RESPECTED attorney and radio personality Jeff Lloyd yesterday urged Bahamians to take the initiative in rescuing the country instead of waiting on politicians and government to save it.
During the Star 106.5FM talk show “Jeffrey”, Mr. Lloyd called for citizens to join him in the Bahamians for Peace, Prosperity and Progress (BP3) movement.
Mr. Lloyd said he could not confirm if this was the start of a political party when directly asked by Guardian Broadcast Editor Juan McCartney if he was making a bid for frontline politics.
“I’ve been approached by every political party in this country,” Mr. Lloyd revealed. “I have been asked, petitioned, requested, urged, a host of things, about becoming a politician, getting on the front line. That decision, Juan, is not yet made - if it ever will be made.
“What I know is, many thousands of Bahamians knowing me, I guess they believe I could do something to help them, have come asking me ‘could you help us with our summer camp? Can you help us with the old folks home? Can you help us with this? Can you help us with that? You know people, you used to work with people who have plenty money, can you assist us?”
“And what I thought to do is, ok, listen. People would not give me money, maybe just because I am Jeff Lloyd, but let me form a company and let me create an environment in which people can donate $20, $20,000 and we will identify programmes, establish a board of directors, choose the programmes and the initiatives and go out and try to help people.
“And what I think, and (ex-Deputy Commissioner of Police) Marvin (Dames) said this beautifully earlier on, it is not the politicians (Juan), it is us. We cannot sit idly by. Jeffrey Lloyd is a talented Bahamian, so are you, so are thousands and thousands of others who can do something to help rescue our country. This is now the time.
“Everybody recognises we are in a serious decline. We are at the precipice of failure. Everybody needs to put their hand on deck. We cannot afford anyone slouching. I can’t ask you to do that if I’m not going to do it first. Here I am. I am the first volunteer,” Mr. Lloyd stressed.
In the 2012 general elections, the Progessive Liberal Party (PLP) won 29 of the 38 seats in Parliament while the Free National Movement (FNM) secured only nine though figures released by the parliamentary registration office showed the PLP received 75,806 votes while the FNM secured 65,518 votes - a difference of 10,288. The Democratic National Alliance, despite not securing any seats in Parliament, received 13,186 votes.
Since then, the country has recorded 506 murders (a record 146 in 2015), a youth unemployment rate of 30 per cent and a shrinking economy with less than two per cent projected growth.
Mr. Lloyd said yesterday that the movement had been underway now for sometime and nearly $300,000 had already been raised and used by his team to help those in need.
“Let us roll up our sleeves, let us get our elbows ready, and let’s get to work to help the vulnerable, the downtrodden, the disadvantaged, those who are crying out for help and they are across the spectrum of our land. Let’s put our money where our mouth is.”
The attorney has invited volunteers to present themselves to Lewis Street and Wellington Street in Bain Town at 8am to offer their technical expertise, hands, food and support to help the community.
By Lamech Johnson, Tribune Staff Reporter
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