Dear Editor,

I wish to respond to some comments made by Kevin Evans that appeared in The Tribune Friday, October 21, 2011 in a letter to the editor under the heading, "Grand Bahama is FNM No More".  I am a resident of Grand Bahama and a constituent of Marco City.  I can tell you I speak for many when I say that Evans' assertion that Grand Bahama is FNM no more is pure speculation.  He is right that some of the statistics related to our politics have evolved on this island; but be sure, Grand Bahamians in the main still support the FNM, appreciating how it has guided our nation through these very difficult days during the economic crisis.
Grand Bahamians in the main appreciate that despite the lean times, the FNM government is doing much needed extensive work to the Rand Memorial Hospital.  Other important infrastructure work continues to support our island's limping tourism sector through subsidies to the Isle of Capri, the airlines and cruise lines.  Also, it has extended important social initiatives like the prescription drug plan, the unemployment benefit program, the job readiness program, the self starter program, the backyard farming program and the soon to come jump starter program.  We are not blind or foolish in Grand Bahama, none of these things happened while others were in office.
As a resident of Marco City, I was especially offended by Evans' assertion that "many Marco City residents would admit that Pleasant Bridgewater worked harder than Zhivargo Laing during the five years of her representation and that she was always more visible, and she always made a point to distribute turkeys and hams to her constituents during the Christmas season".
We, in Marco City are no "ham and turkey" people and did not vote for a "ham and turkey" MP.  Those days of potcake politics are over.  Maybe that is why despite her supposed stellar representation through "visibility" and "ham and turkey", Bridgewater was still voted out of office.  If we wanted ham and turkey, she would still be in.
On May 2, 2007, the majority of us in Marco City voted for Laing because he promised to be an effective voice in Parliament and a leader who would make a difference in our community.  He has been true to his promise.  Not one single resident of Marco City can honestly say that Laing is not one of the most effective voices in the House of Assembly.  When he makes his contribution, we are so very proud because his is prepared, knowledgeable, informative, passionate and forceful.  In him, we know we have a voice and a presence.
Not only did Zhivargo Laing keep his word to be an effective voice in the House, but he has been a true leader in Marco City.  This young MP is the only MP in The Bahamas who, from day one, published in The Freeport News and placed on the radio when he would hold office hours.  He sees scores of his constituents and others from all over Grand Bahama, keeping files on each one and seeking to address their needs.  In his office is a computer center and lending library full of personal development books and CDs for residents of Marco City.  These are not hams or turkeys; they demonstrate representation.
In our community, he has been focused on educating our young people in impressive ways.  He has provided scholarships to Marco City students every year, totaling $30,000 to date.  He has established the Marco City Youth Leadership Institute for senior students that has provided dozens of young Grand Bahamians with exposure to leadership training in Grand Bahama, Nassau and Atlanta.  He provides awards to the most outstanding and most improved students in every school in Marco City annually, both primary and secondary, both private and public.  He attends to the needs of the schools in his area with devotion, seeing to the provision of both funds and amenities.  He has provided computers, water coolers, school supplies and the like to the schools in his area.
Besides all of these things, I happen to know the many instances when he has personally assisted residents of Marco City without fanfare, using his personal resources to help men and women in Marco City.  He may not attend as many funerals, weddings and church services as Bridgewater once did, but Bridgewater was not a cabinet minister in the government and in the area of finance in these difficult times.  Despite his schedule he has held blood drives, community park meetings, hosted seniors to lunch at his residence and speaks frequently at events to which he is invited inside and outside his community, motivating people.
Laing annually holds one of the best attended children's Christmas parties and back-to-school giveaways.  He provides every Mother's and Father's Day.  By the way, he personally assists with the distribution of those items door-to-door in his community.  He has established a family and friends festival to promote unity in our constituency.  He ran one of the most successful backyard farm programs in the country in Marco City.  He also ran an elderly and disabled persons roof repair program.
No, Zhivargo Laing is no ham and turkey MP.  And if he aspires to be prime minister, it is something that has never come up in any discussion or meeting I have been a part of.  I only hear him speak of his ambitions for Grand Bahama and Marco City.  We are proud that Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham appointed him a cabinet minister and gave him great influence in his government.  He has used that influence to uplift Marco City residents in many ways.  Those who want a ham and turkey MP can have it.  We want a true MP with leadership ability and influence.  By the way, I happen to believe that Zhivargo Laing has much potential to lead this nation, and so do a lot of people - even some of his critics.
I take this time to share these things about Laing because I feel Kevin Evans has been unfair to him.  Zhivargo Laing made it known to us before he became an MP and a minister what he would do, and he has been true to that in many ways and more.  He is as visible an MP as anyone could ask for, especially because of his important role in the government of The Bahamas and at a time when our nation was for years facing economic crisis.
No, he is not always in our homes or at every church service or funeral, but what active leader of this nation can be?  He keeps Grand Bahama and the nation informed; he is forthright and sincere whenever he does.  You may not always like what Laing has to say, but you know that he is being truthful and sincere.
Also, despite his hectic schedule, Laing has been campaigning, having gone door-to-door in his constituency on the eastern part of it.  I know because scores of his team members did so with him for weeks and there are photos to prove it.  In fact, anyone who wants to see Laing's activities in his constituency need only go to his Facebook page.  He regularly posts events and activities in his constituency there.  He also produced an interim report of his activities, which was presented to Parliament during one of his contributions along with large charts of some of his activities.  How could Kevin Evans say Laing is not visible?  Bridgewater was likable indeed, but never had as many substantive programs in Marco City as Laing.
I and hundreds of others in Marco City voted for this young man in 2007 and we will vote for him again.  He is a shining example of what an MP should be.  He is honest, decent, dedicated, a hard worker, an effective voice in the Parliament and a good community leader.
Let others vote for "ham and turkey", I will vote for education, leadership, progress and decency.  I will vote for Zhivargo Sean Laing, my MP and for the FNM.
 
Yours, etc.,
RONALD A. D'ARVILLE, SR.
Voter in Marco City since 1982
 

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