EMBARGOED UNTIL 10:00PM WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2000

 

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

 BY

GRANTS TOWN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

BRADLEY B. ROBERTS

43RD PLP CONVENTION

NOVEMBER 15, 2000

 

 

I may have started out as a poodle when I entered the Halls of Parliament, but I watched for a while and then became a quick learner. I made the change from poodle many years ago and now some call me a pit-bull. Well to that I say, call me what you like. Just don’t call me too late to put hell on the FNM Government! There is a fresh wind blowing with promises of opportunity, prosperity and security for all under a new PLP Government!

 

INTRODUCTION

TO: PARTY LEADER, MR.CHRISTIE; DEPUTY LEADER MRS CYNTHIA PRATT AND MR. JOE PRATT; HONORABLE SENATORS; PARTY OFFICERS; PARTY DELEGATES OF THIS 43RD ANNUAL GENERAL CONVENTION; PARTY SUPPORTERS;

    

        MY FAITHFUL AND LOYAL GRANTS TOWN CONSTITUENTS, DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND PERSONS OF GOODWILL THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE BAHAMAS; I BRING YOU GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS FROM THE EVER FAITHFUL AND ALWAYS STANDING, GRANTS TOWN CONSTITUENCY.

 

Mr. Session Chairman,

Before I get down to that which I do so well and what all right thinking Bahamians would expect of me, I want to thank all of the delegates of the great PLP for participating in the convention elections that were held earlier this today and specifically, I salute those delegates that voted for me to become the new National Chairman. I pledge to bring a new enthusiasm to this awesome responsibility and I will be travelling to all of the Family Islands to visit with PLP Supporters along with the other responsibilities that comes with dynamic Chairmanship. On another note, I wish to acknowledge that since we last met in Convention we have paid our final respects and farewells to several outstanding and great Bahamians who have contributed much to the success of what we are all about as a people.

 

We will always remember with great fondness and love the Rt. Hon. Sir Lynden Pindling, Prime Minister, Leader Emeritus and Father of the Nation. We must also acknowledge Sir Randol Fawkes, Father of the Labor Movement and a significant contributor to majority rule. And we must not ever forget Archdeacon William Thompson, an outstanding religious leader whose many missions included the challenge to our people to be upstanding and moral citizens. Certainly there are many other outstanding Bahamians too numerous to mention, but we pray nevertheless that they are enjoying the rewards of sainthood.

 

 We should also take this time to salute our super-Golden Girls, headed by athlete-extraordinaire, Pauline Davis-Thompson. Likewise salutations must be afforded our Platinum Boys, Bahamen. Both of these groups of Bahamians and their outstanding contributions to our Bahamaland, must forever be a deep source of pride and accomplishment for all Bahamians.

 

At the same time I wish to offer some words of encouragement to our Party Leader, who I’ve found over the recent years of working more closely with him to be a man of vision, a man of strength, a man of strong character, a man who has a deep and abiding faith in the Lord and a man who I strongly believe cannot be corrupted.

 

 I am satisfied that the reins of the ship of state will be safe under his leadership. Perry Gladstone Christie is a man who rose from humble beginnings and will not and cannot ever forget his origin. He’s been a champion of the small man who will ensure that the poor, the depressed, the young and the plain ordinary Bahamian will not be left behind under a new PLP Government.

 

Likewise in my desire to encourage our re-elected Deputy Leader, we are especially blessed to have as our Deputy, an outstanding women, wife, nurse, educator, community leader, a distinguished women of God, a compassionate champion of the grass root persons and the salt of Bahamian life.

 

To our Leader and Deputy Leader I say, press on toward the awesome responsibility of governance because the nation awaits the saving grace your stewardship will bring under a new PLP Government. There is a fresh wind blowing!

 

Mr. Session Chairman,

For Inagua in the South to Bimini in the North, I stand here tonight and everyday as a fearless warrior. I am fighting for Bahamians! I am fighting for your children! I am fighting for your grandchildren! I am fighting for all Bahamians black and white, poor or rich!

 

I stand here as your warrior against the dictators in Parliament, the criminals in Nassau, the criminals in other parts of the Bahamas but in particular at this time the criminals in Long Island. I am fighting against the evils and those persons who either by commission or omission give aid and comfort to the evils that contribute to the moral and social demise of our nation under the umbrella of greed.

 

 I lost a brother. I lost a son because of the evils of drugs. And I am sure that I am not alone as a victim of the drug epidemic. Nevertheless, I do have zero tolerance to illegal drugs and all that is related or stems therefrom such a violence, contagious diseases, corruption of officials and money laundering. When it comes to any of these evils, whether it be in Parliament or on the streets, I fight for you and yours who will come down through the ages!

 

 

My fellow PLP’s and other persons of goodwill, besides being your fearless warrior I am also your best friend because I will tell you the truth, no matter how difficult it maybe for it to be heard. And as your best friend I regret to inform you that despite what others are saying, it is not all about you in the Bahamas today.

 

Yes my brothers and sisters, those persons who the PLP will run out of office at the next General Elections told you last week that it is all about you. But all Bahamians have to do is look around and we will see that it’s not about you at all!

 

My brothers and sisters, the FNM Government through its self-admitted inaction caused the Bahamas to be blacklisted by international agencies. This past Friday night, the maximum leader of the FNM had intended to invite Bahamians to look around and see what the FNM Government had done for us.

 

 Well lo and behold, Bahamians did look around and saw darkness. First it was the blacklisting, then it was the BEC blackout, and then there was a blackout by the hotel’s stand-by generator. Mr. Session Chairman, the message should be loud and clear to all Bahamians, to stay away from Hubert Alexander Ingraham and his uncanny ability to bring darkness into our lives.

 

SOCIAL ISSUES

My brothers and sisters, the question that is needing an immediate answer is where is the nation headed and where will the nation end up under the governance of the FNM Maximum Leader, Hubert Ingraham, and those that blindly follow his tune? That is the only serious and relevant question for today; a question that must concern all Bahamians, except the chosen few.

 

 The words of “jobs, jobs, jobs” has no more meaning today, because we know in exchange for jobs this FNM Government gave up our rights to ownership! The words of “sunshine, accountability and transparency” are words today that bring about many horror stories of betrayal! The words “better-better” has proven to be only words for the exclusive use of the chosen few!

 And the words “better now and better to come” are only words that bring fear when we realize that better to come can only mean more for those who already had it “better-better!” And now its “look around, it’s all about you.” Words my brothers and sisters, just words.

 

My brothers and sisters it is rather easy for us to see where the nation is headed and where it will end up, by looking at the behavior of the Maximum leader of the FNM. I have to focus on Hubert Ingraham because it seems that he is the only one making all the decisions. It seems that he is the only one in the FNM with an opinion. It seems that the only time the other Ministers have an opinion is when the maximum leader tells them what their opinions had better be! So we have to examine the behavior of the FNM’s Alpha and Omega.

 

My brothers and sisters, the maximum leader is a bundle of double talk wrapped up in a box of deceit.

*He is the man who dares you to say that he said what he actually said when he is caught in one of his crafty fairy tales.

 

*The maximum leader is famous for saying that he means what he says, but get this now, he claims he means what he says, but that is only for the moment he says it.

 

*And then when he is caught in one of his fairy tales, he denies he said what he said when he claimed that he meant what he said!

 

*Did you get that? I know it seems like a riddle, so let me repeat it again;

 

 *The maximum leader means what he says only for the moment he says it and when caught he tells you he didn’t say what he claims he meant! And now he says it’s all about you, just look around. Well lets for a brief moment look around…

 

In 1993, the maximum leader decided in his peculiar mind and without any evidence and his chest pushed out, he boastfully proclaimed in Parliament that his government had broken the back of crime. Well my fellow Bahamians, look around and you’ll conclude that the crime statistics continues to break the previous record from every year before! And may I ask, what part did Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ play in the 1990 statement of the born-again, but still the same Attorney-General and Member for Yamacraw, Janet Bostwick, when she said that if you get rid of the PLP you’ll get rid of crime? Has the Attorney-General repented from that unchristian and untrue statement yet? The Bible says in the Book of Proverbs, that a man beyond reproof will finally be broken beyond repair! Maybe someone should tell the Attorney-General that!

 

And my brothers and sisters, it was the maximum leader’s promises of Manifesto One in 1992, I won’t even bother to mention the promises of Manifesto Two because if you can’t believe the first set of fairy tales, why should you believe the ones in Manifesto Two? In addressing the crime problem regarding the prison system, the FNM promised they would:

 

*   UPGRADE THE EXISTING PRISON FACILITY AT FOX HILL

*   ALLEVIATE PRISON OVER-CROWDING BY ESTABLISHING A DETENTION CENTRE TO HOLD ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN A SECURE BUT CLEAN AND DECENT FACILITY. WORK WITH THE JUDUCIARY TO REORGANIZE THE COURTS SO THAT CASES CAN BE BROUGHT TO TRIAL MORE EFFICIENTLY.

*   ESTABLISH REMANDMENT FOR MINOR OFFENCES IN CENTRES OTHER THAN THE FOX HILL PRISON

*   ESTABLISH A REMAND CENTRE IN FREEPORT SO ACCUSED PERSONS WILL NOT HAVE TO BE TRANSPORTED BETWEEN NASSAU AND FREEPORT WHILE AWAITING TRIAL AT THE PRISON.

 

My brothers and sisters just look around at Her Majesty’s Prison and the promises of the FNM and you’ll see that the prison is egregiously overcrowded. The living conditions are subhuman. Illegal immigrants seem to be the only prisoners who consistently find ways of escaping. First time or young offenders are put in a cell with hardened criminals running the risk of losing what positive principles they may have, plus risking the loss of their male identity. But most importantly and as of late, persons in the custody of the State at Her Majesty’s Prison are losing their lives under mysterious circumstances!

 

 It is clear my brothers and sisters, that a sure sign of a government being unfit to govern is when a prisoner is not even safe in the State’s custody. If prisoners who are confined to an area under the watch of the State can be murdered or mysteriously loses their lives, pray tell me then how in the world can you as an upstanding citizen in an open society possibly believe that the State is capable of protecting your life? Remember Cabinet Minister Chuck Virgill? Remember Archdeacon William Thompson? These men where only symbols of how dangerous this society has become under the FNM Government! And there are a host of other Bahamians who to this very day keep being murdered! Yet, they say it’s all about you. So let’s continue to look around…

 

In the FNM’s Manifesto regarding the Royal Bahamas Police Force; they promised they would:

 

*   MAKE OUR HOMES, STREETS AND WORK PLACES SAFE AGAIN. (REPEAT)

(PLAY ROBERTA FLACK’S “TRADEWINDS”)

My brothers and sisters there are people being murdered practically everyday and only God’s mercy will stop you or I from becoming a murder statistic this very night because of the incompetence and the lack of will by this FNM Government to relieve the masses of the fear of not knowing if it is me or you who will be the next victim. It has gotten so bad in our Bahamas that the most any Bahamian can ask for, is that if we be murdered let it be on Paradise Island where we can be mistaken for a foreigner, because maybe then, just maybe a reward will be offered to find the suspects! And yet the FNM says, it’s all about you and in this case, they are right; it’s all about you being murdered daily and they not doing anything about it! But let’s continue to look around…

 

The Manifesto said regarding the Royal Bahamas Defense Force that the FNM Government will:

 

*   EQUIP THE DEFENCE FORCE WITH AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF VESSELS PROPERLY EQUIPPED AND ADEQUATELY MAINTAINED.

 

My brothers and sisters, look around and all you’ll see is an under-equipped, understaffed and underpaid Defense Force, where the FNM Government paid $26 million dollars of your money for two boats that cannot even fit into the Coral Harbor Base where the Defense Force Headquarters is located! Meanwhile, poachers, illegal immigrants and drug pirates cruise through our waters only concerned about the US Coast Guard because they know the Bahamas Defense Force is antiquated, demoralized and under-equipped. Look around and you’ll see that our waters are only safe for the criminally minded and the desperate! And yet the FNM Government has the nerve to say it is all about you. Well maybe in this case they are right again maybe it is all about you for true; all about you being terrorized if you are an average Bahamian out on the sea!

 

And then there is the Manifesto promise about the FNM’s plans for drug traffickers where they said an FNM Government will

 

*   RELENTLESSLY PURSUE DRUG DEALERS AND DRUG PEDDLERS WITHOUT FEAR, FAVOUR OR DISCRIMINATION.

 

My brothers and sisters, five months ago I asked the government, in particular the Minister for National Security, about circumstances going on in Long Island. Now one would have thought that after my record of successful exposes in the Parliament that the FNM Government would have known that I was giving them the opportunity to come clean because I already had the facts. But no, they chose to go down their same road of deny, deny, and when they are exposed they attempt to shift the focus of the real issue.

 

 Ladies and gentlemen, here we are five months later, and my recent expose in the Parliament again finds them not dealing with the real issue. Now I heard all the cries of persons, some of goodwill and others with an agenda, about what I should not have done in the Parliament regarding the list of DEA Agents, that came into my possession along with the other particulars in the Long Island dossier. But I invite you to listen to me carefully because I hope to only have to say this once.

 

 First of all there was no addresses on the list. And whoever sent me the information made sure no DEA Agents were in danger because it was a listing that found only two persons from that list I am advised still in the Bahamas. And yes, the Ambassador of the United States should be concerned about the identities of DEA Agents being out in the open because that is his main concern. But if anyone were to get a copy of the dossier from the Parliament and look at this “Operation Buzz Light Year” and what it had to say under the subtitle of “THREATS” and the implications for local citizens, not suspects, being in the area when this covert operation was going on, then you will see what my main concern was.

 

 Unfortunately, the Ambassador’s main concern and my main concern were different. He was concerned about his people and I was concerned about mine. I don’t believe either of us are wrong in our concerns, even though differing minds with different approaches may not have done what I did and how I inadvertently did it. And just for the record, this fairy tale about me revealing the names of DEU Bahamian Agents is not true. To the best of my knowledge there is not one DEU Agent’s name on the list that I presented to the Parliament but if it is, certainly the use of the list was not done purposely. But all of that concern and dodging of bullets by some is not the real issue… You hear what I say? Let me say it again… all this concern and dodging of bullets by some is not the real issue.

 

My brothers and sisters, the real issue is and always will be, what the government knew, whether it be the maximum leader or the DPM or the Member for Long Island, about the  drug activities in Long Island; when they knew it; and whom they knew it about. That is the issue. And no matter what the maximum leader says or how many innuendo’s of resolutions to condemn me he brings forth, the issue will still be the same; who in the FNM Government knew what was going on?

 And no amount of threats by irresponsible leaders, saying that “loose lips can cause lives,” recklessly inviting danger to my person, will stop me. So someone had better get the word to Hubert Alexander Ingraham that I say, I am not finished with Long Island yet! There is no higher cause in this life, than to die in the pursuit of saving others. I am grateful to almighty God for my existence. It was His gift to me and it is He, the Almighty who will decide when I’m to leave this earth.

 

 Drug trafficking in the Bahamas goes on unimpeded and this is not the 1980’s, it is the year 2000. And my brothers and sisters, I want all Bahamians to know that it is not the PLP Government. It is the FNM Government. The same FNM Government who blamed every PLP in this nation for the cause of drug-trafficking in the 1980’s. The same FNM Government who claimed that drug trafficking was inextricably tied to the PLP Government at its highest office! The same FNM Government who claimed they were squeaky clean.

 

 Well look around and see who is the government today. Yes look around and see the level of drug trafficking in our country today! Yes who is to blame now? Look around and see and we’ll accept that when it comes to drug trafficking it is all about them, not the PLP and not you! Ladies and gentlemen I repeat, if the maximum leader wants to bring a resolution to condemn me then tell him to go ahead and then I’ll answer the Attorney-General when she asked whose side am I on, whether it be the criminal or law abiding citizen? But then she’ll have to finally answer whose side she has been on all of these years. So Mr. Maximum Leader, bring the resolution of condemnation against me as a matter of urgency; make it a matter of top priority. It’s time for the showdown anyhow!

 

My fellow delegates, I have a very profound and serious question to put to the maximum leader of the FNM party and government. And maybe this is a question that he can answer when he brings his resolution to condemn me. The question is, why would a FNM Cabinet Minister find it desirable or necessary to have a breakfast meeting at the home of someone known to be involved in the nefarious drug trade? Why would this Cabinet Minister along with others meet at the same time and the same place with persons who have the same common design? Was the meeting purely coincidental? Aren’t Ministers of the government mandated to be beyond reproach? Mr Maximum Leader, have those answers for me when you bring this resolution of condemnation against me! I’ll give you the name and you give me the answer!

 

My brothers and sisters, for eight long and terrorizing years we have been fed slogan after slogan by a snake-oil salesmen trying to tell us that what he’s selling is not sour but sweet. However, crime is growing at an alarming rate despite crime legislation after crime legislation, the court system is in a terrible state despite the additional courts and judges, the Police and Defense Force is overwhelmed with work complimented only by corruption by some officers and the Prison is so over-crowed that it seems the only way to ease the tension is for prisoners to die mysteriously, or escape without an investigation ever being concluded! So I want Bahamians to do exactly what the FNM wants you to do; look around my brothers and sisters and you’ll see that it is not at all about you! And it will not be about you until a new PLP Government is elected.

 

My brothers and sisters, a new PLP Government will put forth measures to make an immediate and significant dent in criminal activity, while also implementing measures to eradicate crime to the lowest acceptable levels in any society. A new PLP Government will put into active use the recommendations from the National Youth Consultative Committee, headed by His Grace, Archbishop Drexel Gomez. A new PLP Government will utilize the findings of the National Crime Commission. Yes my brothers and sisters, a new PLP Government will take those reports off the shelf where they have been collecting dust.

 

 And yes, my brothers and sisters, all the talk about a National Youth Service will finally be over because a new PLP Government will implement this long overdue concept with no expense spared. We must rescue our wayward youth before they end up in Prison. We must help those marginalised youth who want to be positive but have only the option of crime because a government gives them no hope or anything to look forward to of a positive nature.  A new PLP Government will bring a sense of corporate sanity to how we use your money because the PLP is not like the FNM, where when you look around you see that it is all about them, not you. We the new PLP as your next government will serve you unconditionally because we care about you. It is then my brothers and sisters that prophecy will prevail as it must, because then there will be a fresh wind blowing

 

Ladies and gentlemen, last week we witnessed a successful coronation for the Maximum Leader of the FNM, where he was able to put the final dagger into the hearts of original FNM’s. The maximum leader has successfully been able to blur the lines of what a real FNM is so that it’s now impossible for even lifelong FNM’s to be able to tell you what FNM principles are. And yet, like sheep being led to the slaughter, FNM’s still claim that it is all about you; when in reality it is not even about them anymore! It is about the maximum leader and his desire to weed out anyone who does not agree with his skewed philosophy of what life should be about for caring Bahamians.

 

But that’s not really a PLP concern, because if one knowingly takes a scorpion to it’s bosom, when they get bitten, such should be par for the course. I found it to be of concern to some however that last Friday just as the maximum leader was about to give his presentation to the nation, that he was preempted by a power outage in the area. Now I was not in the Bahamas last Friday, but I did receive a call from a friend who was most disappointed that the maximum leader was not able to speak on Friday, because that friend was anxiously awaiting what the maximum leader had to say to the nation. In my attempt to comfort my friend over his disappointment, I told him since he was all prepared to hear the maximum leader, when the blackout occurred all he had to do was play any tape from 1992, at a time when the FNM is facing a crisis and he’ll hear the maximum leader say the same things that he would be saying when he speaks on Saturday.

 

Ladies and gentleman, lo and behold, the maximum leader did speak on Saturday and what did he have to say? He said all the same unimportant and irrelevant things that he always says while using the same film clips instead of answering the serious questions the nation has about his stewardship. So instead of dealing with the real issues, he tells you what the FNM Government has done since 1992, while also giving new promises that when those promises come to Parliament as legislation, they will come as childlike pieces of paper, where the only thing missing is the crayons that was used to draw up such nonsensical and most times unconstitutional tenets to become law.

 

Yes my brothers and sisters, either the maximum leader has run out of tricks or that is just how foolish he believes Bahamians are, to tell you what he’s done, when we look around and see all that he has not done that in effect brings to zero all that has been done!

 

 HEALTHCARE

For example, the maximum leader boasted of all they have done for healthcare and its availability for every Bahamian. But when you look around what do you see? Under the policies of the FNM Government all that matters at the public hospitals is whether you will find the money to pay for healthcare services, or whether death will find you first! That’s the only two choices under this FNM Government’s healthcare services. Pay or die, slowly or quickly. If you don’t have the money, it then becomes you and God’s business. Yes my brothers and sisters, look around at the hospital services under this FNM Government and you’ll see it’s not at all about you!

 

We need a National Health Plan for those who cannot afford hospital services. We also need a National Dignity Plan to bring pride and motivation back to our hard working nurses who have felt neglected, rejected and victimized since 1992. We need a real Hospital Authority Board, not just some social club where you must have rites of passage to serve the public. The PLP knows what the nation needs and a new PLP Government will give it to the people because we care for you. There is a fresh wind blowing!

 

FAMILY ISLANDS

Ladies and gentlemen, there is stagnation in many of our Family Islands. Eleuthera is in the doldrums. South Eleuthera is in a serious state of economic decline. I say to the people of South Eleuthera tonight as I’ve said before, that they can unashamedly lay the blame for their economic enslavement at the feet of Hubert Alexander Ingraham. The maximum leader cannot deny that he and his government have been a total failure in everything he has touched in relation to South Eleuthera. I want the people of South Eleuthera to look around and see and to acknowledge that it has been Ingraham’s kisses which has resulted in the virtually economic death of South Eleuthera. Yes look around.

 

BAHAMASAIR

Ladies and gentlemen, Bahamasair has been a national obscene disaster under the FNM Government. I invite Bahamasair employees past and present to look around and see and recall the endless roller-coaster rides this FNM Government has inflicted upon them. Bahamasair has been so disastrous that the FNM Government has been ashamed to produce audited financial statements from 1994. I again invite the Bahamian people to look around and see that Bahamasair has fully earned its wings and has qualified as the most religious airline in the entire world. Fellow delegates that qualification means that with Bahamasair only God knows when it will come and only God knows when it will go! If there was only one calamitous management error by this government for its dismissal by the Bahamian people, it is Bahamasair. Yes look around.

 

HURRICANE FLOYD

Look around and see the destruction and damage to homes of Bahamians, the roads, seawalls and docks that have still yet to be addressed after some sixteen months has elapsed since the unwelcome visit of Hurricane Floyd. I invite the people of North Abaco to look around and see. I invite the people of San Salvador to look around and see. I invite the people of Cat Island to look around and see. I invite the people of Eleuthera to look around and see. Yes, my still hurricane stricken Family Islanders, look around and see and you’ll come to the conclusion that it cannot be about you!

 

Ladies and gentlemen on another note, I found it odd that we heard during last weeks FNM Convention, not one word from those Ministers who represent our most vital Industries that legally fuel the economy of the Bahamas. We heard not one word from the Ministers of Tourism and Finance. Why? Is it because there is nothing good to report from one Minister and the maximum leader no longer trust a report from the other?

 

HOUSING

Mr. Session Chairman, I would like to touch briefly on the serious concern of Housing. The 1984 Housing Assessment Report disclosed that many of our people lived in overcrowded and squalid conditions in the Bahamas. The report identified the need to build 1550 houses per annum in New Providence. The Member for Marathon following his appointment as Minister of Housing, announced a holy war on poverty, poor housing and the social ills of society. If only the Minister’s lofty and numerous proclamations could match his deeds, there would have been meaningful progress in this vital and critical area.

 

Convention delegates, you should be aware that the Central Bank Report disclosed that residential construction completions were as follows:

PERIOD                           RESIDENTIAL

1989                                                                                                                 863

1990                                                                                                                 940

1991                                                                                                                 898

1992                                                                                                                 658

1993                                                                                                                 541

1994                                                                                                                 611

1995                                                                                                                 650

1996                                                                                                                 696

1997                                                                                                                 757

1998                                                                                                                 934

 

7,548

At the end of 1998, this FNM Government had not achieved the number of residential houses that was completed in 1990. Again I refer to the 1984 Housing Assessment Report which I identified the need to build 1550 houses per annum in New Providence to meet the growing need.

 

My fellow delegates, since 1984 our population has increased, the demands for housing has increased and the average shortfall for housing for the ten years of 89-98, was 7,548. According to the FNM Manifesto, the promise to the Bahamian people is to build 200 houses per year. Could someone please tell me how in this life or in God’s eternity will the government meet the demand for housing? The reality is that this government’s record on Housing by any measure is a disaster, notwithstanding the unashamedly claims to the contrary.

 

Fellow delegates, the cost of housing continues to escalate and according to my information, which I deem to be reliable, the cost of additional block housing has increased by 1/3 during the last three years. What I find amazing about the government’s claim of lower cost in housing is that the retail price index shows that the cost of housing has increased from 101.6 in 1996 to 102.5 as of September 1999. This is an increase of less than 1% as opposed to my reliable information of a 33% increase. The question is whom is fooling whom? I’ll leave the Bahamian people to be the judge, for they are the ones who know best as to what is correct.

 

Convention delegates, a new PLP will implement a progressive housing program to address the serious housing shortage in the Over The Hill Area and similar areas in the Family Islands with duty free status on all building material for all areas in need of urban renewal.

 

Likewise, Public Rental Units will be built for those Bahamians unable to purchase their own homes. A new PLP government will guarantee that a fresh wind will blow for the housing of low and middle income Bahamians.

 

CONCLUSION

My fellow Bahamians, I have taken this time to point out all of the circumstances besetting this country to show you that it is not about you, the average Bahamian. And it is not even about them, the original FNM’s. Its only all about the maximum leader and those whom he has a peculiar like for! But there is something that seriously concerns me and it was the bizarre statement of the maximum leader last week when he told the nation that “when he looks around he’s pleased with what he sees.”

 

My fellow Bahamians this is not a statement of a person who is living in this world, in this Bahamas, where reality is the order of the day. This is a statement that could only be coming from another world made of green cheese. It’s makes any sane person question what is it that the maximum leader actually sees.

 

* He looks around and he sees drug trafficking at the highest levels ever. But he’s pleased!

* He looks around and he sees the lack of proper housing for the poor Over the Hill. But he’s pleased!

* He looks around and he sees people being murdered on our streets and the perpetrators being murdered in Prison. But he’s pleased!

* He looks around and he sees union members every other week having to take industrial action to keep him to his promises. But he’s pleased!

* He looks around and he sees international agencies telling the Bahamas that we are an inherently crooked nation and blacklisting us for the first time ever and under his watch. But he’s pleased!

 

* He looks around and sees traffic congestion and road rage continuing to escalate and consumes our youth, which reflects in the record levels of traffic fatalities in our land. Which reminds me of last Saturday, when I attended the funeral of a 30 year old Bahamian from Grants Town, who had the presence of mind to see disaster breathing down the necks of two young boys and came to their rescue from an oncoming car. The gentleman was able to rescue the little boys by pushing them out of the way. Unfortunately, he lost his life in the process. Yes we must look around and see that madness is stalking the inner city by traffic congestion and road rage. But the maximum leader looks at the same circumstances and says he’s pleased!

 

Which leads me to the logical conclusion that when he looks around and sees his Deputy Prime Minister, he must be pleased!

 

*   $135,000 from Bahamasair on some shady plane deal gone from 17 months ago! Where is the money Frank Watson!

*   Batelco after 3 years of;

 we are not privatizing-we are privatizing!

 no one will be laid off-2200 will be laid off!

 all should apply for a retirement package-all cannot get a retirement package!

 services will not diminish because of a right-sized staff-we need to rehire people we gave a retirement package to because we are short of staff!

 

All of this and Batelco is not privatized yet and its costing us $25,000 per month because of the unique wisdom of the DPM! When will Batelco be privatized, Frank Watson!

*   It was said that the Police Force would now have the undivided attention of the Minister of National Security because that is the only portfolio he would have. Someone needs to inform National Security that crime is escalating daily! Frank Watson, stop looking into the homes of parents and children to find the reason for your failure to do something about crime! When you gonna do something about crime Frank Watson?

 

And yet the maximum leader looks around at his haphazard DPM and he’s pleased with what he sees!

 

Ladies and gentlemen I am certain that even Frank Watson believes that the maximum leader is pleased with him because he’s now taking liberty with our national security, the liberty that only a man with a clear mandate to mess up everything would take! He’s taking the liberties with our life, limb and freedom that only a DPM who knows that the maximum leader can not fire him, would dare to do!

 

My fellow Bahamians last Monday on November 6th, the DPM made the most bizarre and ludicrous statements on “Love 97’s Face Off” where a question was asked by a caller. I want you to listen to the exchange between the caller and our genius-extraordinaire, the DPM:

(PLAY TAPE)

A call to the show asked Watson why the Government has approved the licence to build a 100- room hotel in South Long Island, even though officials had been tipped off that the project was allegedly being funded by drug money.

 

Watson stunned listeners with his ridiculous answer.  He said “Every day across the Bahamas buildings are being built by drug money.  I don’t know why this 100-room hotel in Long Island is so difficult from all the others.  Why are you not upset and concerned about those happening around your area, right in your face?”

My brothers and sisters, first it was in the House of Assembly five months age where the genius was at work when he said that he too heard that the 100 room hotel and marina  may be funded by drug money. And now last week, he says that drug money is the source of construction all through the Bahamas! The DPM said it is happening right before our very eyes! But yet he claims he can’t prove it, but his eyes see! Well why hasn’t his eyes yet seen what is happening in Long Island? Selective vision, my brothers and sisters!

 

My brothers and sisters, if one did not know who was making these statements, you could easily believe that it was an apologist for Jesse James, Al Capone, or Machine-Gun Kelly! But who knows maybe those kinds of persons are the role models of the DPM? How could a Minister of National Security justify unsavory acts that has this country in turmoil, such as drugs and money laundering has us today? If you can’t beat them, you may as well join them! Is that what its all about Frank Watson?

 

My fellow Bahamians, if Frank Watson is as the FNM Maximum Leader has said to be, the only Minister that he can trust, can you imagine what is going on with the other Ministers that he cannot trust?

 

And yet Ladies and gentlemen, I agree with Mr. Watson when he said that I am a bitter man. Yes I am bitter because I didn’t need for him to make these idiotic statements for me to know that he doesn’t have the capacity nor the inherent makeup to do anything about crime, if the choice is to stop all criminal activity or keep political support! And that makes me bitter because he is not just somebody who has an opinion about something.

 

 He is the second man in charge of the country! The country we live in! The country our children live in! The country we will have to preserve for future generations until Jesus Christ returns! Yes I am bitter because I have been saying since 1992 that Frank Watson isn’t qualified for public life nor responsible enough to protect the public and its funds! I am bitter because he has over the past eight years proven me to be right! I am bitter because he has gone overboard to show the country that he is not fit, and with every scatter-brain statement after scatter-brain statement he dares us to do something about his unsuitability!

 

Ladies and gentlemen, that is what we are up against and what does the maximum leader have to say about all of this? He says when he looks around he is pleased with what he sees! Yes the FNM Government maybe right after all, it is all about you. It’s all about you being sent to the gas chamber of economic and moral doom by them!

 

My fellow Bahamians, I would like to close by quoting scripture from the Holy Bible to the original FNM’s and Hubert Ingraham’s recently revamped FNM. I offer them a source of comfort and of truth for what will surely be the troubling times ahead for them. I quote from the Book of James, Chapter 4 verses 1-4 of the Living Bible:

 

WHAT IS CAUSING THE QUARRELS AND FIGHTS AMONG YOU?

 ISN’T IT BECAUSE THERE IS A WHOLE ARMY OF EVIL DESIRES WITHIN YOU?

 YOU WANT WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE SO YOU KILL TO GET IT.

 

YOU LONG FOR WHAT OTHERS HAVE, AND CAN’T AFFORD IT, SO YOU START A FIGHT TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM THEM.

 AND YET THE REASON YOU DON’T HAVE WHAT YOU WANT IS THAT YOU DON’T ASK GOD FOR IT.

 AND EVEN WHEN YOU DO ASK YOU DON’T GET IT BECAUSE YOUR WHOLE AIM IS WRONG.

 YOU WANT ONLY WHAT WILL GIVE YOU PLEASURE.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, to bring this scripture down to a basic level and relevant to the FNM’s convention theme; the FNM Party will never again find satisfaction in this country. Nor will the FNM Party find a victory in the next general elections because while it should have been all about you, for 8 long years it has only been all about them!

 

Finally ladies and gentlemen, for those in the audience and those watching at home I want you to get your Bibles and read along with me. I will tonight for the first time in eight years give you God’s fresh and absolute revelation from the beginning of time, as to the cause of our chaotic instability in this country, an instability that pleases the FNM maximum leader. Here ladies and gentlemen is the answer! The answer that has been with us down through the ages but yet only now to be revealed! I want you to look at the Book of Proverbs, again in the Holy Bible, Chapter 23, verses 29-35 that states:

 

WHOSE HEART IS FILLED WITH ANGUISH AND SORROW?

 WHO IS ALWAYS FIGHTING AND QUARRELING?

 WHO IS THE MAN WITH BLOODSHOT EYES AND MANY WOUNDS?

 IT IS THE ONE WHO SPENDS LONG HOURS IN THE TAVERNS TRYING OUT NEW MIXTURES.

 DON’T LET THE SPARKLE AND THE SMOOTH TASTE OF STRONG WINE DECEIVE YOU.

 FOR IN THE END IT BITES LIKE A POISONOUS SERPENT.

 IT STINGS LIKE AN ADDER.

 YOU WILL SEE HALLUCINATIONS AND HAVE DELIRIUM TREMENS AND YOU WILL SAY FOOLISH, SILLY THINGS THAT WOULD EMBARRASS YOU NO END WHEN SOBER.

 YOU WILL STAGGER LIKE A SAILOR TOSSED AT SEA, CLINGING TO A SWAYING MAST.

 AND AFTERWARDS YOU WILL SAY, “I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW IT WHEN THEY BEAT ME UP….

 LET’S GO AND HAVE ANOTHER DRINK!”

 

And in this case my fellow Bahamians, that scripture is not about you and it’s not about me. It’s all about them! Those who bring so much misery to Bahamians because of their hold on this country! It’s about those that the PLP will run out of the seat of government whenever the next general election is called! And then it will finally be all about you because there will be opportunity, prosperity and security for all. Fasten your seatbelts my fellow Bahamians, there is a fresh wind blowing!

 

PLP! ALL THE WAY! PLP! THE ONLY WAY!