We March Bahamas lead organiser Ranard Henfield.
By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
WE March Bahamas lead organiser Ranard Henfield on Friday hit back at Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts and Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller, accusing both of knowing how to engage in nothing but “dirty politics, dirty fighting, insulting people (and) threatening people”.
However, Mr Henfield, on the sidelines of a symposium to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Majority Rule at the University of the Bahamas, said while he “appreciates” and “respects that that’s their role” in life, both Mr Roberts and Mr Miller represent the country’s “past” and that he and We March Bahamas will “simply ignore them and focus on what we came here to do”.
Mr Henfield also said We March has plans to stage another march, but declined to give a date lest the government “cancel a holiday or cancel Sunday or make Sunday Monday”. However, he said that supporters of the activist group have indicated that “shirts (are) washed up, ironed and hanging” and are “just waiting for the next call”. He also said the activist group will be releasing 150,000 copies of the “People’s Manifesto”, something he said the “average citizen” can use to show to potential political candidates that Bahamians “want an agenda that is strictly for the majority of the Bahamian people”.
Mr Henfield’s comments were in response to statements made by the veteran PLPs in the lead up to the government’s planned Majority Day Rule march, and We March’s planned protest against the government on the same day.
Last week, while a guest on radio talk show “Hard Copy” with host Steve McKinney, Mr Miller said that with a man like Mr Henfield there was no time for discussion, “you could only break one damn bottle upside their head”.
Mr Miller had become angered when Mr McKinney suggested that Mr Miller symbolically join hands with the activist. That was the latest of Mr Miller’s scathing criticisms of the community activist since his rise to prominence following We March’s initial protest in November. Mr Miller has also called Mr Henfield a “lost fool” who is out of his depth and needs to “wake the hell up”, and has said he is lost in a “political whirlwind where he feels powerful and thinks all those people next to him respect him”.
Meanwhile, Mr Roberts recently referred to We March Bahamas as a “rebel group” and called Mr Henfield “a confused boy”. A few days earlier, Mr Roberts suggested that Mr Henfield “get his head examined” for insinuating that the PLP allegedly recruited “gang leaders” to “convince the streets” to march with the PLP on Majority Rule Day instead of the activist group.
“I appreciate that all they know is dirty politics, dirty fighting, insulting people, threatening people,” Mr Henfield said in response. “I appreciate that. I respect that that’s their role, that’s what they do. That’s the past. I represent the future for this country and the way we’re going to move with respect to persons like that is simply ignore them and focus on what we came here to do.
“We came to uproot the status quo. I read an African proverb the other day that said a young lion is not bothered by the barking of a potcake. So I’m not going to be distracted by the likes of Bradley Roberts or Leslie Miller. I’m going to maintain the focus I have, which is to uproot the status quo, put the people’s manifesto forward and return the power to the people.”
Mr Henfield also said the group has another march planned for 2017, but did not give a specific date out of concern that the government would seek to alter the Bahamian and/or public holiday calendar out of spite, as had been the speculated reason behind the government’s decision to change the observance date of Majority Rule Day from January 9 to the actual date of the historic even a day later. The date change had been perceived by many as an attempt by the government to strike a blow to the success of We March’s second protest.
“I can’t say when the next march is because based on what happened the last march we don’t want them to cancel a holiday or cancel Sunday or make Sunday Monday,” he said. “So basically we know the date, we’ll probably put that date out a week before the march, and the good thing about We March, is (it is) able to galvanise thousands of people in some 24 hours. So we can announce that next march 24 hours out. And the base of We March had is ready to roll. Persons have indicated from Wednesday, shirts washed up, ironed and hanging, Just waiting for the next call.
“So we’re not going to put that out in advance to allow the administration to jump up and say they have events planned for x,y,z street or the venue. We’re going to keep that close and in the meantime we’re just going to educate people on what they have put forth as the people’s agenda and the people’s manifesto.”
We March Bahamas first staged a massive protest on November 25, where more than 1,000 people marched from Arawak Cay to downtown Nassau. A large group of protestors also occupied Rawson Square for 12 hours as part of the demonstration against the government and the status quo.
Comments
goodbyebahamas 7 years, 3 months ago
Wow, this is my hero this man, he's one brave Bahamian, God has blessed this man. And when the PLP slaughter him for standing up for his beloved people Lord, keep your promise to him to put them under his feet while he's beside you at your throne; this is what heroes are made of.
MonkeeDoo 7 years, 3 months ago
Henfield should start nominating independant candidates. WeMarch party.
goodbyebahamas 7 years, 3 months ago
MonkeeDoo, this is what's so great about this guy, he doesn't want to be a politician, not making a dime, and willing to die for the good of his people. Moses was a believer in false gods, a murderer, but still for some reason God chose him. Not only did he choose him, but made him his most honored prophet by giving him a private burial that only God knows where he lies to this day. I truly believe his followers should protect Mr. Henfiled day and night, the PLP will definitely try to whack him.
MassExodus 7 years, 3 months ago
This man is leading a revolution! He may have more sense than all the political parties combined! #ONEBAHAMAS
goodbyebahamas 7 years, 3 months ago
Then protect him cause he's going to get whacked by the Bahamian syndicate; any bets? Not a gambler, but I love math, 1 + 1,000 = 0 for the PLP, 1 - 1,000 = 0 for the 1,000; easy math.
John 7 years, 3 months ago
So while the country records over one thousand murders a year we have leaders talking about breaking bottles up side people's head and others calling people crazy. Obviously both Leslie Miller and Bradley Roberts are aging (ancient) dinosaurs who have drunk too much PLP flit. Rather than gracefully exiting 'stage right ' they want to stay under the spotlight and let everyone see they have nothing left.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 3 months ago
Not again. Too easily distracted. If elected it would be more of the same, stop the politicking. Let Bostwick ride off into the sunset and run his own election campaign. I'm encouraged that so many Bahamians are willing to march against incompetence but very uneasy about Bostwick whispering in Henfield's ear
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 3 months ago
No more tshirts that's scammy
SP 7 years, 3 months ago
....... Mr. Ranard Henfield, A Gentle Giant Confronts Tyranny, Mayhem & Corruption ..........
THIS MAN has gained my deepest respect, and that of many 1000's of Bahamians from every walk of life!
Every participant represents 1000's more that were there in mind and spirit.
As a natural true statesman, Mr. Henfield strategically took the "high road" when criminally threatened by PLP top henchmen Roberts and Miller. That alone sets him well above their station and Jurassic gangster comprehension.
Indeed, Mr. Henfield has undoubtably proven he rejects the status quo of despotisms, totalitarianism and represents a future of true democracy so desperately needed for the restoration of our country and people.
Political protractors denigrating John Bostwick for harming NO ONE, stand shoulder to shoulder in full support with murderous pirates that pillaged our country to junk status and decimated & destroyed our people.
Stand strong John Bostwick. They attack you out of an abundance of fear!
We the people support this movement 100%, and totally reject the status quo.
March on Bahamians!
Regardless 7 years, 3 months ago
......as long as he has convicted felons in his company he will never rise further than a community organizer.
goodbyebahamas 7 years, 3 months ago
Tell that to God to his face when you meet him on judgment day Regardless, because he picked a false god believer and a murderer to free his people out of bondage from the Egyptians. If this man has God backing his a$$ up for what is right, no one will be able to f**k with him.
Groidal 7 years, 3 months ago
ahm gwine tink dat dis be der guy for dese Bahamas.
TalRussell 7 years, 3 months ago
Comrade Ranard, do please point me where find the reference of any"Pot cake's" has any connection to Africa? In fact the "Pot cake", is so Bahamalander that back in 1970s, The Bahamaland, named the "Pot cake" type the "Royal Bahamaland Pot cake".
goodbyebahamas 7 years, 3 months ago
I just looked it up Tal, and it said pot cakes are also in India and North Africa.
TalRussell 7 years, 3 months ago
Comrades! They came and they took our beaches. They took our crown lands and even came and tooks our private islands - including most Cable Beach.... And they're now in the process with cabinet support of taking over Bay Street of all places.....Please in name Jesus, let's not allow them to lay their hands on claiming the rights to we rice and peas Pot cakes.
Protest leader or not, talking complete african heritage nonsense. We the peoples, know our Pot cakes belong only to us and are named after the rice that sticks to the bottom of the pot that...rice that Bahamalanders have been feeding we stray dogs since the days of the Arawak Indians and even before Christopher Columbus, landed on we beaches.
In fact they are now recognized as a bloodlines breed onto themselves, as The Royal Bahamalander Pot cake".
banker 7 years, 3 months ago
They never came and took our beaches and our crown lands. The criminal PLP sold it to them for a song.
TalRussell 7 years, 3 months ago
Comrade, while we Pot cakes are pretty street smart, still they can't speak for themselves. Just you try talking Afrikaan to any one of our Pot cakes, that is unless they're bilingual after being transported against their will to go live with their masters in Africa.
goodbyebahamas 7 years, 3 months ago
Stupid ,but funny as $hit when he's drunk"Afrikaan"...lol.
mferguson 7 years, 3 months ago
I've heard way too many times "it doesn't matter who the Prime Minister is, because God is the true leader" or "It's just politics it doesn't really matter, just love people in your life!"
WELL:
The only people that I've seen say that are the people who are privileged, who don't have to worry about unemployment or seeing their relatives and neighbors gunned down in the street. They aren't losing sleep over living in sub standard condition, totting water or using an outside toilet, over not having health insurance or discriminatory laws, over losing their land and jobs to foreigners.
I am not referring to Plp's, DNA or FNM supporters, this is to people who "don't want to get political", who refuse to stand up for their country and hold the government accountable, they just remain silent, They want us to move on and just all get along.
Who cares that our country is being sold to the highest bidder, that our leaders are promoting violence against its citizenry in the House of Assembly and in the media, that the country's murder rate is in the top 10% per capa over the last 5 year.
If you aren't FIGHTING against this injustice, you are supporting it, period. Yes love people and be kind, but at some point as Bahamians we must stand up, protect, defend and fight for this great country. Sir Lynden Pindling once said, "if the Bahamian people aren't prepared to fight for their country, they don't deserve it".
If you aren't stepping out of your safe bubble, if you aren't feeling uncomfortable, if you aren't fighting against government's injustice, then I'm gonna need you to stop pretending that love and kindness are guiding you. For everyone else, this isn't "politics", this is real life.
I tip my hat to those who participated in the "we march" on Hero's Day, for you are indeed heroes.
sealice 7 years, 3 months ago
What you should do is put out a bogus date at first to see how they react - then change it to show the entire country (sans kool aid drinkers) that the PLP are nothing but a bunch of old school wanna be gangsters that are becoming more and more out of touch with the people's needs
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