16th January 2009

This evening it is my privilege to be here to lead this discussion on the history of the PLP.   I want to thank Melissa Sears and the President Officers and Members of the Progressive Young Liberals I hope that this will turn into a dialogue and not a lecture, but given the current state of affairs I would like to do some scene setting.

I want to first send a message of comfort and support to all PLPs everywhere and to all PLP supporters sympathizers and to Bahamians generally.  There is no fundamental problem with the PLP. It is a safe and sound organization that is undergoing change. Change is not often seamless and not often neat.  It cannot be suppressed, nor can it be staged managed. It cannot be stopped.  It will come whether we like to not.

One of the reasons, we learn our history is what the past can teach us. It is a great comfort that we were able to survive for 55 years and still going.  If you mine the history, it provides a treasure trove of information that points the way to the future and managing the present issues of change.

After every election loss, you can expect that some will be summer soldiers. Politics is often fortuitous, opportunistic: a mix of statesmanship and personal egotism an ambition.  Why would people decry this when the world is what it is?  There is no sense complaining about the air when that is all there is to breathe.

The PLP has lost elections before, lost members before.  But it has won elections and come back from the jaws of defeat. It will do so again.  It has the leadership capability, the intellectual heft, and the discipline to do so.

But change also plays out in the open.  It is not secretive.   The country will make a judgment about the PLP when the transition is done.  There will be some harsh words.  There may be some broken promises.  But there will also be some magnificent statecraft, great new policies and fresh leadership to move us forward.

The way to look at the current departures is to see it as the detritus of the process of change.  The message is clear.  It is a truism.

Dame Billie Miller of Barbados likes to say:  you can’t approbate and reprobate at the same time.  Put another way, we can’t go to and fro and the same time. We have to move in one direction, even if with many voices. The PLP must use all its voices and not justify itself by the false orthodoxy that only one can speak. Every soldier of the PLP is voice for the party.

But what must also be clear is that loyalty to the organization is a must. We cannot be perceived to be soft on those who want to approbate and reprobate at the same time, who want to be both fish and fowl who believe in the vain hope that sucking up to the present group in power is going to help them succeed.  History again reminds us of the words of Sir Lynden who told his generation. If you are coming into the boat, you have fish or cut bait. And if you can’t do either then to use his words “get the hell out of the boat”.

That was generation ago.  It is a useful point to remember as we move forward to develop our party.

There is much work to be done. I list the chief of these in Grand Bahama to be the economy.  The government can lie about the facts all they want.  On the ground, you all know the situation in Grand Bahama. So we say to Hubert Ingraham: it’s the economy stupid!

We say to Mr. Ingraham do what you promised to do and appoint a Commissioner of Police who can serve all of the people of the country.

You the Young Liberals are challenged to adopt the agenda for change.  In the message sent out to all PLP sites on Facebook. I gave the theme of the agenda as social justice and economic empowerment.  We have to commit ourselves to become a developed country by the year 2020.

The markers toward this effort are as follows:
 

• An increase in national income or GDP per capita,
• A more refined literacy,
• A lower birth rate and a lower death rate;
• A national health insurance programme;
• Unemployment benefits;
• Better access to capital through small business loans, micro loans,
• Improved infrastructure by land, sea and by air,
• An improved tourism product,
• National food security through an investment in agriculture and fisheries,
• The rebuilding of our capital city and
• Increased environmental protection

One major and immediate goal must be to make the price of land and housing affordable for young Bahamians.

You in Grand Bahama must start talking about what is to happen here after 2054 when the Hawksbill Creek Agreement expires.

You certainly know the present dispute and how it has crippled the decision making in this city, and helped to further depress the economy of the island.

We must all work toward the year 2020 of making our country more homogeneous economically and culturally and with a more effective government throughout the islands.

As young liberals then it is incumbent upon you to know the history, but not dwell on it.  Build on it.  Use it to project and develop your leadership potential into the future.  Start a recruitment drive for other Young Liberals. Do something.

Thank you very much indeed.

Photo 1 - Fred Mitchell MP (centre) is pictured with some members of the Progressive Young Liberals in Grand Bahama during a seminar on the history of the Party, officially opened by Mr. Mitchell Friday 16th January at Ruby Swiss Restaurant.  From left are: Lester Smith, Divinia Ambrister, William Stubbs, Mr. Mitchell, Melissa Sears, Kermit Feaster, Phyilisha Woodside and Renio Ferguson.

Photo 2: Renio Ferguson, Divinia Ambrister and LaQuay Laing look on as Kreshon Lubin asks a question.

Photo 3: Phyilisha Woodside presents a basket of fruit in appreciation.
Photos: Allyson M. Smith