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Last Updated: Oct 16, 2017 - 9:09:35 PM |
 Nassau, The Bahamas - Address by Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis, Q.C., M.P. Leader of the Official Opposition Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party on the Occasion of New Providence Central Regional Meeting Monday, 16th October 2017, 7:00 p.m. Columbus Primary School Wulff Road and Collins Avenue
Theme: “Change will Come!”
Salutations:
Chairperson
Party Officers
Executives and Members of the various Branches of the Central Division
PLPs!
PLP!
PLP!!!!
Convention is near! Are you ready to work? Are to ready to rebuild and reform this great Party? By this time next week, I will be nominated to lead the great Progressive Liberal Party!
Our teams have travelled all over the country, across the length and breadth of this island nation, sounding the message that Change Will Come to the PLP under my leadership.
Since our crushing defeat at the polls, our discoveries confirm that our great institution needs fixing. It needs cleaning. It needs some hard scrubbing and weeding out!
We have not only heard it from our stalwarts and supporters; on May 10th, the Bahamian people gave us a very clear message that the PLP needs an overhaul.
For the most part, Bahamians did not vote for Minnis and the FNM… they voted against us!
There is no way to fix the past; but, we have a great opportunity before us to fix the way ahead. Together, we will fix the PLP!
Are you ready? I’m ready! My sleeves are rolled up and I have come to ask you to ‘Be Brave’ and give me the job on October 25th!
Over the years…many years…when the party has been challenged, they would “Call Brave”. I was the Clean Up Man! I was the Fix It Man!
I know what it is to play from behind. I know what it is to bring people together. I know that unity spells victory. I know what our capabilities. In 2012, together, we readied our party, organised our branches, rallied our troops, and marched to victory!
I am ready to work and do that again! We did it before, and we can do it again!
As we speak, the indicators tell us that our Bahamas is headed in the wrong direction.
Prime Minister Hubert Minnis is turning out to be The People’s Nightmare! His FNM has no plan! They have no vision and as one said…they are lost.
They say it’s da People’s Time – while firing young people off the jobs!
They say it’s da People’s Time – while sending home workers from NHI and Urban Renewal.
They say it’s da People’s Time – while cancelling legitimate contracts and forcing small businesses to lay off staff and terminate services.
They say it’s da People’s Time – while threatening staff in the Ministry of Education and telling them the government cannot keep them.
They say it’s da People’s Time – as they double the cost of electricity, offering no justification as to how a light bill in May increased by 100% in July!
They say it’s da People’s Time – while the People of Grand Bahama at the Port are telling reporters that this is the worst four months they have ever experienced in their 35 years working on that island!
One thing is very clear – da People’s Time for this FNM Government is not the time for all people. This FNM Government really does not care.
PLPs!
Yes, our country is in peril, but these are also very serious and critical times in our beloved PLP! And serious times calls for serious leaders. The undercurrent of division must be beaten out. United, we stand! Divided, we fall!
So let me ask this again…are you ready to work?! Are you ready to give me this job to defeat Hubert Minnis and the FNM?
PLPs…
You know of my service and commitment to our party. You know of my sweat and toil for this organisation!
I am ready and committed to make the tough decisions as party leader. And I humbly present myself for service.
The PLP is bigger than any individual or ego, including me.
We need all hands on deck to move this great PLP forward.
We are the best vehicle to bring about real change and progress for our people. Our record holds credit to the very foundations of our great Commonwealth!
We have the vision, the talent and vitality to bring about positive change! And it is time for hard work – heavy lifting – digging up the soil – and new growth. We must! There is no other option!
To the women of our Party - I want you to know with a Brave Davis Leadership your place around the table is assured. Be Brave! Be ready to take on greater roles and responsibilities that will make us stronger together.
To the Youth of our Party - Be Brave! As your leader, I will embrace your vision and work to shape the reformed Progressive Liberal Party. This is your party and, as Sir Lynden would say, “Step Now”, “Get Involved” and let us rebuild the PLP.
My PLP family, this is wartime!
Already, scores of young minds are signing up in the fight to return the PLP to power. They make up the majority of my team in this campaign for the leadership. And I take this opportunity to thank them for Being Brave.
In this campaign I have made it clear to all party supporters that this is no time for dirty politics! This is no time for disrespect and name-calling! This is no time for plenty talk but no action! This is no time for self-promotion! This is no time for internal division! This is no time for laziness! No time for jokers. No time for slick talkers, moon walkers, skylarkers, or backstabbers. This is time to work!
This is time for rolling up your sleeves! It is time to put your shoulders to the wheel! It is time to work like we have never worked before to rebuild the PLP and regain the confidence of the Bahamian people. This is time to tell your neighbour to come back home to the PLP!
I am not afraid of hard work! I’m ready!
And I am going to ask you again…. Are you ready? Are you ready to work?
As your leader a change will come to the PLP! The Bahamian people demand no less!
That change cannot happen without you!
PLPs, we must restore and maintain discipline and order among the rank and file of the membership of the PLP. As your Leader, as a priority, I will ensure that the Party speaks with one voice and that the party approaches the next election with a singular purpose.
As your Leader, immediately after the convention, I will appoint a committee comprised of PLPs throughout our archipelago to review, discuss and propose, after widespread consultation, significant changes to our party’s constitution. This is of critical importance. Times and realities have changed and so must we. We must ensure that “ALL PLPs” have more of a say in their party! We must continue to be relevant and reflect the true desires of the Bahamian people. This party belongs to all of us.
I commit to engage in ongoing meetings with College Students, Young Professionals, Groups of Young Men and Women, Community Leaders, Civic and Church organisations – The Party must more meaningfully demonstrate its interest in and concern for the affairs of all Bahamians. We must have continuous dialogue with all segments of the Bahamian society.
We cannot continue to run our party like a tuck shop. We must ensure that the party is properly funded. Politics is not cheap! As the Party’s Leader, I will support all major fund-raising efforts, including the introduction of a professionally managed system of pledges, that takes place year-round to fund the day-to-day costs at our headquarters, to keep our branches functioning and ensure that we are prepared to win the next election.
For too long we have been complaining about public relations in our party. As Leader, I intend to implement a fulltime, professionally staffed Public Relations unit. We must ensure that a professional Public Relations staff is identified and selected from the Party’s membership and fully resourced. The talent exists amongst us but must be effectively utilized and supported. Much talent is here tonight. This Public Relations department will be mandated to aggressively articulate the Party’s position on every major issue facing our country.
Now tomorrow night we are going to be at the S. C. McPherson School for our Southern Regional meeting. And then on Wednesday night this Brave Train will touch down in Fox Hill at the Doris Johnson High School on Prince Charles Drive for our Eastern Regional Meeting. I want all of you to come out and let’s bring this home to the Convention where we will Be Brave and Vote Brave!
PLPs
The Prophet Isaiah phrased the question well. “What will you do on the day of reckoning?”
Our country is calling out for a renewed and refocused PLP! Together we will rebuild. Together we will reform. Together we are an unbeatable force!
Centreville!
Bains and Grants Town!
Marathon!
Freetown!
St. Barnabas!
I call on you to Join Me as we march together!
Join Me as we rebuild our organisation!
Join Me as we retool our branches and reform this great party!
Join Me as we invite the attention of our people and let them know that CHANGE WILL COME TO THE PLP!
And So… I again ask for your vote on October 25th as I take my seat.
Before that, though, I reach back to some words from the book of Deuteronomy 31, verses 6 and 7 to frame this final wartime invitation:
“Be strong and [be brave]. Do not be afraid or terrified [by anyone], for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you...Be strong and [be brave], for [we] must go [...] into the land that the Lord swore to [our] ancestors...”
Be Brave!
PLP
PLP!
PLP!
Change WILL COME!
May God bless each of you!
May God bless our Party!
May God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas!
Thank You!
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
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