I have seen and read a letter to the newspapers by one Dwight James Higgs taking issue with comments made by Hon. Fred Mitchell MP and the resulting press reports. I checked immediately with Mr. Mitchell, who stands absolutely by what he said in his remarks at a public meeting on the evening of Monday January 29th 2007:
“We sat in Athena’s café and he asked for my help. I agreed because I support any Bahamian contractor and I did speak to them to say simply this: the PLP does not condone or support any action that would jeopardize any Bahamian contractor and certainly not on the basis of political affiliation.”
Mr. Mitchell clearly recalls the events of which he spoke. He remembers exactly who sat where in the restaurant and at what table and he remembers who said what to whom. Mr. Mitchell recalls in fact a second meeting at a second restaurant where the request for assistance was again made by this same Dwight James Higgs.
Fred Mitchell remembers what happened. Mr. Higgs knows what happened. Other people who were also at the meetings know what happened. But there is no reason to bear witness. Mr. Higgs should be simply ashamed of himself for trying to weasel out of what he said, when he knows better. The facts speak for themselves. He has continued to enjoy the fruits of his contracts without victimization of any kind as is the right of any and all Bahamians. His rights and the rights of countless others in and out of Fox Hill have been protected by Fred Mitchell.
In any event Mr. Higgs is not the issue. Speaking the truth is the issue. And what is far from the truth is the assertion by the FNM candidate for Fox Hill that Fred Mitchell has done nothing in Fox Hill. That is a lie that cannot stand.
Further, a careful review of the books of the Fox Hill Community Centre project indeed shows as Mr. Mitchell said, “not one copper” from the FNM candidate. Fred Mitchell came to office saying that he would complete the project. Now, after many, many years as an unfulfilled dream; the Fox Hill Community Centre has risen from the ground under Fred Mitchell’s leadership as the Member of Parliament, with approximately $750,000.00 already spent and counting to a total of about $2 million. The people of Fox Hill continue to welcome support in this from all well meaning friends of Fox Hill.
In addition to all the work that Fred Mitchell has already done in ten years of service to the constituency since first coming to Fox Hill in 1997, people in the area are excited about his plans for the next five years: “Ten points for Fox Hill’s future -
1. The completion of road infrastructure, parks and
meeting room at Eastwood;
2. The completion of the Community Centre and its
staffing and equipping;
3. Seeking the Incorporation of the Fox Hill Village
and its demarcation with appropriate street signs and sidewalks;
4. Development of a park at the Ocean Hole;
5. A Programme for Youth Jobs and Youth Development;
6. The Construction of Additional classroom block,
recreational facilities; library and teacher’s staff room at Sandilands
Primary;
7. The Acquisition of the land for expansion of Sandilands;
8. The complete computerization of L.W. Young;
9. The replanting of tree cover in the constituency;
and
10. The expansion of Urban Renewal to complete the
upgrading of the housing stock and settling of land issues.”
Mr. Mitchell has pledged to speak truth to the issues.
The people of the Fox Hill constituency know the truth and they will return
Fred Mitchell as their Member of Parliament.
P.J. Mortimer
Fox Hill Constituency Coordinator