MARCH 12th, 2012

Good Evening Carmichael

Good Evening Bahamas!

Mr. Party Leader…etc

To the valiant and strong son of Cat Island – Danny Johnson!

Ohhhh Danny Boy – look what you did to that man who has no respect for persons who are his senior.

Desmond “Abandoned” Bannister left the people of this community like the mother who left her baby on the doorstep.

He saw you coming, and the rest is now history.

Bush Crack – Man GONE!

I declare tonight – that you, Dr. Daniel ‘Danny’ Johnson shall take your seat as the next Member of Parliament of the Great Constituency of Carmichael!

The South has gone GOLD!!

We will win! And Win BIG!

We have them on the run…

…and we are ready to govern on day one!

Carmichael!

Desmond “Abandoned” Bannister like many of his colleagues chose a fine time to leave you!

They packed up and didn’t say goodbye!

Bannister has some nerve, eh?

He flew into a PLP stronghold, a constituency that started with the PLP since 1956.

He pokes fun in the press about the decent people in North Andros and now suggests dead people voting.

I have some words for him – look in the mirror!

He then adds to the charge that people in the surrounding settlements of North Andros would stoop to such lowness and accommodate people flying in from Nassau to vote in North Andros.

Desmond “Abandoned” Bannister should remind himself that the only person who flew into North Andros in the last few months was him.

And I pray – he isn’t doing what he trying lay against the good people of North Andros.

Carmichael!

They left you.

Desmond Bannister and FNM “Abandoned” You!

They left you at a time when taxes are at the highest they have ever been.

They left you when you are losing your home.

At a time when the lights are going off.

They abandoned you when you had to take the children out of private school.

They left you when your businesses are struggling and went underground.

They left you unemployed and fighting to survive.

Carmichael, they aren’t checking for you.

They discarded you at a time when crime and violent crimes are at the highest in the history of this country.

They failed to protect you.

Yes – they failed you!

It’s Incredible!

Unbelievable!

It’s Unthinkable!

I read the Guardian this morning and the paper proved us right, you know.

The FNM hasn’t got a clue about how to fight crime in the Bahamas.

The article published in this morning’s paper with the headline, Conviction stats are wrong again, confirmed that the Attorney General – for a second time – has misled the country.

For a second time.

They are lost – I tell you.

Last year the Attorney General, John Delaney, told the country that his government convicted 12 persons charged with murder in the first half 2011.

After the morning daily found out that that statement was not correct, the AG then said his report in the Senate was “not completely accurate”.

Last month, after much pressure from the PLP on their shameful management of the Crime Crisis gripping the country, the Attorney General came out to say 25 persons were convicted for murder under the FNM.

Let me remind you now, the row surfaced because his leader, Hubert Ingraham, told the country that, if at the end of his five year term there are 100 plus persons charged with murder who he could not caused to be tried within two years – He would say to the BAHAMAS: I AM A FAILURE! I have failed thee.

And voting him out of office would be minor, and that he deserves more punishment than that.

This he said when he first returned in office – and since he has not come back to say it – I will say it for him:

Hubert Ingraham you are indeed a failure and voting you out of office is minor. You deserve more!

Since the FNM took office, more than four hundred and forty four persons [444] have been murdered on the streets of the Bahamas.

There are as many as three hundred and five – 305 – persons out on bail for murder right now.

All released during his term in office.

And according to the Guardian this morning, fewer than 21 convictions for murder cases have taken place in nearly five years.

The Nassau Guardian proved for a second time John Delaney told a BIG FAT LIE!

And Hubert Ingraham repeated that Big Fat Lie on the campaign.

They are strangers to the Truth!

And Carmichael you should send the message loud and clear -

Tell them you are tired of the nasty lies.

You must vote them out! You must send them packing!

You must tell Papa Clown to RING THE BELL!!!!

Under this Free National Movement Government we have witnessed four years of record murders on our streets.

They amended the Jury Act, the Bail Act, The Fire Arms Act.

The Criminal Proceedure Codes.

Increased the number of courts hearing criminal trials.

But yet, these measures proved useless and meaningless, as violent criminal activities continue unabated.

Carmichael! The Bahamas is headed in the wrong direction.

But a new day is coming Carmichael!

We are ready to turn the corner and return peace to our streets.

The PLP’s Project Safe Bahamas is your blanket!

It has fitted into its design all the tools of protection to fight the vexing problem of crime.

We will bring back programmes that were working, like:

* Witness Protection and School Policing, along with many new and innovative measures as well,
*
* Including Operation Cease Fire, with a focus on repeat offenders,
*
* Saturation patrols in crime hotspots, and direct intervention in the cycle of revenge killings
*
* With new outreach workers trained in conflict mediation.

We in the PLP have a Plan to fight crime.

Carmichael: It is time to register.

I need every one of you under the sound of my voice, whether by radio, TV, via the Internet or at this rally tonight, who have not registered as yet to do so now.

You cannot get rid of the FNM if you do not register.

Because it ain’t long now.

Carmichael!

Come with us as we move to restore peace back into our communities again!

Come with us as we set a course to Put Bahamians Back to Work!

Come with us as we point young Bahamians into an era of prosperity and growth!

Come with us as we build our nation and restore Opportunity to thousands of our countrymen and women.

Come with us, and send to Parliament our Brave man – Danny Johnson!

It is time to ring the BELL!

Believe in the Bahamas.

…As we in the PLP Believe in you!

Thank You Carmichael!

GOOD EVENING AND GOD BLESS.

Leader

Progressive Liberal Party

Carmichael Constituency Launch

March 12, 2012

CARMICHAEL, I HEAR YOU’VE BEEN ABANDONED BY YOUR M.P.!

CARMICHAEL, LOOK AT YOU — I CAN SEE YOU MEAN BUSINESS!

YOU’RE READY FOR A NEW DIRECTION!

YOU’RE READY FOR A NEW DAY!

YOU COMIN’ HOME THIS TIME, CARMICHAEL?

YOU VOTING FOR DR. JOHNSON AND A NEW GENERATION?

I KNOW YOU ARE! I CAN SEE IT HERE TONIGHT!

What a delight it is to be in Carmichael with Dr. Daniel Johnson and his family and his team and his future constituents…

You know, in 2012, the PLP has the best slate of candidates this nation has ever seen, with a new generation ready to fight for Bahamians on day one.

I see myself as a bridge between Sir Lynden Pindling and this new generation of PLP leaders – we all share a profound belief in the Bahamian people, in what Bahamians can accomplish and what Bahamians can achieve.

Danny is someone who burns bright with ideas and energy to bring real change to The Bahamas. Like his colleagues, he looks around and knows we can do so much better as a nation.

You know, Danny’s a physician – he has an excellent reputation because of his focus on diabetes, and he’s a foot and ankle specialist, too. Danny, I hear Hubert Ingraham may need your help with his own foot and ankle disease, as he can’t seem to keep his foot and ankle out of his mouth these days!

Fifteen of 20 years Hubert Ingraham’s been Prime Minister, but there isn’t a problem in The Bahamas he’ll take responsibility for – it’s the opposite of leadership!

Murders have doubled under his watch. Doubled, Carmichael.

It’s a tragedy, and it’s a crisis.

A record number of accused murderers are out on bail.

Does your Prime Minister apologize, tell you he’s going to do better, ask us to share our expertise and find a national way forward together to address the crisis?

No, of course not. That’s not the Ingraham way.

Fifteen out of 20 years he’s been Prime Minister – but every problem is someone else’s fault.

Nearly $100 million in cost overruns on a roadworks project overseen by his government – the MOST overbudget in the history of The Bahamas — and he blames me! It’s pathetic.

Someone told me it was almost funny that he would try to shift responsibility to me for his government’s massive, epic incompetence – for the inside dealing and the missing accounts and the broken rules – all presided over by his government — but really, what’s funny about $100 million more in national debt, when our country has so many urgent needs?

Ingraham wants the power but he won’t take the responsibility that comes with it, Bahamians.

He’s taught us that time and time again.

He doesn’t have a plan for the way forward. The latest is he tells us he’s going to create a plan….but only AFTER the election. What do you think about that? Another sign of the contempt he holds you in?

The PLP has been sharing our very serious and comprehensive – and innovative — plans to fight crime and create jobs since last summer and last fall.

But Ingraham’s too busy distorting my record to come up with any new ideas.

The truth is –

My government pioneered successful, award-winning anti-crime programmes.

Under my government, we created 22,000 jobs – jobs for Bahamians.

We built a record number of homes and a record number of classrooms.

We gave $25 million to Bahamian entrepreneurs, and we were the first to give support to new homeowners with a break on stamp duties.

When I left office, Bahamian economic growth was out-pacing US economic growth, and The Bahamas was a regional economic leader.

Now, The Bahamas is at the bottom of the region.

That’s right – don’t let them get away with blaming the global recession – if that was the full story, then our regional competitors would be in the same kind of trouble we’re in, and yet they’re outgrowing us and outpacing us – look where we are with stopover tourists, Bahamians, and see how much better our regional competitors have fared.

Unthinkable.

Unbelievable.

This is important – listen up and spread the word – the FNM is hiding behind the global recession, hoping you won’t notice how badly they’ve mismanaged the economy.

They cancelled PLP projects out of petty political spite – they did that when jobs were needed most, when family breadwinners were out of work and in despair.

They raised your taxes when times were tough – even though other governments were easing tax burdens so people and businesses could survive the recession.

And in the middle of the recession, they have hired foreigners instead of Bahamians, again and again.

The New Providence roadworks is approaching $100 million in cost overruns –

Who is making those millions? A foreign contractor. A foreign contractor hired for a major infrastructure project while Bahamian contractors sat on the sidelines.

A road project which was supposed to be a stimulus for the Bahamian economy was turned into a jobs killer.

The same roads dug up again and again – and everytime they’re dug up, more small businesses close, more jobs are lost, Bahamians are getting poorer and poorer as they add to our national debt, but Brent Symonette and his foreign contractor friend are getting richer and richer.

Ingraham is asking Parliament to approve tens of millions in new borrowing for a project which was supposed to be finished months ago…

Yet this government turned away thousands of young people from their Job Readiness programme.

When it comes to you, the cupboard’s bare.

It’s unthinkable.

Unbelievable.

We have to do better, Bahamas.

We need to look around – look around at this new world we live in – the world of Facebook and Twitter and Skype – and decide how we’re going to make sure Bahamians have the education and the skills and the training they need to succeed in this era of information and technology change.

We don’t just need to tinker at the edges of how we educate and train Bahamians – we need a revolution!

We need to double the nation’s investment in education and training!

We need to upgrade the technology of our schools.

We need worker retraining, so Bahamians can always have cutting-edge skills.

From preschool, all the way up – we need to invest in Bahamians.

Bahamians — I think this election should be about big things.

About how to keep Bahamians safe. About how to make sure our children do not grow up in a culture of violence. About investing in Bahamians, and how we can build a strong and resilient economy which can survive turbulent times.

That’s why I’m so angry about the FNM’s strategy, to drag Bahamians into a debate about their lies and their distractions and their petty attacks.

We can’t afford an election like that.

You don’t want to wake up the day after the election and realize the FNM made the election about little things when as a nation we really need to make big decisions.

Our nation is at a crossroads.

Should the country stay with a “BAHAMIANS NEED NOT APPLY” FNM government?

NO?!

Or should we elect a government with a plan to create jobs…jobs for BAHAMIANS?!

Carmichael, do you want to give the Prime Minister five more years to ignore Bahamians? Isn’t fifteen out of 20 years enough?

Isn’t it time for a government which believes in Bahamians?

CARMICHAEL, ARE YOU READY?

READY FOR DANNY JOHNSON AND A NEW GENERATION?

CARMICHAEL, DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE BAHAMAS?

PLP!

PLP!

PLP!

—— END

DEPUTY LEADER, PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY

St. ANNE’S BRANCH LAUNCH

MARCH 10, 2012

Good Afternoon St Anne’s!

Good Afternoon Bahamas!

Team St. Anne’s! Are you ready?

Mr. Party Leader …..

To my friend, our man and your next Member of Parliament Greg Burrows!

St. Anne’s your have a Good Man!

Another strong family man.

An organizer.

A leader.

A spokesman for young people.

A team captain.

And a strong PLP!

You have in your midst a man who most importantly BELIEVE IN YOU!

He is one who has experienced the Bahamian dream, the great

dream that today is slipping away from young Bahamians.

Greg, in the team of 38 PLPs, is running today to restore back to young Bahamians that chance to dream again.

To Believe once again in this great country.

Those who sit in power today have crushed that dream.

- Unemployment is in double digits.

- Young people are out of work.

- Crime has drastically increased.

- Tourism arrivals are down.

- The national debt is like a runaway train with no good fiscal management plan.

And the list goes on and on.

St. Anne’s:

Papa Clown has no shame.

And he has nerve to boast that his party DELIVERS?

Five years in government and the people of the Bahamas everywhere will tell you – WE CAN’T TAKE THEM NO MORE!

They should be asking for forgiveness and NOT VOTES!

St Anne’s!

I have also come to ask you where is Brent “Hot Mix” Symonette?

You know it’s Incredible. It’s unthinkable! It’s unbelievable what he and the FNM did to us!

Since the tabling of that Public Accounts Committee’s Report on the road works by Dr. B. J. Nottage – Brent “Hot Mix” Symonette has disappeared.

The committee did an extensive investigation

– And after interviewing numerous government witnesses, including the government’s own Auditor General,

- And reviewing more than a thousand pages of documents,

- Massive incompetence, missing accounts and a tangled web of shady dealings have been uncovered.

And we all know who is at the heart of this!

Brent “Hot Mix” Symonette.

He like Phenton “No More” Neymour took a fine time to leave you St. Anne’s.

PLPs!

But we fixed the problems of the Bahamas before.

We implemented an award-winning Urban Renewal Program that brought order back to communities and a spirit of community back into our constituencies.

We created investment opportunities and substantially grew foreign direct investment.

In five short years we increased government revenue by fifty-six percent [56%] and unlike the FNM, Perry Gladstone Christie did not raise a single tax on the Bahamian people.

We slowed growth on the national debt and by the end of our term unemployment under the PLP had been reduced to single digit – by less than 8%.

* With thousands of young Bahamians going back to work.

We went around the world to attract new business opportunities for you the people.

We brought Baha Mar, Ginn, The I-Group and Albany to the Bahamas.

It was our visionary leader who conceived and sealed the deal for the National Stadium.

Tourist arrivals increased.

Hotel rooms expanded and everyone made more money.

Much money was left after the end of the month.

That is the record of your PLP!

We in the PLP have the solutions to getting people back to work.

And so St. Anne’s we have come to lift the hand of our PLP son in this constituency.

Greg Burrows, along with our team of young men and women, believes in safe streets through Project Safe Bahamas.

We believe in investing in the Bahamian people not roads.

We in the PLP believe doubling the funding for Education for the youth and introducing social programs to keep our young men and women focused.

Greg Believes in you and from what I know, he is ready to serve you.

St. Anne’s:

It is time to register.

I need every one of you under the sound of my voice, whether by radio, online or at this GOLD RUSH event this afternoon, who have not done so as yet to do so now in order to get rid of the FNM!

You must register in order to vote for Greg Burrows and the PLP.

Because it ain’t long now.

St Anne’s:

Come with us as we move to restore peace back into our communities again!

Come with us as we set a course to Put Bahamians Back to Work!

Come with us as we point young Bahamians into an era of prosperity and growth!

Come with us as we build our nation and restore Opportunity to thousands of our countrymen and women.

Come with us, and send to Parliament our Brave man Greg Burrows!

It is time to ring the BELL!

Believe in the Bahamas.

…As we in the PLP Believe in you!

Thank You St. Anne’s

GOOD afternoon AND GOD BLESS.

Marco City

March 10, 2012

Hello, Grand Bahama!

Look at all of you – aren’t you amazing?!

You look like you’re ready for a new direction!

A new direction and a new day!

Grand Bahama, are you with us?

Are you marching to victory with the PLP?

Are you ready for change, Grand Bahama?

We’re ready, too!

That’s why I’ve recruited a new generation of leaders – an amazing and talented group – they’re going to bring their energy and their innovative new ideas to my government and we’re going to see some big changes in The Bahamas!

Greg Moss and Tanisha Tynes are part of this movement for change, part of the big change coming your way.

They’re just the kind of people we need in government – they’re smart, they’re committed, with big ideas about how to make things better for Grand Bahama and the whole Bahamas.

Tanisha and Greg are going to fight for Grand Bahama, and they’re going to fight for investing in people – you know they will.

Marco City, are you standing strong with Gregory Moss and the PLP?

Are you ready for change?

East Grand Bahama, are you ready to go in a new direction?

Are you ready for Tanisha Tynes and the PLP?

This new generation of leaders that I’ve recruited has worked with me on Project Safe Bahamas, our innovative plan to fight crime, and they’ve worked with me on our Job Creation & Empowerment Agenda, to put Bahamians first and create jobs and expand our nation’s economy.

And of course, they’ve worked with me here in Grand Bahama, to put together a detailed plan to create a big success story here.

Because Grand Bahama, isn’t it time to put Bahamians first?

Isn’t it time for a government that will fight for you?

Isn’t it time for a government that believes in you?

When I led the government, we added 22,000 jobs to the economy – jobs for Bahamians. By the end of my term, Bahamian economic growth was actually out-pacing US growth, and we were at the top of our region.

I don’t have to tell you what’s happened since then.

Everywhere I go in Grand Bahama, tragedy on nearly every corner.

The suffering here is unimaginable. Unemployment through the roof, young Bahamians, old Bahamians and everyone in between out of work and out of hope.

I hate to see the middle class slipping into poverty, the poor getting even more desperate. It hurts me to my core. Because I know we can do so much better.

The global recession is only part of the explanation here, you know that, Grand Bahamians. The FNM made it worse; much worse. It never had to get this bad.

Grand Bahamians trying to succeed during the recession had an FNM boot on their necks, keeping them down.

The FNM has failed you – starting with an unthinkably dysfunctional relationship with the Port Authority. Families losing their homes, losing the dignity that comes with work and with raising your children in security – and this government cannot find a way to sit down, come up with a plan for the way forward?

Look, let’s get real, Grand Bahama.

You need big change.

In my government, we’ll have a Ministry for Grand Bahama, to make sure your economy gets the special focus and the support it deserves.

We’re not going to pit Freeport against the rest of Grand Bahamas – that divisive way of doing things doesn’t work.

No, what we need is an All-Grand-Bahama approach, one that considers the strengths and opportunities in every area of this great island – east and west and in between.

The possibilities here are extraordinary – not just in tourism and entertainment and sports, but in industry and shipping and financial services and agriculture.

But first you need a government which believes in you.

We’re not just planning to revive tourism here, with big cuts in airport and hotel taxes, we also want to expand Bahamian ownership within tourism, by making sure Bahamians have access to affordable start-up capital, affordable land, technical and marketing support.

We have initiatives for worker retraining, for technology centres, for more and better vocational and technical opportunities, and for upgrading our schools to meet 21st century standards.

We have to move to aggressively reduce energy costs, and we have to investigate very serious charges of over-billing here in Grand Bahama.

You know, Grand Bahama, I’m sure you’re looking at the FNM’s slogan “We Deliver” and asking yourselves “Have they gone crazy?”

Their slogan should be: “We’re Sorry.”

Or maybe: “We’re So, So Sorry.”

That’s right.

They should be apologizing.

They should be asking for forgiveness, not for votes.

What have they delivered for you, Grand Bahama?

Look around…what have they delivered?

They have delivered unthinkable neglect.

They have delivered unbelievable misery.

They have delivered for foreigners, but not for you, Grand Bahama.

I know you’ve been watching the roadworks scandal in New Providence with horror.

Nearly one hundred millions dollars over budget!

What a waste!

It’s their massive incompetence – but it’s your massive debt: You’re the ones who will have to pay it back – you and your children and your children’s children.

Shady backroom deals, missing accounts, lie after lie about the date of completion, still no end in sight – and their slogan is “We Deliver”?

A project that was supposed to stimulate the Bahamian economy – they turned it into a jobs killer!

They deliver? A devastated small business community, hundreds of jobs lost – that’s what they delivered.

And then Hubert Ingraham strolls into Parliament to ask for tens of millions more for roadworks which were supposed to be completed months ago, acting like he’s just asking for some more peas and rice. As if it’s no big deal.

Like I said, their slogan should be: “We’re Sorry.”

The countries in our region which are growing in stopover tourists despite the recession – they’re delivering for their people.

But not the FNM.

Grand Bahama, if you had a dollar for every minute Hubert Ingraham’s spent worrying about you or your troubles or trying to make them better, you still wouldn’t have enough money to afford a haircut.

Aren’t you tired of a Prime Minister who only knows how to hold one-way conversations?

Aren’t you tired of a Leader who doesn’t have any time to listen to what you have to say?

Aren’t you ready for a government which believes in investing in people?

The FNM has failed, and The Bahamas is much worse off than it was when they over nearly five years ago.

But we’re going to turn things around.

In Grand Bahama, we’re going to overcome this terrible adversity – we’re going to do it together, hand in hand.

The FNM might not know how to create jobs during tough times…but we do.

We did it before and we’re going to do it again.

We’re going to do it with innovative new ideas and an amazing new generation of candidates.

We’re going to do it because we believe in you, Bahamas!

Grand Bahama will rise and become the shining success story it was meant to be!

We’re going to do this together…we can’t wait to get started…

Are you ready, Grand Bahama?

PLP…PLP….PLP…

Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie

Leader, Progressive Liberal Party

March 7, 2012

On Monday past the Public Accounts Committee presented a devastating report outlining the FNM government’s disastrous mismanagement of the New Providence Road Improvement Project.

The independent investigation uncovered widespread and in many cases ongoing problems with the competitive bidding process, with billing and payments, and with quality control. The report raises very serious questions about conflicts of interest and reveals that millions of dollars may be missing.

It is now known that the project is $93 million over budget. That is the current figure. With no end in sight, that number may well continue to grow, as it has virtually every time the Prime Minister comes forward to speak on the project.

The New Providence Road Improvement Project under his government has been an unmitigated disaster.

The idea that the FNM “delivers” has been shown to be a travesty – they are responsible for gross incompetence and the worst cost overruns in the history of The Bahamas.

They have turned a project which was intended to operate as a stimulus for the Bahamian economy into a jobs killer.

They have delivered pain and misery, but they have not delivered well-paved roads.

They have delivered for foreign contractors and for special interests, but they have not delivered for Bahamians.

The chronic, ongoing violations of the specific terms of international agreements could have serious implications for future investments in The Bahamas; we will have to work hard to mitigate the damage they have caused.

A final note on the impact on local businesses. Quite obviously, having the same roads dug up again and again has taken a terrible toll on the local economy. The government’s first response was to deny this. Their second was to unleash their Attorney General in court, to deny claims to compensation. But when explaining the terrible unemployment numbers, they were forced to admit the job losses caused by the roadworks were substantial. So now, with an election nearly upon us, they have reversed course.

The PLP has been calling since last fall for measures to support local businesses impacted by the roadworks. We will continue to work on their behalf. We care about Bahamians all the time, not just at election time.

By

Bradley B Roberts

National Chair Progressive Liberal Party

March 9^th 2012

At Launch PLP South Beach HQ

South Beach the countdown is on and it aint long now before voters will go to the polls to reject Hubert Ingraham and the FNM.

The Leadership of our Party was in Long Island last Wednesday evening and even Long Island says they cannot wait for the bell to be rung. They told me that Papa Clown was also in Long Island and failed to mention the word JOB not one single time during his address. The FNM has bitterly failed the Bahamian People in creating JOBS.

It aint long now before the next PLP government will begin the process of rebuilding the Bahamas, energizing the economy and creating badly needed good paying jobs.

While the FNM talks boastfully about welfare, the PLP is committed to workfare.

For the past almost five years thousands of Bahamians have lost jobs thanks to the bad FNM policies and governance.

While the PLP created 22,000 jobs during its last term, the FNM has lost almost 30,000 jobs over the last five years and has no job plan in sight.

Hubert Ingraham and the FNM gang have offensively mismanaged the New Providence Road Works. The contract was for $113 million, now Papa Clown hopes the final cost will be $206 Million, some $93 million more than the original contract price – the single largest cost overrun on any project in Bahamian history. What is amazing is that Papa Clown is unable to tell us when these works will be completed.

I strongly invite Bahamians to wake up and consider carefully what Hubert Ingraham has done to poor and struggling Bahamians including businesses with their eyes wide open.

My Brothers and Sisters, imagine the tremendous benefits to our challenged young and not so young people if some of that $93 million were invested in advancing and enhancing the welfare and well-being of Bahamians, but instead have gone to making a handful of persons including a Cabinet Minister and his family much richer.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I invite you to consider the number of persons murdered in the past four years that could be alive today if the FNM Government had invested in Bahamians where there was a compelling demand.

Ladies and Gentlemen, murders have more than doubled under the FNM and it must be clear to even the blind that they have no plan to deal with crime. Last night Tommy Turnquest said only the FNM can do the job. God help us all if that was true.

South Beach, you embraced Phenton “black out” Neymour in May 2007 and rejected the then PLP Candidate Wallace Rolle.

The record is clear South Beach; you have been stuck with a do nothing, posturing and trifling MP who is not only a stranger to the truth, but is a serial failure and a terrible Member of Parliament.

Phenton Neymour and Earl Deveaux ran BEC into the ground resulting in increased BEC rates compared to the PLP’s record of reducing rates. There have been major blackouts under Neymour’s watch and it continues to-date. With a $125 million brand new power plant in Abaco, the FNM gang cannot provide uninterrupted power there.

Hubert Ingraham got the message loud and clear that South Beach would soundly reject Neymour and responded by imposing the serial failure Neymour on the people of Exuma and the Ragged Island.

Return Hubert Ingraham’s favour and reject his hand picked candidate and ex-employee.

The PLP and its South Beach Branch have been very careful in selecting the Lady whom I am here to fully endorse and support. Nurse Cleola Hamilton served with great distinction as a nurse and President of the Nurses Union.

Nurses are special breeds who care for the sick and injured, they work to restore health and alleviate suffering. Nurses also work to promote public health and prevent illnesses in all communities.

Cleola Hamilton is a committed trade unionist and her record as a strong fighter for the interest and welfare of her members are legendary. Ask Hubert Ingraham and Hubert Minnis whom she fought toe to toe until nurses were given medical insurance coverage.

South Beach, I strongly invite you to cast your vote for Cleola Hamilton who will put your interest as Bahamians first.

As a family woman, she understands the concerns and needs of working families. She will work on your behalf to create safe and healthy neighbourhoods and increased job opportunities.

She will work to increase your access to public transportation and access to funding for your community development projects.

As I always do when I address supporters around the country, please offer your time and talents to the Hamilton campaign. We need every hand on deck to retire Hubert Ingraham.

For those who have not done so, please register to vote and take a friend with you because the time is very, very short and every vote counts.

On Election Day, VOTE FOR CLEOLA HAMILTON VOTE PLP

Good night and God bless.

Tuesday 28th, February, 2012

As the country struggles to remain afloat under the leadership of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, the FNM Government continues to award lucrative infrastructure contracts to a select few, on the eve of this country’s general elections. This is the same FNM Party that heavily criticized the PLP for awarding contracts leading up to the 2007 general elections. This level of contract awarding makes what the PLP was accused of look like the rendering of a Sunday school choir.

The budget deficit engineered by this FNM Government will be the highest in the history of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

According to a ZNS New report, http://youtu.be/ZtbcWg97CMw , another ‘negotiated’ contract was awarded yesterday to the joint-venture team of Bahamas Marine Construction Company and Tycoon Management Company, for The Saunders Beach Restoration.

This new contract award amounts to a total of some six infrastructure contracts awarded solely and/or in joint-venture to Bahamas Marine Construction Company, totaling well over $100 million dollars.

Bahamas Marine, [http://www.mosko.com/building/marine.html] which is owned by the Mosko Family, recently completed the $80 Million Arawak Container Port Development, and is currently carrying out the $50 million plus infrastructure development at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. In addition, the company was awarded the contract to improve the bridges in Andros Island. Prior to this Bahamas Marine was in joint-venture on the dredging and improvement of Nassau Harbour and the Prince George Dock improvement contract.

There is purportedly a linkage between Bahamas Marine and Bahamas Hot Mix [http://www.bahamashotmix.com/], who apparently supplies all of the asphalt paving needs for Mosko’s projects, as evidenced by both the new West Bay Street at Cable Beach roadworks and the paving at the new Arawak Port facility. It would be a surprise if a similar arrangement is not in place for the New Gladstone Customs Warehouse Facility.

The Prime Minister often refers to the ‘Cookie Jar’ but, as recently revealed by the Hon Neko C. Grant in Parliament, it appears that the ‘cookie jar’ is really being raided by the FNM party and its cronies. The Minister of Works revealed that Bahamas Hot Mix, one of the ‘select few’, benefited to the tune of almost one hundred million dollars in contract works, as did FES Construction Company [http://www.fesconstruction.cbt.cc/aboutUs.html], in spectacular fashion in the Northern Bahamas. The company was first awarded a $23 Million contract to construct the new Administration Complex in Freeport and then a contract for $27 million to construct the Marsh Harbour Abaco International Airport Terminal.

The Grand Bahama based FES Construction [http://www.fesconstruction.cbt.cc/history.html] is owned by a close relative of the Prime Minister, whose business partner is the father in law of Pakesia Parker–Edgecombe. The ‘E’ in the company’s name stands for Edgecombe. Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe’s husband also works for FES Construction,

All of the above speaks to cronyism and nepotism, which equates to a ‘family feast’ and all-out ‘cookie jar raiding’.

Further evidence of the family feast is now on the ground in Abaco. It has just been brought to the PLP’s attention, which Bahamas Hot Mix has installed a new multi-million dollar Asphalt Plant in Abaco, in preparation for the paving contracts at the Marsh Harbour International Airport and road paving works throughout Abaco Island.

The Progressive Liberal Party cries shame on the shameless misuse of Bahamian ‘tax payers’ monies and the deafening silence of any ‘right thinking’ Cabinet Ministers around the Prime Minister’s table. We would wish to remind those honest Ministers that ‘evil flourishes when good people do nothing’.

The decisive point being made here is that this most recent brazen awarding of the Saunders Beach restoration contract to the Mosko company, makes it abundantly clear for all to see exactly whose hands are in the ‘cookie jar’.

The Progressive Liberal Party recommits itself to openness and transparency in awarding contracts; and will ensure that every qualified local Bahamian contractor will be allowed to bid on all government contracts.

The PLP will always place the interest of Bahamians first.

Papa broke the cookie jar and is now eating the splinters

Nassau, Bahamas – Talking about ‘Cookie Jar’- in light of the recent string of lies and innuendos by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham – BP is compelled to continue its recent expose on Mr. Ingraham’s retirement home.
Bahamas Press is pleased to update its recent story on Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s newest bungalow just off Stanford Drive, in western New Providence.

Our impeccable sources are bewildered and shell-shocked at the brazenness of the FNM Chief who continues to accuse others of having their hands in the cookie jar to draw attention away from his ‘ghost moves’.
PLP deputy leader, Philip Brave Davis, recently remarked that it is amazing how, after all of the cries, not a single politician has been prosecuted and has pointed out how the FNM Chief himself has been caught with his hands and both feet in the biggest cookie jar of them all.

What is indeed true is that when the PLP left office, the FNM accused them of having hands in the cookie jar, but today as the FNM gets ready to demit office there is no Jar – not even crumbs visible.

Although it is required by law, there is no building permit posted at the entrance to the property where hubert Ingraham’s retirement home sits. No building inspections are being carried out by Ministry of Works Building Control Department to ensure that the required structural standards are met, which begs the question: was the proper protocol followed in assigning Water & Sewerage Account No. 170235-162860.

This type of behaviour is typically displayed by illegal immigrants and miscreants, not by average law-abiding and tax-paying Bahamians.

We can only believe the decision to do this, however, was to minimize exposure of the details of the actual construction. But Bahamas Press is not shielded from such information as our sources sit high and low, deep and wide, all across the country. For, as you know, we are everywhere.

Factual records shown to us prove that Iram Lewis, BP’s named ‘Buffed Roomate’, is the Architect of record for the PM’s new house. (See more below)

The supplier of materials, sand, rock, etc., for the house is Tycoon Management Ltd. (owned by Ed Curling). He, as you would know, supplied blocks and sand at one time to one Rodney Moncur.

Tycoon’s President, Ed Curling, is said to own a house on the canal at Old Fort Bay overlooking a docking facility in that gated community. Sources tell BP that this is where you will find the Prime Minister’s private yacht moored. And from that place, on any given weekend and sometimes when the pressure gets heated in the Cabinet, you will find him pitching onboard to make his special excursions of rendezvous.

Tycoon Management Ltd. is one of the members of the Group of 19 that controls the Arawak Port Development Company [APDC].

James Ed Curling sits on the APDC Board and is a close fishing friend and buddy of PM Hubert Ingraham. And here’s where our investigations get deep.

With all of the security at the new Port, one would have to be very powerful to arrange to have a trailer leave there in the middle of the night.

Last October, Telco Enterprises Ltd. (again, owned by FNM Council Member and Trustee Floyd Wilmott ) was awarded a fifteen million dollar contract [$15,000,000] to create a suite of offices at BahaMar next to the Casino.
The Project Manager Contract also awarded to Iram Lewis by BahaMar. Sounds familiar, hey?

Many of you will remember how Iram ‘Buffed Roomate’ Lewis was the Project Manager for the National Stadium [NOT ARCHITECT AS CELEBRATED LAST NIGHT DURING THE OPENING CEREMONIES].

“Buffed”, as he is affectionately called, was also caught up in a series of scandals at the National Insurance Board. You would remember the Prime Minister promised while on his feet in the Parliament to report back to the House following reports of Corruption and COLLUSION at the nation’s social security agency, but the Prime Minister never returned with those answers.

On September 10th, 2010 your Bahamas Press exposed further revelations of CORRUPTION at NIB demanding a Royal Commission to investigate the SCANDALOUS OPERATIONS at the Board – INCLUDING THE CONTRACTS ISSUED TO KENUTH Knowles, PORKY DORSETT, IRAM LEWIS, Charlton Morley AND Jeffery LLOYD, just to name a few. The PM who is minister for NIB is yet to respond. We wonder why? CLICK TO READ: http://www.bahamaspress.com/2010/09/…tracts-at-nib/

But let’s back to the contractor of the bungalow.

Wilmott, as many remember, was infamously awarded a no bid contract to renovate the Police Commissioner’s Official residence located at the police headquarters on East Street North. After this ‘ghost move’ was exposed, the PM’s Office quickly went into damage control mode and announced that the renovation of the police commissioner’s residence was going to tender with a more competitive selective bidding process that included six construction companies. Telco Enterprises – to nobody’s surprise – still ended up getting the contract.

Wilmott, one of the bag-men for the FNM during the failed Elizabeth ‘buy-election’, also got a hefty contract with $8.6 million of the National Insurance Board’s money when the contract was awarded to his company, Telco Enterprises, for the completion of the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre – with only two companies bidding.
That contract was awarded early in January 2010. Work at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre had been 75% completed by a former contactor up to that date, and but it is still incomplete two years later. It has been alleged that these funds awarded to Telco were used to fund the by-election as it is reported that the FNM dropped big money on the ground in that losing effort. This contract is now overdue by six months; however, Hubert Ingraham has clearly turned a blind eye.

The FNM, during that “buy-election”, issued some SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS IN PUBLIC MONEY and OVER ONE MILLION IN PARTY FUNDS!

Not a word on the progress of the centre has been carried in the WUTLESS DUTTY MEDIA EITHER!

The most recent word around town is that Wilmott was the henchman responsible for stealthily moving a container filled with FNM political paraphernalia from Arawak Cay in an attempt to evade paying customs duty. It is reported that he may have caused the firing of Customs Chief Glenn Gomez for having the gall to track down Bahamians attempting to raid the customs cookie jar. With all of the security at the new Port, one wonders how this can happen. One would have to be very powerful or a magician to move a gigantic trailer in the middle of the night with no one knowing about it.

BP has done the groundwork and now invites the members of the fourth estate to join our cry and demand that PM Ingraham – without delay – make available to the Press details of all contracts and transactions in connection with his new house currently under construction before Bahamas Press has to tell the rest of the story.

We call on the PM to make himself available to answer any and all questions relating to this clandestine, surreptitious, hole-and-corner building under construction owned by him.

When we examine all the corruption in the material above one no doubt must join the words of Perry Christie: They in the FNM should be asking for forgiveness and not votes!

Bahamas Press is calling on leaders attached to the incoming PLP Administration to – immediately upon taking office – launch an extensive investigation into suspicious contracts, many of which went out by selective tender, that were granted to Floyd Wilmott’s company, Telco Enterprises.

And we urge the new government to force a repayment back to the Public Treasury every dime – with interest – on contracts paid for services not rendered.
We report YINNER DECIDE!

By

Bradley B Roberts PLP Nat Chairman

At the opening of Yamacraw Headquarters

Feb. 13th, 2012

We are at the gate after five long years counting the day when the Free National Movement Government will be sent home packing.

Mr. Party Leader,

Mr. Deputy Leader,

The Great Lady of Yamacraw Melanie Griffin,

To the wonderful deep loving people of Yamacraw;   Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Evening!

I am extremely delighted to be here this evening in Yamacraw to lend my full support, to endorse and strongly commend an outstanding Bahamian woman, mother and wife whose unmatched record of service is known not only by the people of Yamacraw but throughout the length and breadth of The Bahamas.

My Brother and Sisters, I remind all that it was Melanie Griffin who sent FNM former female standout Janet Bostwick into political retirement. During her term as a member of the Senate Melanie played a major role in exposing the corruption in the FNM Government leading up to the 2002 general elections. Her record as Minister of Social Services during 2002-2007 disclosed that major social legislation was enacted and is unsurpassed; even with dual ministers under this present administration, they have not been able to drag her shoes.

My brothers and sister, with the time allocated, I wish to briefly touch on crime, the economy and the FNM candidate.

Crime

Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to emphasize that each Bahamian and resident of the Bahamas has an inalienable right to life.

There is no more fundamental role for the government than the protection of its citizens.

The most fundamental role of government is to allow its citizens to live peaceful and quiet lives.

The Government must actively and aggressively protect its citizens from violent criminals. The state’s highest function is to make sure people are reasonably safe, in and out of their homes.

The Government mandated to insure a well-functioning judicial system—operating on clear and consistent laws that legitimately protect people—as well as effective law enforcement are essential to the maintenance of law and order.

Any evaluation of these mandates and obligations by right thinking Bahamians will conclude that the Bahamas Government headed by PM Hubert Ingraham, DPM Brent Symonette and Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest have disgracefully failed to keep its citizens safe as murders have doubled under the FNM watch during the past almost five years.

Home invasions, armed robberies, rapes, car thefts and crimes against our little darlings have all escalated under the FNM and the comprehensive plan promised by the FNM to reduce crime in 2007 is still somewhere blowing in the wind. On these very serious issues, right thinking Bahamians must reject Hubert Ingraham and the FNM for failing to keep Bahamians safe from crime.

I am happy to report tonight that the regime of the outgoing FNM will come to an end in just weeks - not long from now!

The great and dreadful day for the FNM is upon us.

The hand of the Bahamian people shall fall like a thunderbolt from the heavens on this UNCARING, UNCHRISTIAN, UNGODLY FREE NATIONAL MOVEMENT GOVERNMENT!

They are saddled with SCANDALS, they have defrauded the Bahamian people, and they are desperate and are on the run.

Scandal sits in the FNM like an unruly child that misbehaves inside and outside the house. You know what I mean.

Like bad children running around making life a nightmare for many.

When I say scandal, I am reminded of one bad child by the name of Dion Foulkes.

Yes, Foulkes, the present Minister for Labour and Social Development.

I understand he proposes to come in this decent community seeking support.

Dion Foulkes many of you remember was a part of that ‘dream team’, which turned into a fiasco that went up in flames just prior to the May 2, 2002 general elections.

He and his then partner in crime both sat in the Cabinet of the Bahamas and were involved in some shady business when he served as Minister of Education.

Contracts for votes were issued by the minister without ever going to tender. You remember that?

I have information which points to another minister who is doing the same kind of shadiness in Andros right now.

As I speak, there is clear evidence that the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth condones this kind of behavior. The abuse of the public purse is rank within the FNM!

They have no SHAME!

When Dion Foulkes and his side-kick Tommy T hands were caught together in the Cookie Jar, Hubert Ingraham had nothing to say.

He said nothing then and today he is saying nothing now.

Yamacraw!

You remember those residents of Steven Close? Remember how this same Dion Foulkes was involved in giving bad legal advice to those struggling families who bought property in that proposed community?

Well let me jog your memory.

Nine families invested their life savings in the proposed community at the time. Foulkes was the sitting Cabinet Minister back in 2007 when the Scandal broke.

You would remember the families alleged that he along with another former FNM Senator and a realtor were at the center of the Scandal.

After the residents’ monies were collected, the realtor fled the country and returned with warrants still outstanding.

The proposed new subdivision was just off Cowpen Road. The distressed families put their case before members of the media at the time calling for the resignation of the Minister of Labour, Dion Foulkes.

Five years later after the realtor became untouchable and after the money paid by the families vanished, the Prime Minister still has Dion Foulkes sitting pretty and smiling in that scandal ridden Cabinet while refusing to meet with the families.

Transparent Government my foot!

Yamacraw, is that the kind of representation you wish to have voicing matters for you in the Parliament?

Do you want someone who will fight for Bahamians? Or do you want someone who will help kill the Bahamian dream?

Yamacraw!

Let’s look at this situation about unemployment in the Bahamas, and guess what, Dion Foulkes, heads up that department too.

The maximum leader in the FNM wants to send you the man who has delivered a record unemployment rate.

Under Hubert Ingraham, Dion Foulkes and the FNM - unemployment in the Bahamas is at an all-time high.

And while thousands of young people could not find a job, Hubert Ingraham, Dion Foulkes and the FNM were all over the country planting foreigners at URCA, BAHA MAR, at the commercial banks, on the roads project, at the airport and the list goes on and on.

And while Brent Symonette granted permit after permit, Dion Foulkes sat like a church mouse inhaling incense while Bahamians suffered and were told they need not apply.

Our leader, the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie was right! The FNM should find the confession box, ask for absolution from the Bishop, and seek forgiveness from the Bahamian people – NOT VOTES!

But they are desperate Yamacraw.

They could hear the feet of the Bahamian people behind them. They could smell your intent in the ballot box, so much so they are stalling to call the General Elections.

Hubert Ingraham has become a desperate man, issuing contracts to friends by the day. Planting trees, renaming schools named almost 60 years ago, opening incomplete buildings and is kissing babies wherever he could find them.

In Andros over the weekend they were showcasing person like chattels, posting them on the FNM election stage to send the message that if you are FNM you can qualify for the Jump-start Program; once again using the public purse for votes.

Just the other day the DESPERATE leader of the FNM went to Elizabeth to tell the people up there how he instructed BEC to enter negotiations with consumers who were disconnected from electricity supply.

What Mr. Ingraham failed to tell the Bahamian people is this; it was his government who increased basic electricity rates bills after the Perry Christie Government had reduced rates for the first time in BEC history.

Yamacraw, Hubert Ingraham is a desperate man!

Yamacraw!

I want you to know we have them all on the run.

Laing the Mona Vie man is running, Collie is running, Butler-Turner is running, Phenton Neymour is running, Desmond Bannister is running who aint running get dump and who aint get dump got fired.

Yamacraw!

It happens so one of them who are running has run into your hands for cut hip.

Dion Foulkes must be an athlete by now. He ran from MICAL in the South to you.

I say to you Yamacraw Give him what the rest of the Bahamas wants to give to the FNM!

VOTE THEM OUT AND FIRE DEM!

I started off tonight telling you how a great woman Melanie Griffin is.

She is a Champion for poor. She is a defender of the weak. She uplifts the down trodden and She is PLP!

We in the PLP want you to stay with her. Keep her close to you.

She will fight for you Yamacraw. And when Perry Gladstone Christie forms the next government of the Bahamas not long from now, this woman of God will believe in you!

We in the PLP Believe in Bahamians.

We believe in creating opportunities for you in Yamacraw.

We believe in Job Creation and new industries for our young people to maximize their potential.

We believe in decreasing the tax burdens not increasing it.

We believe in keeping communities around the country safe and Crime Free.

We in the PLP believe in Education and releasing the potential of our young people to soar.

We believe in expanding the opportunities of Home Ownership for our people giving the next generation the chance to own a piece of the rock.

And we believe in that it is our duty to the wipe tears from every eye.

We believe in YOU YAMACRAW!

Melanie Griffin is our candidate carrying this vision of the Bahamas.

And let’s send her back to Parliament whenever the bell is rung.

PLP…PLP…PLP

Thank you, Goodnight and God Bless!