The Leader and Deputy Leader launched the San Salvador campaign in grand style last evening. In a stirring speech the leader told those in attendance, listening and watching that we deserve a govenment that believes in us. You can read the entire speech below.
Perry Christie
Progressive Liberal Party
San Salvador
March 15, 2012
GOOD EVENING, SAN SAL!
YOU LOOK GOOD TONIGHT!
SAN SAL – I CAN SEE YOU ARE READY FOR A BRAVE NEW DIRECTION FOR THE BAHAMAS!
SAN SAL – I CAN SEE YOU’RE READY FOR A BRAVE NEW DAY!
It’s always a good feeling to come and visit here….
It always feels like a homecoming in San Sal!
I can’t tell you how proud and happy I am to be here tonight with my Deputy, Brave, and all these wonderful Bahamians gathered together.
Brave and I are brothers – brothers and friends and allies in service of a greater cause, which is a better Bahamas.
Together, he and I have recruited a dynamic new generation of leaders for the PLP.
Together, he and I have worked with this new generation and with our team of experts to build the blueprints for change.
Together, Brave and I plan to put Bahamians first.
You see, he and I share something so important: and that’s a deep belief in the Bahamian people.
The world is changing rapidly, and we don’t see any reason Bahamians should be left out or left behind – we believe you need and deserve access to the best education, the best training and the best technology. And we believe that’s true for all Bahamians, not just those living on New Providence.
I’ve been visiting with Bahamians from every island – and everyone’s looking for the same thing:
For the security and the dignity of a steady job. A good education for their children. Safety in their streets and in their homes. Access to affordable housing and affordable, quality health care. Opportunities – the chance to become full participants in the information and technology revolutions of the 21st century.
It’s not too much to ask for, San Sal. Bahamians deserve these things — you deserve this and more.
You deserve a government that believes in you, not a government whose philosophy is Bahamians Need Not Apply.
As you know, Brave came from humble beginnings. He knows what hard times feel like. He knows first hand.
But nobody – and I mean nobody – works harder than Brave Davis, and he worked so hard he’s become one of the most skillful and respected attorneys not just in The Bahamas but in our region.
The man simply doesn’t believe in letting obstacles stand in his way – he just keeps going, keeps working, keeps fighting the good fight.
He’s a passionate advocate for you, San Sal, and he’s a national leader as well, because everyone he works with is won over by his compassion, his fairness and his vision for The Bahamas.
He’s going to play a key role in my next government, San Sal – I can’t imagine doing it without him by my side!
In our last PLP government, we created 22,000 jobs – that’s 22,000 jobs for Bahamians. We built a record number of classrooms and a record number of homes. We provided $25 million for Bahamian entrepreneurs. We pioneered award-winning anti-crime programmes. And we always put Bahamians first.
San Sal – the FNM never delivered the affordable housing sub-division you deserve. We will. And they never delivered the schools you need for your children. We’re going to build those schools.
In fact, Brave and I will work together to modernize schools across The Bahamas, so our schools are energy-friendly and provide our children access to the best technology – this commitment will create a lot of Bahamian jobs quickly and it will mean our children have the tools they need to succeed.
We’re going to hire Bahamian contractors to construct and repair roads and docks and bridges and seawalls in the Family Islands – you hear me? I said Bahamian contractors – using Bahamian workers.
We’re going to double our nation’s investment in education and training, and we’re going to create Career Path Academies, so Bahamians have access to vocational and technical training and apprenticeships.
And we’re going to increase Bahamian ownership within our tourism industry – by giving Bahamians who want to run bed-and-breakfasts or fishing lodges the access they need to affordable land, affordable capital and credit, and technical and marketing support.
And for those of you who are in or want to be in the restaurant business, we want The Bahamas to grow more of your food through agricultural and mari-cultural initiatives.
San Sal – aren’t you tired of a government that doesn’t believe in you?
The FNM slogan is “We Deliver” – but I can’t see how they come here and say it to you with a straight face.
Did you know that the road works in New Providence are nearly one hundred million dollars over budgeted, with no end in sight?
All as a result of massive incompetence, shady backroom deals, and a culture of inside dealing.
Nearly $100 million over budget!
The MOST over budgeted project in the history of The Bahamas!
That’s money YOU owe, good people of San Sal – you and your children will be paying this money back for years to come!
This government turned a project which was supposed to be a stimulus for our economy into a jobs killer! Hundreds of jobs lost because they keep digging up the same roads over and over.
And yet their slogan is “WE DELIVER”.
Foreign contractors getting rich off The Bahamas…but Bahamians suffering record unemployment – one in three young people out of work. Record number of homes without electricity. Record number of homes in foreclosure. The middle class decimated.
And the FNM says “WE DELIVER”?
How about something more honest – how about: “The FNM Delivers…Just Not For Bahamians.”
Because the longer those road works go on, the poorer Bahamians get….and the richer that foreign contractor gets. Does that seem right to you? Where are the penalties for non-performance? Who is fighting for Bahamians? Not this government.
But maybe you’re not surprised to hear what a disaster the roadworks in New Providence are. After all, you’ve seen the FNM’s incompetence up close.
I know you remember what happened with the airport down here – initially budgeted for less than fifteen million dollars, the FNM couldn’t finish it after spending tens of millions more. Their incompetence jeopardized the local economy here– endangering Club Med and endangering your jobs.
One of the first things I did as Prime Minister was ensure the airport was completed, and then I worked with Club Med to ensure airlift from as far away as Europe.
San Salvador was one of the first Family Islands to enjoy full employment under my administration.
My government ensured that the people of San Salvador received good potable water
When I left office, The Bahamas was at the top of our region in economic growth. Now we’re at the bottom. Don’t let the FNM hide behind that global recession – that’s only part of what happened here, San Sal. Look at how other nations in our region are doing in stopover tourists – and then look at The Bahamas under Hubert Ingraham. See what I mean? We aren’t performing, while other countries are recovering and growing faster.
This government made the recession worse: They raised taxes when other countries were cutting them. They stopped or delayed projects because they were PLP projects – killing jobs when people needed them most, just for petty politics. Then they brag about how much revenue they raise from work permits; they never put Bahamians first.
San Sal, haven’t you had enough?
San Sal, will you be a part of this movement for change?
SAN SAL WILL YOU BE SENDING OUR
BRAVE DEPUTY BACK TO THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY?
SAN SAL CAN I COUNT ON YOU TO JOIN US IN PUTTING BAHAMIANS FIRST?!
IS IT PLP – ALL THE WAY – AGAIN THIS TIME IN SAN SALVADOR?
WELL LET ME HEAR YOU THEN … PLP! … PLP! … PLP!