
Phenton Neymour is running, Desmond Bannister is running who aint running get
dump and who aint get dump got fired.
Yamacraw!
It
happens so one of them who are running has run into your hands for cut hip.
Dion
Foulkes must be an athlete by now. He ran from MICAL the South to you.
I
say to you Yamacraw Give him what the rest of the Bahamas wants to give to the
FNM!
VOTE
THEM OUT AND FIRE DEM!
I
started off tonight telling you how a great woman Melanie Griffin is.
She
is a Champion for poor. She is a defender of the weak. She uplifts the down
trodden and She is PLP!
We
in the PLP want you to stay with her. Keep her close to you.
She
will fight for you Yamacraw. And when Perry Gladstone Christie forms the next
government of the Bahamas not long from now, this woman of God will believe in
you!
We
in the PLP Believe in Bahamians.
We
believe in creating opportunities for you in Yamacraw.
We
believe in Job Creation and new industries for our young people to maximize
their potential.
We
believe in decreasing the tax burdens not increasing it.
We
believe in keeping communities around the country safe and Crime Free.
We
in the PLP believe in Education and releasing the potential of our young people
to soar.
We
believe in expanding the opportunities of Home Ownership for our people giving
the next generation the chance to own a piece of the rock.
And
we believe in that it is our duty to the wipe tears from every eye.
We
believe in YOU YAMACRAW!
Melanie
Griffin is our candidate carrying this vision of the Bahamas.
And
let’s send her back to Parliament whenever the bell is rung.
PLP…PLP…PLP
Thank
you, Goodnight and God Bless!
