After a day of traveling the leader of the Progressive Liberal Party culminated his day on R. M. Bailey Park in Nassau where he made his final address for the day to a capacity crowd. You can read his remarks below:
Perry Christie
Progressive Liberal Party
May 5, 2012
Closing Rally
OH BAHAMAS BAHAMAS!
BEAUTIFUL BAHAMALAND!
FROM EAST TO WEST!
FROM NORTH TO SOUTH!
THIS COUNTRY GONE GOLD!
I BEEN ALL OVER AND EVERYBODY READY FOR CHANGE!
EVERYBODY READY FOR A NEW DAY!
The Bible tells us when the wicked rule the people willgroan –
And Bahamians don’t want to groan no more!
Bahamas –
You ready to put Bahamians first?
(Yes)
Then where are you going to mark your X?
(PLP!)
I knew you were ready, Bahamas!
Now – I have a few special messages I want to delivertonight.
The first one is for the people of Centreville….
When I am in…
Inagua and
Freeport and
Crooked Island and
Bimini and
Ragged Island and
Exuma and
the Abacos and
Andros and
the Berry Islands and
Eleuthera and
Long Island…
I am spreading the PLP message and vision for hope andchange to all our brothers and sisters…
But it means I’m not with you — in your homes inCentreville.
But I know you, Centreville –
I know who needs a scholarship and I know who is worriedabout their diabetes.
I know who needs a helping hand and I know who studying up toopen their own business.
I know who make the best rum cake and who saving up for abetter car.
I know you, Centreville!
So from me to you – thank you –thank you for being myfaithful partners on this journey!
Centreville – you have always shown me the love – but today,we received messages of support from places and people that traditionally beenred.
And I’ve been telling everyone today –
The PLP is a big tent – come on over. Join us. Your voice will be heard.
I can’t tell you how many people I met today who always beenred – but they just can’t take what’s happened to the FNM.
They mad that Ingraham is a one-man band.
They mad there are no new leaders being groomed, no newvoices allowed, no disagreement permitted.
That’s not an FNM they want to be a part of.
They are angry and afraid about Ingraham’s failure to leadon crime.
They are angry about the 500 murders.
They are angry those roadworks are $100 million over-budgetand still no end in sight.
They’re embarrassed The Bahamas is being out-paced by ourcompetitiors, being downgraded internationally, at the bottom of the Caribbeanin economic growth and stopover tourists.
So they going gold – and I say: Welcome!
Can you help me welcome all these brand-new PLP voters?!
WELCOME!
Welcome to a party that believes diversity is strength.
Welcome to a party that is confident enough to allowdissent.
Welcome to a party that believes in Bahamians!
And we aren’t just welcoming former FNMs…
We welcoming Bahamians who were considering voting green…
These voters who were thinking of voting green – becausethey wanted to protest – they are starting to realize:
The PLP is listening.
The PLP has heard the call for change.
The PLP is lifting up a new generation.
And these voters are starting to realize the bigresponsibility they have.
Because even though in most places the gold gonna win big, weknow there will be some tight seats, too.
In those tight races, even if most of the voters in thatconstituency want to vote this FNM government out….
If the DNA takes just a handful of those anti-FNM votes fromthe PLP….the DNA could give that seat to the FNM…
Wouldn’t that be something?
More people want the FNM out than in, but they win that seatanyway?
Now, nobody want to vote green in protest but then end upgiving a green light to Hubert Ingraham and the FNM to continue down the samepath:
· Hundreds of millions in contracts to foreigners.
· Bahamians Need Not Apply.
· No change in crime policy.
So now we’re starting to see those DNA votes come our waytoo….
People are realizing that a DNA vote isn’t a protestvote…it’s an FNM vote….
So…to all those DNAs who are coming our way…
Can you help me say: WELCOME!
WELCOME!
Welcome to a party ready for change!
Welcome to the only party committed to doubling thenation’s investment in education and training!
Welcome to a party that believes in Bahamians!
So we’ve welcomed all those former FNMs….we brought thoseprotest votes into our camp….our big tent is getting bigger and bigger….
So my final message is for ALL of you – all of you in ourbig tent of gold:
On Monday, let’s vote with pride and dignity and love forour nation.
On Monday, let’s raise our voices up…and mark our Xs down…
And then on Tuesday, on May 8th, we have acountry to build!
Let’s do it together!
Let me hear you — are you ready?!?
(Yes!)
Do you Believe in The Bahamas?!
(Yes!)
You ready for a government that knows how to fight crime?
(Yes!)
You ready for a government that actually cares what you gatto say?
(Yes!)
You ready for a new generation of leaders and a Charter forchange?
(Yes)
You ready for a government that believes in you?
(Yes!)
PLP!
PLP!
PLP!