Mr. Speaker
Allow me with=
your
kind indulgence to begin by wishing you a happy New Year and all the prospe=
rity
that will come along with it, and allow me through you to extend those
greetings to all other members of this honorable chamber. 2007 begins Mr.
Speaker with uncertainty but will be a defining year for many in this chamb=
er.
Some will find that they will live to see their paths secure once more in t=
his
opportunity to represent the people of The
Mr. Speaker
I rise with t=
he
greatest joy and in deepest humility on behalf of the people of Bain and Gr=
ant’s
town whom for decades now have sent me here to represent their needs, their
hopes, dreams and aspirations. They have elected me also to lead, sometimes
having to come out from among them and having to stand upon their shoulders=
in
hopes of seeing the way forward so that I may lead them to higher heights. =
As
in any relationship worth having, the journey together has not always been
smooth but through good times and bad, in happy times and sad, in season and
out of season, Mr. Speaker I and my Constituents have always emerged in the
serenade of that song by Al Green, “Let’s stay together, loving=
you
whether, times are good or bad happy or sad” …. Yes we ought to
stay together.
And so Mr. Sp=
eaker,
it is an honor for me to stand here in this New Year in representation of a
Constituency, without which, no historical account of the development of the
modern
Yes Mr. Speak=
er, if
it holds true that for those of us who believe God to be real and Divine, t=
hat
before we were formed in the wombs of our Mothers, He knew us and predestin=
ed
us, it cannot be arrogance nor can it be happen of chance, that it is I,
Bradley B. Roberts who has been given this opportunity to stand to my feet =
in
this our House of Assembly, on this 10th day of this first month=
, in
the year of our Lord, two thousand and seven, in representation of the grea=
test
constituency of the Commonwealth of These Bahama Islands, in praise to our =
God
for His marvelous works over the years, to His faithfulness to our Country =
and
our people, through great trials and tribulations, yet He has kept us, never
fainting in His charge over us, Mr. Speaker.
And I stand here on this day, perso=
nally
grateful for more than a reasonable portion of health, wealth and blessings,
for more than my ample share of patriotism and commitment to Nation Buildin=
g,
happy just to be counted in the number, knowing that it is God’s grace
that has brought me safe thus far and Grace, Mr. Speaker, not power or might
but Grace that will lead me on. Yes Mr. Speaker there is a new song in my h=
eart
today, a “right spirit,” I believe the Member from St. Cecelia
would describe it as … today for the day Mr. Speaker, I am not Big, B=
ad
Brad, I am in this moment, Right, Reflective Roberts.
40 years ago =
to
date, to hour, Mr. Speaker, the people of this Country, some not so long be=
fore
just winning the right to vote, went to the polls to determine the fate of =
this
Nation. It is described as the Quiet revolution, specifically because in th=
e 20
years leading up to the 1967, very little blood had been shed in pursuit of
justice and equality. No Mr. Speaker, in this country which historically has
not known much of violence, what others fought wars over, and some got
assassinated for, we achieved with a stroke on a ballot. I often say Mr.
Speaker in the words of men before me that our ballots were our bullets.
This example of civility entrenched=
in
Bahamian Culture is one I wish we could somehow impress upon younger
generations, that in times gone by, even when being denied fundamental righ=
ts
and freedoms, Mr. Speaker, we were men and women of stellar worth, of sterl=
ing
character who raised our voices and our hearts but never our fists. Because=
, we
are a peculiar people by nature, Mr. Speaker, a PEACEFUL people! How sorry =
I am
Mr. Speaker, that in our not adequately passing on the lessons of our glori=
ous
past, we have also to date failed in educating some of our sons and daughte=
rs
on the fact that being Bahamian means more than conch salad and peas and ri=
ce,
and even Junkanoo but it means that we are of a tradition of community
mindedness, peaceful coexistence, and brotherly and sisterly love.
On this occas=
ion
Mr. Speaker, because peace begins with me, I lead by example by extending an
olive branch to those along the way with whom I may have chosen to remain a=
t odds
rather than seeking reconciliation. The theologian,
We are headed=
into
elections this year, I know Mr. Speaker but allow me to set the tone on this
first day back to Parliament in this New Year, on such an historic occasion,
and emerge a peacemaker. For blessed are the peacemakers, Mr. Speaker, they
shall be called, the children of God. I am in realization Mr. Speaker that =
we
as leaders cannot say to our sons out there on the streets to find less hos=
tile
ways to ending their feuds, if we can not by example, end ours more amicabl=
y in
this place. This year, in this place, it starts with me! The famed Buddhist
Monk, Thic Nhat Hanh once said, Mr. Speaker, “A person that is not happy cannot work
for peace …… To make peace, our hearts must be at peace with the
world … The best thing a tree can do is to be a real tree …. The
best thing a human being can do is to be a real human being … and tha=
t is
the basic condition for peace. Being peace is the best for doing peace, mak=
ing
peace.
Before I get into the meat of my Contribution Mr. Speaker, please a=
lso
allow me to read publicly into records and lay on the table, as chairman of=
the
Cabinet sub-committee for the commemoration of the 40th Annivers=
ary
of Majority Rule, recognition of the 45th anniversary of
women’s right to vote and the 200th anniversary of the
abolition of the trans Atlantic slave trade, a copy of a press release date=
d, 7th
January, 2007.
“The Government of The
· =
The 40th Anniversary of
Majority Rule;
· =
The 45th Anniversary of
Women’s Right to Vote; and
· =
The Commemoration of the 200th
Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.
All Bahamians benefited, in one way or another, from t=
he
historic event that took place on January 10, 1967, a day that now wears the
rather inelegant appellation of Majority Rule Day.
Majority Rule ushered in the opportunity for all Bahamians to have
constitutional, political, social, cultural and economic rights. Where these rights were not readily
accessible, the Government of the day created laws and implemented policies=
to
enable these entitlements.
So how did January 10 19=
67
come about? Who contributed? And what does majority rule really mean? Any
answers to these questions must necessarily be brief and therefore run the =
risk
of being inadequate.
Everybody knows that the
results of the 1967 election were close. The PLP by initial results, was successful in 18 Constituencies, whi=
le
the UBP also returned 18 seats. However, by January 13, the PLP officially
formed Government after receiving the support of two outstanding successful
candidates.
One such man was Sir Randol Fawkes who=
is
well known in the struggle for Majority Rule. He ran as Labour in 1962 and =
1967
with success.
He was solidly entrenched in the movem=
ent
toward Majority Rule and though running under the banner of Labour, ran
unopposed, with the support of the PLP. For his support, he was named Minis=
ter
with responsibility for Labour, in the new Government.
The other player in the movement was S=
ir
Alvin Braynen who ran as an independent candi=
date
in 1967. However after the results of the 1967 election were realized, he t=
hrew
in his lot with the PLP and accepted the post of Speaker of the House. He c=
ould
just as easily, and with no loss of credibility, aligned himself with the
United Bahamian Party.
The Government of the
In November of 1960 Sir Henry Milton Taylor led a delegation to
This new women’s right brought a force and element into the
history of The
Through its adoption of the resolution, spearheaded by Jamaica, the
United Nations General Assembly agreed to designate 25th March 2=
007,
as the International Day for the Commemoration of the 200th
Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade which
acknowledges that the slave trade and slavery were at the heart of situatio=
ns
of profound social and economic inequality which continue to affect people =
of
African decent. It is also a =
call
for countries to undertake activities at the local and national level to
celebrate the event.
To this end, the Government of the Bahamas will commence its activit=
ies
in recognition of this milestone on Majority Rule Day, Wednesday, 10th=
January, 2007, when a national Ecumenical Service will be held at the South=
ern
Recreation Grounds, under the direction of The Bahamas Christian Council,
followed by a cultural display.
It should be noted that the Southern Recreation Ground was
initially established under the aegis of Governor Sir Francis Cockburn
(1837-1844) as a place of recreation and meeting for the newly-freed popula=
tion
of the city of
The Ground was a central gathering spot for Black Bahamians fr=
om
its establishment during the Emancipation period until the achievement of
majority rule in 1967, and may have played host to nineteenth-century freed=
om
fighters such as Prince Williams, Stephen Dillet, Robert Love, Wilfred Camp=
bell
Adderley, William Parliament Adderley, and others;
The centrality of the Ground to Black Bahamian political life
continued throughout the twentieth century, where it served as the main foc=
us
of political speeches and rallies throughout the years of minority rule,
hosting such luminaries as Marcus Garvey, Adam Clayton Powell and Martin Lu=
ther
King, among countless others. It
also served as a place for Black Members of Parliament to address their
supporters, providing a meeting place for labourers during the Burma Road R=
iots
of 1942;
The PLP rallies of the 1950s and 1960s, which culminated in
Majority Rule, were the pinnacle of a long history of freedom fighting cent=
ered
around the Southern Recreation Ground;
In light of the history surrounding the Southern Recreation
Ground, the Government upon the endorsement of the
The Government also plans to hold Ecumenical services, under the aeg=
is
of the
Through its celebration of these important historic milestones, the
Government will ensure that the legacies of past Bahamians live on from
generation to generation.
Finally, I should point out that it took some 133 years for the mass=
es
to achieve Majority Rule following the Emancipation of the Slaves. However, the growth and
development we have experienced over the past forty years in the
Therefore, there is much that we in The
Now Mr. Speaker
Allow me a few moments to elaborate somewhat on the historical cour=
se
of The
The continuity of the history of the
However, Mr. Speaker, the role of the Bahama Islands proved less
significant post Columbus’ stumbling onto our rocks just before he ma=
de
his way into America, aided of course by the true discoverer, Amerigo Vespu=
cci.
We held for the old world no natural value, and so we became a place of tra=
nsit
only with very few life events to speak about, particularly after our
“heroes” savagely killed off the peaceful defenseless Arawaks. =
No
there is said to be very little activity here until about 1648 when the Bri=
tish
attempted their first settlement of our Islands, trying as best they could =
to
make a living from the mining and export of salt, and the planting of crops,
which not long after proved too difficult for that people of that era. Not =
to
mention, Mr. Speaker, the presence and mischief of pirates made matters even
worse and living standards totally unbearable. Again, nothing much to speak=
of
in this brief era.
However, a few
short years later in the late 1700’s, the Loyalists, those in America=
not
in support of the War of Independence but loyal to their mother Country
Britain, left the Americas, along Mr. Speaker with their slaves to forge a =
new
life in this geographically fragmented Country. And here, Mr. Speaker is wh=
ere
things become relevant for persons like me and you of a brown skinned
complexion. For while these loyalists held high moral convictions in the ar=
ea
of patriotism, they carried with them also the accepted practice of slavery,
unsuspectingly of course paving the way for people of African descent to co=
mmence
a march to freedom.
We do not like to discuss it Mr. Sp=
eaker,
not just in this Country but all over but the enslavement of the peoples of
Africa is not a thing of ancient history, it is very much enshrined with the
history of the new world. Those of fairer complexion get nervous about the
subject, Mr. Speaker but it is not until we are able to confront the demons=
of
our past that we can adequately reconcile it. Don’t think for one mom=
ent
that I want to get stuck looking back, Mr. Speaker but the wisdom of the ag=
es
has taught that if a people truly want to get where it is they need to go, =
they
must know and understand where they are by additionally knowing and
understanding from whence they have come.
Crime is big, big on the minds of
Bahamians, and big, big on the political agenda of the opposition and we ca=
nnot
address crime without addressing some of the pent up, unresolved hostility =
of
some Black people of this Country. No one has apologized to the memory of t=
he
fore-parents of our past Mr. Speaker, and until someone does, as secret as =
we
may allow it to be, hostility in some form or another is alive and manifest=
ing
itself in the communities of people of predominately Black descent. Former
President of the Untied Sates of America, Bill Clinton, while in office add=
ressed
this historical mis-happening with kid gloves and recently, just falling sh=
ort
of an apology lest there be some call for remuneration by the peoples of the
Black Diaspora, Prime Minister Tony Blair has released a statement of regre=
t.
In his words, Mr. Blair said,
<= o:p>
"It is hard to believe what would now be a crime against
humanity was legal at the time.
"I believe the bicentenary offers us a chance not just to say
how profoundly shameful the slave trade was - how we condemn its existence
utterly and praise those who fought for its abolition - but also to express=
our
deep sorrow that it could ever have happened and rejoice at the better time=
s we
live in today."
And so arriving with what would become the relationship of the Loya=
lists
with the
Let me also make note=
Mr.
Speaker, and I’ll come back to it later that with all the evil swirli=
ng
about in those days, somehow, former slaves and their descendants came into=
a
kind of gift, God given gift that will reach into our future to secure our
place in the development of this Country, freed slaves came into large trac=
ts
of land. Even more blessed they became, Mr. Speaker, the amount of land so =
many
former slaves came into once their former masters, unable to make a living,
packed up and moved away. This is how I know there is a God Mr. Speaker, th=
ey
were brought here under inhumane circumstances to till the land and after
sometime of hardship, so many went on to own the said land.
But we move own from this era of history Mr. Speaker, fast forwardi=
ng
through a period about which little is published up to around 1942, the
beginning of the twenty five year concentrated trek to Majority Rule. My fr=
iend
and colleague, the Member for Fox Hill the Hon Fred Mitchell in fine fashio=
n,
tells of the events of 1942 in an essay entitled,
“In the generally peaceful history of Bahamian politics,
Monday, June 1, 1942 was a strange sight. On that fateful day, hundreds of
Bahamian workers, employed on the American government project at the Western
end of New Providence were marching toward
Now it was obvious to these Black Bahamian labourers that a show =
of
force was the only thing the white rulers would understand. STRANGELY ENOUG=
H,
FEW OF the political analysts of the day could foretell the implications of
this action. They seemed to wish that the problem would go away by insisting
that the people were not interested in the voting system and other political
problems. Thus wrote The Guardian, bulwark of the white establishment. Perh=
aps
this was so, but in retrospect, one can clearly see that from June 1, 1942,
only a short jump was needed to bridge the fight for equal pay with the fig=
ht
for political rights in the country. Just over a decade later, the first
political party in the country, the Progressive Liberal Party, was to annou=
nce
its beginning, make its presence known as the working man’s friend, a=
s the
Party to bring justice and equality for all.., the party of the great major=
ity.
And even if they were not clearly crying for political rights, they were
interested, nonetheless, in something which was symbolic of political right=
s.
They were being cheated out of something that was due them. Their money was
their bread, and their bread was their life, and since these essentials were
being withheld from them, they were impelled to fight --- not necessarily w=
ith violence
but with a positive and determined spirit that would force the issue.
BRIEFLY, THE EVENTS OF the case began to unfold on May 6, 1942, w=
hen
an American based company began work on the present
THE RIOT ACT WAS READ In Grant’s Town. Policemen and import=
ed
soldiers fired on the workers --- two men were killed and five were wounded.
Then they withdrew. This time the people returned with a vengeance. This ti=
me
they attacked and destroyed the police station, the fire station and the
library. Sunset. The next day, June 2, there was more trouble. One more per=
son
was shot and killed. A crowd marched two and a half miles from Grant’s
Town to Coles Pharmacy in the Eastern District without being headed off by =
the
police or military. They pelted the pharmacy with rocks, doing great damage
before the police arrived. By evening, though, it was clear the disturbance=
had
spent its force. What followed this rude awakening for the
ONE PERSON WHO REFUSED to submit to their tactics was our present
Governor-General, Sir Milo
FREDDIE MUNNINGS, OWNER of the Cat and Fiddle, sang it this way:
Beware Abaco, Beware, Bay Street Comin’ down, Beware Abaco.
And then, too, the workers, the fore-runners in the struggle had
their own song:
Going
Going
Going
Don’t like Nobody.
Thus, the events of June 1, 1942 went down in the annals of Black
political history as a major step toward majority rule in 1967 and the
nation’s rise to identity.”
Mr. Speaker, =
again,
I commend The Honourable Member for Fox Hill on his thorough account of tho=
se
events but I also wish to highlight the role of Grant’s and Bain Town=
s in
that particular movement. In
1951, the SOUTHERN
PUBLIC LIBRARY(now renamed The Lillian Coakley Library)&nbs=
p;was
built, replacing the Grant’s Town Library which had been destroyed in=
the
Mr. Speaker, I
deliberately make mention of this transition period because before then, th=
ere
is little mention of action on behalf of Blacks and the less privileged in
agitation of a fairer Bahamian society. 1942, some 65 years removed, seems =
to
represent a time of frustration. What had been contained for so long was
beginning to come to a head and a movement was launched because it had to be
launched by an indomitable human spirit which knew it had to be released in
order to survive.
This movement organized itself some=
10
years later with the formation of the Progressive Liberal Party and took ce=
nter
stage on the landscape of Bahamian history, with the timely return and
involvement of such great educated Bahamian sons and daughters of the soil,
like the late, great Sir Lynden Pindling, our now Governor General, Arthur
Hanna, the late, Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, the late Dame Dr. Doris Johns=
on
and many others.
So began, off=
icial
partisan politics, the tool by which ordinary Bahamians in 1967 would win t=
heir
right to full citizenship. But this would not be achieved, Mr. Speaker with=
out
the many, constitutional and organizational hurdles that were to be overcom=
e.
In 1956, the Progressive Liberal Party made more than a name for itself by
landing six representatives in the House of Assembly. However, the battle w=
as
far from over. In the midst of these years, through acts of non violent
agitation the PLP made inroads into hurdles facing ordinary Bahamians. One =
such
account for Bahamian workers in Banks, a field widely available and celebra=
ted
today is captured in the official Biography of Pindling, whose spirit must =
be
hovering above us today.
It tells of the courageous acts of =
Sir
Milo
“To illustrate his admiration for Butler and his debt to his
methods, Pindling gave a vivid account to what he called, “the first =
time
Milo literally took me by the hand,” in 1956 when Butler had unilater=
ally
decided to protest the employment discrimination in Bay Street Banks. The
formidable figure of Milo
Just before the 1962 Elections, wom=
en,
led by the very formidable, Dr. Doris Johnson, won the right to vote, and
brought about universal suffrage, one person, one vote, in this Country. But
power through gerrymandering proved the people unsuccessful in the ’62
Elections which showed that while the Progressive Liberal Party won the
Majority of votes, it did not secure electoral victory.
Between 1962 =
and
1967, the Progressive Liberal Party, Mr. Speaker, a Party of purpose, unlike
those others formed for personal gain, whether elected or in Opposition,
mounted a strategy, which in collaboration with the Bahamian people would
change the course of Bahamian destiny. In the year 1965, two events aided in
this achievement. The first and more significant, in April of 1965 and reco=
rded
as Black Tuesday, saw a peaceful demonstration of a highly organized people
just outside the House of Assembly where Lynden Pindling from one of the
windows in this place, threw the Mace out of the window, and the hourglass
followed from the hands of Milo Butler. The Mace according to Pindling was =
the
symbol of power, and power belonged to the people and the people he noted, =
were
outside.
The day ended peacefully with a rally on the Southern Recreational Grounds but they had m= ade their point and sufficiently rallied their people. The second event was an appeal made to a special committee of the United Nations in August of 1965 = that while unsuccessful, brought the plight of Bahamians to the forefront of International media. Highlighting the corruption of the day. The delegation= led by Sir Lynden, pointed out the need for international intervention in the cause. An excerpt from his speech knocking the Government of the day read,<= o:p>
“Ministers own large block of shares in the majority of loc=
al
enterprises and benefit from government contracts, all with the tacit appro=
val
of the
The chip Mr.
Speaker they say seldom falls far from the block. But I digress!. Mr. Speak=
er,
the international appeal did not prove very rewarding at first instant but =
all
of these things led to the day for which we have assembled in honour of. By
1967, possible in part because of Constitutional victories, our people went=
to
the polls and in a tight victory, secured only by the support of those two =
men
afore mentioned, Randol Fawkes and Alvin Braynen, the PLP, the ordinary
majority of this Country, emerged victorious and gained control of our dest=
iny.
Mr. Speaker, =
as you
can see, the events of 1967 was not just a PLP victory or a Victory for Bla=
ck
Bahamians but it was a National victory, deserving to be celebrated by all =
Bahamians
irrespective of race, class or political persuasion because this victory ov=
er a
century long entrenched evil proved beneficial to a Nation under the scruti=
ny
of international press, and proved a milestone necessary for the attainment=
of
Independence. Bahamian writer, whose first literary work I was privileged t=
o be
among the first to view and critique, Faith Hall, puts it this way in her
recent article published in the
“January 10, 2007 will mark the 40th Anniversary=
of
one of those significant, historical manifestations of our relationship to =
and
with our God. The 10th day of the first month, as it was for Mos=
es,
and the people of
We had on that day been liberated not from evil white men, NO! We= had been liberated from the crippling effects of a twisted consciousness posses= sed by some and accepted by the rest, that somehow privilege (back then, money = and power) vested in the few, gave inherent license to deny the less privileged fundamental freedoms and opportunities. We were to go from a reality where = few owned and few ruled to a reality that guaranteed that all would own and all would rule by virtue of the fact that by citizenship, all belonged.”<= o:p>
Mr. Speaker I=
wish
now to turn away from my historical overview and focus on the many achievem=
ents
resulting from, and very relevant today because of the attainment of Majori=
ty
Rule.
In addition to
Independence, the creation of the Central Bank, the Royal Bahamas Defense F=
orce,
the College of the Bahamas, National Insurance, National Health Insurance,
National Youth Service, the Development Bank, The Bank of The Bahamas and t=
he
list goes on and on and on, Mr. Speaker, I very consciously wish to now foc=
us,
on the educational and vocational accomplishments since Majority Rule,
particularly those in the field of medicine, law and accounting, and the
various successes in fields related to my Ministry.
Post 1967, the
Progressive Liberal Government had a very serious commitment to educating t=
he
majority people of The
And so, in the
field of Law, Mr. Speaker, a most noble profession, there are over 800
Bahamians today registered at the Bahamian Bar, and many others, making a
living in some associated field of this profession. History provides for us the limited
examples of returning Bahamian lawyers who returned home not so much to
lucrative financial opportunities but most decided to enter the realm of
politics and apply their knowledge of the Law there, in hopes to gain justi=
ce
for our people as opposed to personal gain for self.
In today’s
Dr. Bernard J.
Nottage, the new minister of health and national insurance, told The Bahama
Journal in a recent interview that he’s ready to get to work.
“It’s extremely important because too many people in our countr=
y do
not have the capacity to get care,” he said of the government’s
proposed National Health Insurance Plan, which has risen high on the public
debate agenda.
“A lot of people pay =
for
insurances now and many people do not, but I think that the contributions t=
hat
have been proposed are something that everybody can afford.”
It was a similar message th=
at was
pushed by Dr. Marcus Bethel, the former minister of health, who faced
challenges in some circles, including among some local doctors, in trying to
sell the proposal.
Dr. Nottage told The Bahama
Journal that implementing the plan would have huge historical significance.=
“I think this could be
– after National Insurance, the
Prime Minister Perry Christ=
ie
believes that the position of Minister of Health and National Insurance is =
one
for which Dr. Nottage is ideally suited.
“He has had a long and
illustrious career in the practice of medicine during the course of which he
has developed a profound understanding of the complex challenges that face =
the delivery
of healthcare in our nation today,”
Mr. Speaker, today all of the Senior Partners of pu=
blic
accounting firms in The Bahamas are Bahamians, all partners are Bahamians
except in one instance and that partner is married to a Bahamian. In additi=
on, a
significant majority of the Senior Managers and assistant Managers in the A=
ccounting
Firms are Bahamians. A personal account from a notable Bahamian Accountant
after being questioned about significant advancements in his field since 19=
67
led to the following revelations:
· =
· =
· =
· =
· =
=
· =
=
· =
=
Mr.
Speaker when researching my Ministry, I found to great delight that in the
Water and Sewerage Corporation, and in the Bahamas Electricity Corporation,
there have been massive thrusts at Bahamianzation since 1967, and most of t=
he
top positions in the said entities, BTC as well for that matter, are held by
Bahamians. As an example, a report handed to me by an official at the water=
and
sewerage Corporation reads s follows:
Training Opportunities=
for
Bahamians since Majority Rule in 1967
When the Corporation was established in July 1976 there was a
considerable reliance on the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (C=
FTC)
for technical expertise. At t=
hat
stage only 2-3 qualified Bahamian engineers worked in the Water Department =
when
the Corporation was formed out of the Public Works Department. However by February 1977, the first
Bahamian General Manager, Mr. E. George Moss was appointed and he added his
strong personal conviction on Bahamianzation to the Government’s.
Throughout the years through a process of selection and financial
support at College of the Bahamas followed by international education and
training, in a short time a cadre of Bahamian engineers and other professio=
nals
has been developed within the Corporation. The Water and Sewerage Corporati=
on
can attest today that it is a fully Bahamianized organization with all key
positions held by well educated Bahamians who have no doubt benefited since
1967. This encompasses all ar=
eas of
General Management, Accounting, Engineering, Environmental Sciences and oth=
er
technical and related fields that are required in the water and wastewater
sector. This sector has become
increasingly attractive for its diverse areas of study and career
opportunities.
A quick review of our records shows that the Corporation started =
with
some 362 persons and as few as 2 professionals. Today with some 392 employees the
professional team includes some 24 persons with Engineering Degrees in vari=
ous
disciplines of civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, engineering hydrolo=
gy
and geographical information systems.
10 licensed electricians at various levels along with 10 technicians=
and
7 licensed plumbers support this team.&nbs=
p;
In addition to those here today, another 13 professional engineers h=
ave
acquired training and exposure within the Corporation and contributed to th=
e organization’s
development during their era.
A similar analogy can be made on the Finance and Accounting side
where some 20 persons have achieved degrees, and 5 have completed the CPA
examination. 13 former employ=
ees
were also trained over the years.
The day to day management of the operations is further supported =
by a
number of Bahamian specialists including but not limited to Human Resource
managers, to address personnel training and industrial relations matters.
Mr. Speaker
I am neither,
lawyer, doctor, accountant or engineer. I am a successful
businessman/entrepreneur, turned politician in a post Majority Rule
Mr. Speaker
Let us also r=
eturn
to the discussion of the ownership of land, particularly in the family Isla=
nds
by descendents of slaves. Ownership of land Mr. Speaker, I can assure will
emerge the most lucrative form of wealth for our people in the coming years.
And Mr. Speaker will ensure that ordinary Bahamians can go on to play a more
meaningful role in the ownership of our economy.
In 1967 it was
estimated that the 15% minority owned some 85% of the economy while the num=
bers
were reversed for the ordinary majority. In today’s reality Mr. Speak=
er,
the thrust to greater ownership of our economy remains a challenge as figur=
es
also report that sadly in excess of 85 cents of every Bahamian dollar leaves
our Country. But I am optimistic Mr. Speaker that one day because of more a=
nd
more Bahamians partnering to develop these large tracts of land, many of wh=
ich
sit along beautiful coastline, and because of the will of Bahamians to feed
ourselves and cloth ourselves and provide all of the various services that
would prove us to be more self sufficient, we shall overcome that last hurd=
le
to full nationhood, first world nationhood and prove to the world in memory=
of
our ancestors that ordinary Bahamians were more than able to make this nati=
on
great.
It causes me =
to
need to say Mr. Speaker, in the words of that great Civil rights leader of =
our
brothers and sisters to the North,
“Well I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve =
got
some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because
I’ve been to the mountain top. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I
would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not
concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s
allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I̵=
7;ve
seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know
that we as a people will get to the promised land, And I am … I’=
;m
not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have s=
een
the glory of the coming of the Lord.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Today I am pr=
ouder
than ever to be PLP Mr. Speaker. I am proud because I am member of an
organization that has meant more to this Country historically than just a
political Party trying to win General Elections. We are the agents of the p=
ast,
chosen by God above who brought about all of the major new realities of the
Modern
Mr. Speaker a=
s I
close therefore, I lift my head to the rising sun, as our glorious future
beckons us come. I lift my head to the rising sun Mr. Speaker in jubilation
with all Bahamians from around this archipelagic Nation, from MICAL in the
south to West End and Bimini in the North Mr. Speaker, from Long Island, Cat
Island and San Salvador, Exuma, North and South Eluethera, Mr. Speaker, Nor=
th
and South Andros, North and South Abaco. I lift my head to the rising sun M=
r.
Speaker in harmonious elation with the people of High Rock, Eight Mile Rock,
Pineridge, Lucaya and Marco City, and here in our Nation’s capital I =
lift
my head to the rising sun with the people of Delaporte, Blue Hills, Adelaid=
e, Carmichael,
Pinewood, South Beach, Golden Gates, Marathon, St. Thomas More, Kennedy, Ho=
ly
Cross, Mt. Moriah, St. Margaret, Bamboo Town, Montagu, Garden Hills, Elizab=
eth,
Yamacraw, Fox Hill, Fort Charlotte, Englerston, St. Cecelia, Farm Road, and
finally Mr. Speaker, Bain and Grants Town, Mr. Speaker. 40 Constituencies,
representative of 40 years of freedom justice and equality in our fair Coun=
try.
I raise my head to the rising sun until the road we trod leads unto our God,
and I admonish us to continue to march on … march on, Bahamaland!