News Release
For Immediate Release

The Progressive Liberal Party takes strong issue with Brent Symonette raising the question of race in this General Election as reported in The Tribune of 22nd February, 2007.

Brent Symonette is confused if he is associating the reference to the United Bahamian Party and its connections with the FNM as meaning the ‘race card’.  The PLP never raised the issue of race.  The public should know that it is Brent Symonette who raised the issue of race.

This is the same Brent Symonette who himself doubted his own ability to be prime minister because of the colour of his skin.  The PLP believes in the supremacy of the content of one’s character over the colour of one’s skin. This has always been our belief. And this belief has been put into full practice by this PLP Government during our first term by ensuring that all Bahamians participate, and are engaged, in matters of national importance.

It was the FNM who, when they had their convention, started speaking about ‘salt and pepper’ in describing Brent Symonette and Hubert Ingraham; not the PLP.  It was Hubert Ingraham who raised the issue of race when he accused Prime Minister Perry Christie of not appointing a white man to his Cabinet.  The PLP is fighting a campaign on philosophy; not race.  The FNM can talk all they want about race.  The PLP is not interested in race. We are focused on moving this nation forward during our second term in office and sharing our vision with the Bahamian people.  We are a party of inclusion, ours is a big and inviting tent.

What Brent Symonette and the FNM must answer is: are they the inheritors of the UBP and its philosophy of exclusion?  And does Mr. Ingraham deny that he said that he intends to remain – if elected – for eighteen months and then turn the party over to Brent Symonette who is his deputy leader?  Those are the issues.

The Progressive Liberal Party
22nd February, 2007
Raynard Rigby
National Chairman