Deputy Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party Philip Brave Davis (right) and Yamacraw MP Melanie Griffin hold up their hands as Griffin accepts her nomination as the party's candidate for the Yamacraw constituency during a meeting at the PLP headquarters last night. (Photos: Torrell Glinton)

Former Minister of Education and Attorney General Alfred Sears has formally made a return to frontline politics after being ratified by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to run again in Fort Charlotte, 10 months after Dr. Andre Rollins, who won the seat as a PLP in 2012, severed ties with the PLP.

The PLP also ratified Melanie Griffin, the current minister of social services and community development, to run again in Yamacraw.

The ratifications were made at the monthly meeting of the National General Council at the party's headquarters on Farrington Road last night.

In a statement to the media, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts assured the Bahamian people "that they will be proud of the level and quality of Bahamian talent, skill sets and proven leadership that the PLP will present to them for scrutiny, consideration and support".

Sears represented Fort Charlotte for two terms, beginning in 2002.

"I think it's a privilege to serve the community of Fort Charlotte," Sears told The Nassau Guardian.

"I think that on the national level the existing challenges represent an opportunity for the PLP to complete the quiet revolution, especially in the area of economic reconstruction to refocus from the almost reliance that we have on foreign direct investment and to do more to incentivize Bahamian entrepreneurship and ownership of the economy and to inspire a new generation of Bahamians to be engaged in the national development project."

Griffin -- who ran for the PLP in Yamacraw in 1997 and lost -- has been the area MP since 2002.

She said last night, "I feel honored to have been asked and to be able to accept the party's nomination to once again be the standard bearer in Yamacraw.

"I feel I have an affinity with Yamacraw. We have been working in the area for many years."

Speaking of Griffin, Roberts, her former ministerial colleague, said, "She remains focused. She approaches her assignments with tremendous energy and passion and as a result, she is an accomplished minister and legislator who is loved dearly by her constituents.

"Few can argue that Mrs. Griffin has become one of the country's great champions for women's affairs, the equal treatment of those living with disabilities and the protection of our most vulnerable, our children and the poor among us."

He also said, "Melanie is certainly living proof that justice, social justice and the rule of law can be properly and sensibly reconciled with principles of morality."

Griffin told The Guardian she is proud of her accomplishments as an MP and as minister.

"I've done infrastructural development of parks, established a community association that works in the community fostering community spirit, programs for the elderly and youth development and training," she said.

Griffin added that she is confident that the Progressive Liberal Party will be returned to power, notwithstanding the many detractors. She noted that the government has brought legislation to protect the rights of the disabled community, and there have been reforms in the area of social services with regard to the way social assistance is offered.

Griffin said tax reform administered by the Christie administration has brought positive benefits to the country.

"Are we satisfied as to where we are? That's a different matter," she added.

"Running parallel to the United States, we are recovering from a very, very difficult and hard recession and nobody could believe really that it will all be accomplished in one term, and so I really have confidence that we will form the next government of this country."

Sears also said he is proud of what he accomplished for Fort Charlotte as its MP.

Roberts said with all Sears was able to accomplish as minister of education and attorney in such a short period, the interest of The Bahamas will be well served with him as a member of the leadership team charting the course of the country's future.

Sears said he is prepared to work hard in Fort Charlotte.

"I'm not taking anything for granted but we delivered all of the things we promised in 2002.

"We built a community center that for 12 years offered outreach programs, summer camps, computer classes for adults, an annual arts and crafts festival.

"We reengineered the canal from Chippingham through St. Alban's Drive, through Perpall Tract. Every hurricane people's homes used to be flooded so we reengineered that.  We've solved that problem."
Asked whether he thinks the PLP is poised for a return to office, Sears said, "I certainly would do everything within my power to ensure that.

"I think on balance the philosophy of the PLP, which is nationalist and which is focused on equity and social justice as well as the empowerment, economic, socially, of the Bahamian people, is as relevant today as it was in 1967."

Sears also said he is interested in leading the PLP one day.

"When it becomes available, but I'm loyal to the leadership that would have been democratically elected by the convention, and I'm a team player and at this time we have a duly constituted leadership," he said, when asked.

"I pledge my loyalty to that leadership and at the time when it is available would I step forward? Of course."

Candia Dames

Guardian Managing Editor

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