Rt. Hon. Perry Christie
Prime Minister, Commonwealth of The Bahamas
North Abaco
September 29, 2012
Hello, North Abaco!
Hello, Bahamas!
How are you feeling tonight?!
Look at all of you – you’re ready for a new day!
Now, listen — I have an interesting problem I want to share with you.
You know I believe in Renardo. You know I believe he’s one of our new generation stars, ready to hit the ground running on your behalf. You know I think he is smart and generous and hard-working, full of new ideas and new solutions for North Abaco and The Bahamas.
That’s why I’m here, you understand? So I can tell you these things in person, show you that not only does your Prime Minister support Renardo Curry, but I do so with enormous confidence and affection.
But when I visit with you, you don’t make it easy for me to campaign for him – and I’ll tell you why: When I come to your homes, when we talk in the street, wherever you and I meet in North Abaco– you all want to tell me your Renardo stories!
You want to tell me how kind he is, how much he has helped you or your cousin or a friend or your nephew. Because after years of working to help young people, as a church deacon, a youth director, and a successful entrepreneur, as a Council Member and in other posts, Renardo has touched so many lives here in North Abaco.
You see what I’m saying? When I come here to tell you about Renardo, you’re the ones who want to teach me!
And I’m happy to hear those stories, I really am. It shows me that we have the right man for this job.
He has been an advocate for you for a long time – now he’s ready to be your voice in my government.
He will work with us on the issues that matter most to you.
Renardo is a passionate believer in education. We can’t quite believe that there aren’t any preschools in North Abaco. That just won’t do – not when there is now comprehensive evidence that the earliest years are some of the most important — that a good preschool education can provide benefits for years to come. North Abaco, we want your children to get off to a strong start. You need new preschools here, and you will have them.
Education is the key for so many – from our smallest citizens on up. The world is changing, and we need to change with it, to make sure Bahamians always have the skills they need to compete. Renardo wants a Career Path Academy and BTVI here in North Abaco, and I think he’s right. He’s going to make sure we increase scholarships and job training and job placement opportunities. Renardo believes in you, North Abaco, and so do I.
We need more patrols of our waters to protect you from foreign poachers, and new incentives and grants for farmers.
We need to do a better job promoting Treasure Cay and Green Turtle Cay and all the treasures of North Abaco – the world should know about the beaches and the hospitality that make it so special here. We are going to bring the way we advertise our islands into the 21st century – with new technology and social media promotions, and with an increased budget that reflects our serious commitment to you.
North Abaco, we took the helm of a very troubled nation last May, a nation facing steep challenges on many fronts. We aren’t going to fix our biggest problems overnight. But we’re working with a fierce sense of urgency, and we’re taking some very big steps forward.
North Abaco, under my previous government, we brought in Baker’s Bay – you know we’re serious about creating jobs.
Now we’re meeting with new investors nearly every day – and I can tell you to look out for some exciting announcements in the weeks and months ahead.
We’re working to strengthen the financial services industry, and we’re expanding export and trade opportunities. We’re putting Bahamians first when we award contracts. We’re offering new measures to support Bahamian manufacturers. We know a big part of job creation is reducing energy costs, and we’ve been holding sessions around the clock to evaluate different proposals to bring those costs down.
The last years have been very tough for many of our families, and we’ve begun to offer new support, including a mortgage relief programme that will help a great number of families.
Crime and violence are still serious afflictions for our nation – but we’re finally moving in the right direction, with police in the schools where they’re needed and with Urban Renewal in our communities. Saturation patrols are having an impact.
We have a lot more work to do – but The Bahamas now has the best people on the job, working overnight and overtime. We are making progress, and we’re going to make a lot more.
Renardo knows you, North Abaco. He’s been working and living and learning right here, by your side. He’s been listening carefully. He knows which of you are finding your way forward and which of you could use some support. He knows the challenges you’re facing and he knows how we can help you make progress.
During the campaign for the general elections, I spoke a lot about a new generation of leaders. I knew that if we raised up our smartest and most accomplished young leaders, they would bring new energy and new solutions to The Bahamas, and they have.
I can’t wait, North Abaco, for you to send your own new generation star to my government.
We have a seat saved for him at the table – will you do your part and vote for your friend, your neighbor, your advocate, your leader, the wonderful Renardo Curry?
Elections are about the future, North Abaco.
It’s a new day!
A new day in North Abaco!
A new day in The Bahamas!
Let’s welcome that new day together – let’s start building a bright future together!