15 February 2012

Nassau , Bahamas

Remarks by:

Chris Mortimer

Good evening Bahamas. Let me first start by thanking God for providing us this opportunity, and this chance to be the change that we have all been seeking.

I would like to thank our leader, The Hon. Branville McCartney, for his vision and courage in forging a new path forward, and for reminding all of us that the strength and resilience of the Bahamian spirit can accomplish and achieve extraordinary things. I would also like to thank each of you that have made this journey to be here tonight from all over our blessed Nation. Thank you to those who have come from throughout our capital, especially those from the great constituency of Nassau Village. To those that have traveled from Grand Bahama, and from the Family of Islands, to the many tens of thousands of people joining us via TV and radio and those streaming live all over the world. Thank YOU for joining us on this historic day, a day that you have helped to forge into the pages of Bahamian history.

Last but not least I would like to thank the 37 candidates that make up the DNA’s Full Slate! Brave souls, men and women of purpose and valor, who have decided to put country first, to stand and be counted, and to achieve the impossible. They are my colleagues, my friends, and fellow warriors for justice.

It is on behalf of all of you: The executive board; representatives of the DNA Women’s Alliance; the Young Dems, and delegates representing every constituency in the Commonwealth that I humbly and graciously accept the responsibility to serve as the Deputy Leader of The Democratic National Alliance.

I do not bear this responsibility lightly, because I understand the magnitude of the undertaking facing the DNA and our country. Our task is not just to change the parties in government, it is to change the way the country is governed. Our goal is not just to make politicians more responsible to the public; it is to make each of you more responsible to yourselves, and to each other. Our task is to replace fear and doubt with hope and optimism; to remind Bahamians that YOU determine your destiny; that YOU can change your current condition and that YOU can do what others say is impossible.

You see, critics would have you believe that because something has never been done before, that it cannot be done. Because their party did not have national support in its first year, then it just cannot be done. That because no one has EVER ran a third party with a full slate of candidates that it cannot be done. That because no third party has ever won the government, that it cannot be done.

I am here to remind those critics, that this generation of Bahamians does not like being told what they cannot do. [Boy dey don’t know me aye?]

We are a proud and resilient people. In 1967 when we were told that we could not get the representation that we deserved, we made a bold step in the interest of change. The time has come for us to do it again!

Growing up right here in Nassau I learned extremely valuable life lessons from the LIGHTHOUSES in my life - my parents. My mother, an educator turned banker, taught to me to value education because it holds the keys to life’s opportunities and a brighter future. She taught me to strive for excellence and to encourage those around me to do the same.

My father, a construction worker turned small business owner and community leader, taught me the importance of hard work. To him, service was not an option! It was an inherent responsibility of all of us. He made me understand that to whom much is given, even more is expected. That is the Bahamas that I know.

The Bahamas I know is a place where hard work and dedication are rewarded with opportunity; PEOPLE, not things, are valued as our greatest resource. In the Bahamas that I know, people stand against adversities, and rise to the occasion in the midst of challenges. The Bahamas that WE know is a place where YOU the Bahamian people are second to NO ONE and can achieve anything.

Unfortunately, The Bahamas WE know will not exist by continuing down our current path. Our country, our lives and our future are being threatened by enemies that we have all encountered before: doubt, poverty, fear, despair, and victimization. These enemies have mounted a ferocious attack against the Bahamian people, and are being used as tools that keep our people divided.

On May 9, 2011, beginning with a small army of nine candidates, the DNA began mounting an aggressive defense against the enemies that have plagued our people. Today, this army has grown significantly. It now includes 38 candidates and thousands of supporters from every island within our archipelago. Bahamians from various socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, PLPs, FNMs and independents, the young and the old, and young at heart – are all armed with hope, optimism, innovation and determination. I stand here today, to let you know that we will win this battle, we will defeat our enemy, and we will protect the Bahamas that WE know and love!

Are YOU prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with us? [Applause]

Are YOU prepared to defend the Bahamas that we all remember, the Bahamas we all love? [Applause]

I echo the words declared by the father of our nation, Sir Lynden Pindling, “If you are not prepared to fight for your country, then you do not deserve to have it.”

Those words were as true when Sir Lynden said them as they are today. It is NOT enough to just say that you want things to be better; you must fight to make them better. It is NOT enough to demand more from your country if still, YOU have not demanded more from YOURSELF. It is NOT enough to declare that you want change if you have not made that change internally. We each have a very specific role to play in this journey. Each of you has something that only you can contribute. The fact is, without you we cannot accomplish our goal.

Contrary to what the pundits have said, together we can overcome all of our challenges. We CAN take back our streets from crime and violence in order to make our neighborhoods safe again. We CAN diversify our economy, ending the overwhelming dependence that we have on tourism and banking. We CAN reduce chronic unemployment and put Bahamians back to work. We CAN invest in alternative energy to bring down the cost of electricity and gas. We CAN give our children hope for a better future, and our young people a better chance for real opportunity.

However I want to be clear! Some of these things will not happen in the first 100 days of the DNA government. They may not happen in our first term, but just as the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step, our journey toward “Real Change for ONE Bahamas” begins on Election Day.

So I ask you – Do YOU want change? [Crowd shouts YES]

WHEN do you want it? [Crowd shouts NOW]

If you believe WE can transform our country, shout D-N-A.

If you believe WE must put Bahamians first, shout D-N-A.

If you believe WE are ONE people, shout D-N-A.

If you believe WE can win this election and WIN IT BIG, shout D-N-A!

[Big up Nassau Village]

God bless all of you, and bless the Commonwealth of the Bahamas!