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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 George Town, Exuma Island, Bahamas - Remarks by Bradley B. Roberts, National Chairman Progressive Liberal Party Prayer Breakfast at All Exuma & Ragged Island One-Day Convention George Town, Exuma 29th November 2014
under the theme, "Exuma Your Time is Now":
Mr. Party Leader and Prime Minister and Mrs. Christie;
Mr. Deputy Leader and Deputy Prime Minister and Mrs. Davis;
Rev Adam Brown and other Ministers of the Gospel
Cabinet Ministers;
Parliamentarians;
Stalwart Councilors;
Party Officers, Members and friends;
A very pleasant good morning and a hearty welcome to all of you.
The Hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2014 and will end tomorrow November 30, 2014 and will mark the second year that the Bahamas has been spared the ravages of hurricanes; we must as grateful Bahamians give praise and thanks to Almighty God for his tender mercies.
My brothers and sisters, the last time we met in National convention was 2009 and much has happened since then. The country suffered through a difficult recession and protracted economic recovery; the PLP fought a fierce political battle against a foe so desperate to hold onto power that the public purse became its principal weapon and you placed the PLP in the seat of governance to work for you and to improving your life and that of your family.
Given the democratic nature of our party, it is fitting to periodically meet in fellowship to reflect on from whence we came, take stock of where we are, and map out a strategic plan for the way forward. No doubt some of you have some concerns and convention is the proper place to air those concerns and to offer constructive solutions. Convention is a time to be re-energized and recommitted to the purpose of the party which is to execute policies for the betterment of all Bahamians. Against that backdrop ladies and gentlemen, we meet again in convention here in Exuma with the understanding that what binds us together is much stronger and more meaningful that our petty differences and sometimes selfish interests.
Exuma you have supported the PLP since 1968 for many years through the Hon. Livingstone Coakley, Hon. George A Smith, Hon. Ruby Ann Darling save and except for a period of 5 years by Elliot Lockhart. This positive representation continues under your present MP, the Hon. Anthony Moss. Exuma you must agree that tremendous progress has been achieved and will continue under the PLP.
During the period 2002 to 2007 the Christie Administration energized the economy of Exuma which resulted in a building boom which attracted construction workers from as far south as Long Island and elsewhere in the Bahamas. Exuma, when your PLP was voted out of office in 2007 the economy of Exuma was on a positive growth trajectory. I shall never forget when the former PM Hubert Ingrham in the 2007-2008 Budget declared that Exuma was able to stand on its own feet and refused to extend the benefits under the Family Island exigency Program. With a stroke of the pen the fortunes of the people of Exuma started to go downhill and continued from 2007 through to 2012.
Today, just 28 months into your PLP administration Exuma has much to be thankful for notwithstanding the challenges the country has had to endure over the last six years including the spiteful and shortsighted decisions of our predecessors.
On its return to office in 2012, the Christie administration reinstated the duty free status of Exuma under the Family Island exigency order as part of the government’s economic stimulus package to assist in jumpstarting the stalled economy of Exuma.
Further, I am advised that you now rank fourth in air arrivals behind only New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco. According to the Ministry of Tourism, as of August 2014, Exuma recorded first port of entry air arrivals totaling 29,657 visitors- up by 13.5 % over 2013.
Hotel occupancies are up due mainly to the airlift subsidized by Sandals which is now benefitting all of Exuma. Just recently a chartered Sandals 767 with some 300 travel agents landed for the first time in Exuma from Chicago.
Other airlines servicing Exuma include Air Canada and American Airlines from Miami and Delta from Atlanta. The trends are encouraging and we expect that this coming winter season will see strong improvements in stopover visitors.
There are a number of meaningful projects in various stages of development that spells good news for the economy of Exuma. The February Point Beach Resort; the development on Norman’s Cay by the Exuma Resort Developers Limited; the Exuma Club development by the Stocking Island Resort Ltd; the Escape Cay residential community and resort development by the Associated Island Developers Ltd are just a few.
I also note a measurable decrease in the price of crude oil on the international market and its positive impact at the gas pumps. According to OPEC, the price of oil will decrease further in the near term and this is further good news for us as the cost of energy in a major challenge for businesses, especially in the Tourism industry.
I am advised that the government of The Bahamas will have a definitive announcement on its energy reform policy that will have positive implications for prospects for lower energy costs.
One of the crown jewels in our social policy initiative is National Health Insurance. All of the analyses have been done and this program is still on schedule to become a reality in January 2016. The PLP believes that universal access to affordable and quality healthcare is a human, not a privilege just as universal access to education is also a human right.
Exuma, there is much more good news to report but I will leave that to the man of the hour, our party leader and Prime Minister who will no doubt offer a more comprehensive overview of where Exuma and the country are just twenty-eight months into his government’s administration and what we can expect going forward.
But who could resist Exuma? Of the 700 islands, Cays and Rocks that make up our archipelago, Exuma accounts for some 350 – an archipelago unto itself where every Cay in the Exuma chain has the potential to offer a difference visitor experience to locals and foreigners alike. Who can resist the strength and resilience of the Exuma people, with their infectious smiles, mild manners and strong work ethic? The natural and unspoiled beauty of Exuma combined with its people make for a winning combination.
At the end of the day though, the key to the success for Exuma lies within the hearts and minds of its people working together, believing in each other and watching each other’s back as his brother’s and sister’s keeper. I encourage each of you to position yourself to benefit from the opportunities that are becoming available in this economy. I encourage you to fully integrate yourselves into the economy of Exuma and become principal drivers of the future growth, development and prosperity of Exuma. You did not work this hard to get your party elected only to stand on the sidelines and watch others benefit from your hard work.
As I close, on a more sobering note Exuma, the country remains challenged in the area of crime and murder in particular. While it may not be a vexing social problem for Exuma – and let’s keep it that way – crime is a serious problem for The Bahamas, our international image and reputation, our economy and our way of life. Having said that, I call on all Bahamians to take on an attitude of zero tolerance towards criminality in its many forms by exposing those rotten apples among us.
Your most effective weapon against crime is intolerance – not fear. The police are doing one hell of a job in trying to keep criminals off the streets. The government has made available 10 courts to try as many criminal cases at the same time to bring about swift justice and the denial of bail, but as a close knitted society, we must do all we can to assist the police in beating back this scourge.
Once again, thank you all for coming, let’s have a great time of fellowship, dialogue and exchanging ideas all for the betterment of our great party and the greater national good.
Thank you very much, God bless and welcome.
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
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