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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Freeport, Bahamas - The Democratic National Alliance held a press
conference today in Grand Bahama to ratify three candidates: Elkanah
Pinder, Leslie Lightbourne and Nevar Smith. The following are remarks
made by new
DNA candidate Leslie Lightbourne
for Pine Ridge:
First off, I would like to thank the Almighty God, for allowing me the opportunity to serve His people in this day and time.
I would also like to thank Mr. Branville McCartney and The Democratic National Alliance Candidates Committee Board for allowing me the opportunity to serve the Bahamian people.
I have been given the awesome responsibility in serving the fine constituents of Pineridge.
Pineridge is a constituency made up of nine (9) main subdivisions, which consist of; Hawksbill, Sunset Subdivision, Regency Park, Bahamia North, Garden Villas (commonly known as the Ghetto Area), Hudson Estate, Pioneers Way West (commonly known as the Back of Town), Heritage and Freeport Ridge.
A little history about Pineridge. I have learned that this constituency is a fair group of people that will give anyone an opportunity to serve. It is up to the person chosen to prove to Pineridge that they are the right choice for the job.
• In 1997, Pineridge gave the Free National Movement an opportunity to serve.
• In 2002, Pineridge gave the Progressive Liberal Party an opportunity to serve.
• In 2007, Pineridge gave the Free National Movement yet another chance to serve.
• In 2012, Pineridge gave the Progressive Liberal Party yet another chance to serve.
Now in 2017, the Democratic National Alliance is asking for an opportunity to serve.
During our canvassing, we have learned about the concerns of Pineridge from poor road works to unemployment.
As the days go on, we will share all of our ideas and plans on how we will turn Pineridge into a top class community.
A little about myself. I am the second child of Mallory Lightbourne, born in Nassau, Bahamas. At the age of sixteen (16) I graduated from Miami Norland Senior High. I went on to Miami Dade Community College, where I obtained an Associate's Degree in Pre- Law at the age of eighteen (18).
In the summer of 1990, what was supposed to be a summer job, turned into twenty-five (25) years of service to the Grand Bahama Power Company. During the years with the G.B Power, I have been involved in The Labor Movement for the past sixteen (16) years. I am currently the President of the Commonwealth Electrical Workers Union and a Control Room Operator by trade.
With Labor being my background and foundation, I was given the opportunity to run in the constituency of Pineridge for The Democratic National Alliance.
The D.N.A is committed to creating an economic environment that will facilitate;
• Labor and Employment
• Entrepreneurship
• Local Ownership
• Restoring the people's faith in government and in doing this
• Having a more transparent Government and
• Being accountable to the Bahamian people.
The Leader often says, " The power is in the people, not the people in power".
In final, Pineridge, you have tried the rest now let Les finish the test!
Bio for Leslie Lightbourne for Pine Ridge
Leslie Lightbourne Jr. is the second of two children born to Mallory and Leslie Lightbourne Sr. In 1973 the Lightbourne family relocated to Grand Bahama Island where, at the tender age of 4, young Leslie began his schooling at the St. Vincent De Paul School in Hunters. He would go on to receive his high school education at Grand Bahama Catholic High School before entering the Pre-Law & Juvenile Delinquency program at the Miami Dade Community College. In June 1990, Lightbourne earned his Associate in Arts Degree in Pre-Law and was awarded a four year scholarship from the Grand Bahama Port Authority under the leadership of the late Edward St. George to study law at the Buckingham University in London.
As fate would have it 1990 would also be the year that Lightbourne returned to the Bahamas where he was able to parlay a summer employment opportunity at the Grand Bahama Power Company is a 25 year career. Today, he holds the position of Control Room operator in the Operations Department and is responsible for monitoring the island’s load and power usage. It was during his tenure at the Power Co. that Lightbourne developed a love for the labour movement; for helping people and speaking up for those who could not do so for themselves. Driven by that desire, Lightbourne joined the Commonwealth Electrical Workers Union, (CEWU) and immediately took on an important role in the fight for the rights of workers at the company. Over a 14 year period of service in the union, Lightbourne served in numerous ancillary roles before being elected to the post of President, a role which he has filled for the past 6 consecutive years to date.
As a veteran unionist in his own right, Lightbourne has continued the work of helping his fellow Bahamians and has also sought to improve his own understanding of the country’s labor laws. That continues passion has acted as a catalyst leading him to train with the likes of Obie Ferguson and the TUC of which the CEWU is an affiliate as well as participating in the Employment Law Program offered at the College of the Bahamas and taught by noted legal mind Justice Osadebe.
Lightbourne is a loving husband to his wife Sharmaine, a youth pastor and an equally doting father to his daughter Alexis, an Architect and Design student at the College of the Bahamas.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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