Posted by www.jonescommunicationsltd.com on May 06, 2002 at 12:19:28:
In Reply to: Elections posted by N.O.Lady on May 06, 2002 at 09:05:28:
Editorial
A New Day
In their written and spoken word, the Progressive
Liberal Party made the point that on Election Day,
voters in The Bahamas will decide whether our country
moves forward or slides backward. Under the Free
National Movement, the hopes and dreams of too many
Bahamians have been crushed as a direct result of the
Government's mismanagement, incompetence and lack
of vision.
The national debt has more than doubled. Crime and the
fear of crime have soared. Our educational system is in
crisis. Public transportation has worsened. The cost of
health care has climbed beyond our reach. Available
land is no longer affordable.
When we look around we see that the public has been
denied access to beaches and lakes,. Local government
has become a farce. Farmers have been abandoned.
Family Island investment has been stagnant. Worst of
all, Bahamians now feel like second-class citizen in their
own country.
Today, the deed has been done, and Perry Gladstone
Christie is now set to become this nation's third prime
minister. With his place in Bahamian history assured,
the Prime Minister-elect of the Commonwealth of The
Bahamas now must focus his energies on constructing
the team that will guide this country's destiny for the
next five years.
Obviously, congratulations are in order for the manner
in which the prime minister-elect and his team in the
Progressive Liberal Party have conducted themselves as
they attempted to convince the electorate that they had
the right stuff to govern this nation. Clearly persuaded
that the PLP was renewed, re-invigorated, focused and
equipped to provide the Bahamian people the
government they needed at this critical juncture, the
electorate reciprocated with a massively seismic
landslide. Echoes of this political earthquake were
heard weeks ago on the streets as jubilant supporters
vibrated to the resonantly pregnant phrase: "It's all
over".
Political observers, analysts and a broad cross-section
of pontificating pundits are today trying to come to
grips with the scope, depth and
breadth of the Progressive Liberal Party's May 2, 2002
electoral triumph. While speculation will continue for
quite a time, the truth today is that no matter what finally
emerges as a plausible facsimile of the truth, the
elementary information available points to the conclusion
that the Bahamian people, in their vast majority, had
simply become fed up with a style of leadership that had
become insensitive, uncaring, arrogant and far too
removed from the felt needs of so-called ordinary
Bahamians.
As the Progressive Liberal Party moves forward with its
plan for creating a stronger Bahamas and a brighter
future, it would do well to remember that a vigilant nation
will hold it to its word.
The PLP indicates that it will have as its central mission
the task of rekindling our sense of common purpose;
restoring our faith in the nurturing and sustaining power
of living together and working towards a larger, greater
good. We must revive our sense of neighbourhood;
re-ignite our commitment to the integrity of family life,
recapture our ability to moderate our tempers, control
social behaviours and renew our respect for human
dignity and the sanctity of life. No matter how successful
we are in restoring the economy and expanding our
infrastructure it will all be in vain unless we light the lamp
that sparks a new sense of civility.
Our vision for The Bahamas which will constitute a
covenant with the people, is inclusive of all Bahamians.
Everyone will find a place under our tent. All Bahamians
and those who call The Bahamas their home will share in
our vision for a better, more prosperous Bahamas.
In pursuit of that vision, the Progressive Liberal Party
Government will operate on a set of common beliefs with
a broad national purpose, not on promises to special
interest groups. We will guarantee equal opportunity."
As an expectant nation waits to welcome its new
government, we join the people of The Bahamas in
extending our heartfelt congratulations to the Rt. Hon.
Perry G. Christie and the Progressive Liberal Party. The
people have indeed spoken. Their voice is as the voice of
God.