Bradley B. Roberts Remarks to The National General Council

Fri, Jun 17th 2016, 02:28 PM

Dear Councilors,

I extend warm greetings to all as we gather at the half way mark of the calendar year 2016. Since we last met the Party participated in the Sir Randol Fawkes Labour Day Parade in strong numbers in New Providence and Grand Bahama to demonstrate our support for the labour movement and the rights of workers in our land. I thank Vice Chair Bradley Kemp and his committee for a job well done.

The results of the recent referendum as well as the low voter turnout were disappointing. Councilors, we are obliged once again to accept the will of the people. I am personally saddened that theme of homosexuality and same-sex marriage were promoted as central issues in the public debate when in fact they were not the issues being addressed with the four questions on each ballot. The promoters of the No vote proclaimed: We diverted the global homosexual agenda. Time will affirm that they were terribly misguided.

I received on my WHATSAPP this morning a copy of a press statement issue yesterday by FNM Chairman Sidney Collie who seems preoccupied with the internal affairs of the PLP.

Since the fourth FNM Chairman in as many years found the time to put questions to the National General Council, I would be remiss if I didn’t embrace the opportunity to raise some issues serious enough to not only pre-occupy Mr. Collie’s time but should be of serious concern:

Dr. Hubert Minnis was elected Leader unopposed at a one day convention in May 2012 following the resignation from the House of Assembly and retirement from front line politics of Hubert A. Ingraham.

Dr. Minnis was re-elected FNM Leader in a Convention in November 2014 crushing Loretta Butler Turner in a fiercely contested election, winning by 298-106 votes.

Former FNM Deputy Leader and DPM Frank Watson gave Dr. Minnis a year to prove himself.

Former FNM Deputy Leader Watson publicly said that Minnis’ appointment of Senator Lanisha Rolle was a tragic mistake.

Former Senator and FNM Chairman Cash repeatedly called for an early convention and so did former FNM Deputy Leader and DPM Brent Symonette.

Former FNM candidate Cassius Stuart called for Dr. Minnis to resign as Leader because of his involvement with criminals and gangsters Bobo and Toogie in a murder for hire plot that involved money laundering for nefarious purposes.

After much pressure The FNM Council agreed to hold a full convention November 15-19 2016.

The agitation continued for an earlier convention and I am reliably informed that Brent Symonette offered to underwrite the cost of the convention. The discontent and confusion reached a crescendo when six FNM MP apparently headed by Dr Andre Rollins, Loretta Butler Turner, Neko Grant, Hubert Chipman, Richard Lightbourne and Theo Neilly put the proverbial gun to Dr. Minnis’ head by threatening to submit a letter of no confidence to the Governor General to have him removed as Leader of the Official Opposition if he refused to comply with their demands.

The Gang of six released a very damning letter to the press wherein the Gang of six said they cannot trust their leader, and said Bahamians see the FNM as corrupt.

Dr. Minnis gave into the demand of the Gang of Six and agreed to hold a two day convention on July 2016.

I have a few questions for Sidney Collie: Does the Gang of Six clearly have a master plan to put up a candidate to challenge Dr. Minnis for Leader of the FNM? Is the candidate the retired politician and former FNM Leader Hubert Alexander Ingraham? If not Ingraham, who will challenge Minnis?

If Dr. Minnis wins re-election, will the Gang of six retire from active politics as it is highly likely Dr. Minnis will not support their nominations?

It is a serious indictment on the FNM if after more than twenty years as leader and two resignations from that position, the FNM is unable to identify suitably qualified alternative to Ingraham to lead that organization into the future. Maybe Collie believes that only one woman could ‘born’ a FNM leader.

Councilors, I raised these questions inspired by the boldness of Sidney Collie to put questions to you. I await Collie’s response.

Tonight we continue the processes of ratifying Candidates for the 2017 General elections.

Our first candidate manages the following areas as part of his Ministerial portfolio: Foreign Affairs, foreign missions, protocol matters, extradition, treaty succession, coordination of applications for International Technical Assistance, Law of the Sea, UN, OAS and CARICOM Affairs, passports, visas and immigration.

Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister the Hon. Fred Mitchell served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service (2002 – 2007); Chairman, Senate Select Committee on Culture (1992 – 1997); Former Chairman of the House select committee on benefits for Parliamentarians (2013-2014); Former Chairman of Council for Foreign and Community Relations of CARICOM; Founding Member of The Bahamas Committee on Southern Africa. He has also recently Chaired the Commonwealth Experts for Presidential Elections Committee.

As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mitchell was instrumental in the fight to integrate Haiti as a member state of CARICOM. He also negotiated a number of important international agreements on behalf of The Bahamas, including the Shengen Visa Agreement and the European Partnership Agreement.

He was also instrumental in establishing the Bahamian diplomatic mission in Cuba. During his tenure he also established the Bahamas Embassy in China.

As the incumbent Member of Parliament for Fox Hill, Mitchell established a permanent constituency office in the community that is now used as a community Center for Fox Hillians.

He has been instrumental in community building within Fox Hill proper and the wider constituency and has been a benefactor and friend to all of the schools in the area, most notably the Sandilands Primary School, L.W. Young Junior High School, and the Doris Johnson High School.

Mr. Mitchell as expanded the number to Consuls General to more closely interact with the Bahamian diaspora. These include a Consul General in Washington DC; a Permanent Mission and Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and Honorary Consuls General in Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, India and Japan.

Also under his leadership, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has engaged in an expansive immigration reform initiative through the implementation of new administrative measures to fight fraud and strengthen current immigration laws that became effective on the 1st November 2014. Additional measures to lessen the burden on the healthcare delivery system, reduce the proliferation of shanty towns and regularizing the status of children born to non-Bahamian parents attending our schools were also implemented. Additionally, as part of the immigration reform initiative the law was amended to provide for a Belonger’s Permit for those categories of persons who were deemed stateless under international law.

Our second candidate is the incumbent member for Southern Shores the Hon Kenred Dorsett who continues to serve with distinction as both MP and Cabinet Minister. He was a faithful steward of the environment in his constituency and nationally. The cleanup of a derelict vehicle dump site adjacent to the Anatol Rodgers High School, his support for scholarship in our exceptional students, a renewable energy project at Anatol Rodgers High and a brand new bus for that school are just some of the meaningful and good work Mr. Dorsett would gladly brag about and you should too.

Under his leadership, the acreage of nature reserves in our country has more than tripled in four years. The country’s vision for sustainable energy generation is in the advanced stage of execution consistent with the country’s National Energy Policy and under the Public Parks and Beaches Authority, The Bahamas is well on its way to creating a new, viable and sustainable green and blue economy with park and marine wardens to protect our terrestrial and marine environment. The Killarney National Park and Nature Trail in addition to our landmark Hero’s Park to be located behind the Botanical Gardens are just two of the latest projects to jumpstart this new green and blue economy. I invite you to visit the facebook page of the Ministry of the Environment and Housing for the details of that Ministry’s accomplishments.

Additionally, Mr. Dorsett’s effective use of Public, Private Partnerships policy and revamped policies at the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation in the construction and increased access to affordable homes for Bahamian families across the length and breadth of The Bahamas is commendable.

He is bright star in the Bahamian political galaxy and continues to make us proud internationally, especially with his successful negotiations in crafting the Paris Agreement, a historic agreement designed to comprehensively address global warming by all members of the United Nations. Mr. Dorsett also services a Chair of the Chair of IRENA and co-chairs the Caribbean Energy Initiative.

Mr. Dorsett will be presented to you tonight for your ratification to carry the banner of the PLP in the 2017 general elections. I am sure he will take that opportunity to address many of his ministry’s accomplishments in addition to his constituency stewardship. He co-chairs this international body with the Democratic Republic of Germany.

Our second and incumbent MP the candidate’s committee will present before you tonight is Mrs. Cleola Hamilton. Mrs. Hamilton is gallant warrior for workers’ rights; a woman of virtue, principle, compassion and conviction. The Hon. Cleola Hamilton loves people and above all, she loves justice, equality and fair play. Her involvement in the trade union movement as president of the Nurses union and a member of the Bahamas Trade Union Congress have significantly and positively impacted industrial relations industrial with improved industrial harmony in this country.

Her constituents brag about her attention to detail and overall effectiveness in getting things done in the constituency of South Beach.

She has proven to be an able assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration the Hon. Fred Mitchell because of her work ethic and can-do attitude. As Parliamentary Secretary, she is responsible for the Carmichael Road Detention Center and continues to oversee the continued structural upgrade of that facility to international standards, the quick turnaround and repatriation of those migrants interdicted by Bahamian and US authorities and the implementation of improved safety and security protocols and management systems for that facility.

I am proud to have the Hon. Fred Mitchell, the Hon. Kenred Dorsett and the Hon. Cleola Hamilton on our team. They represent all that is good about our Bahamian sons and daughters. They love people; they are team players who are goal oriented; they stand with their constituents and they have a passion for public service. We are confident that when the ballots are counted on general election night, both Southern Shores and South Beach will be counted in the winning column.

Councilors, it is time for you to hear from our approved candidates so without further delay, I invite our first candidate the Hon. Fred Mitchell to address this National General Council on why he thinks he should be ratified to carry the banner of the Progressive Liberal Party for the Fox Hill Constituency in the upcoming 2017 general elections.

Source: The Bahamas Weekly

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