Prime Minister Perry Christie at the final night of the PLP Convention. Photo: Terrel Carey
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
THOUSANDS of Progressive Liberal Party supporters last night erupted into thunderous cheers and danced in celebration of the re-election of incumbent party leader Prime Minister Perry Christie in a landslide victory over former Attorney General Alfred Sears, QC, in a leadership race that seemed to be over before it began.
Stalwart councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of Mr Christie, who received 1,264 votes to a meagre 169 ballots cast in support of challenger Mr Sears.
Supporters stood on chairs and sang to R Kelly’s “Storm is Over” and “Sound of a Victory” as Mr Christie made his way into the convention hall, with a massive entourage, including Baha Mar executive Robert “Sandy” Sands.
His journey from the entrance to the front of the room was laboured, as PLPs, some of whom shouted “One leader” crowded the pathway to greet their newly re-elected leader.
When he finally made it to the stage, Mr Christie thanked delegates for their vote of confidence in him. Mr Christie said the country is in need of leadership, urging Bahamians to hold leaders accountable to a plan for a future that they can trust.
And in a move to show that he had shored up support from former members of the Free National Movement (FNM), as Mr Christie wrapped up his victory speech former FNM Cabinet ministers Algernon Allen and Byron Woodside as well as former party members Ivoine Ingraham, Lester Turnquest and Anthony Miller took to the stage to pledge their support for the prime minister, at one point describing him as “the greatest leader” that this country has ever seen.
“I’m a very happy man this evening,” an energetic prime minister said, “there are some things you see in life that you can always count on to lift your heart up - the praises of family gathered around you, the excited faces of youngsters playing outsider and the joyful hopeful faces of a room filled with PLPs.
“I need not tell you how my heart is so full as I stand before you this evening. I feel your love and I hope you feel mine too. I feel so humbled by the overwhelming vote of confidence that you have given me.
“I thank you for returning me as your leader. Thank you fellow delegates for believing in me and trusting in a better future for our country. It is for me to promise you that I will not let you down. I promise that each and every day that lies before me as your leader, I should do all in my power to prove myself worthy of the support you have so generously given me today.”
He also said: “I would respectfully submit to you, fellow delegates and the people of our nation wherever they may be, we need leadership; leadership that is clear-sighted, experienced, tried and tested, leadership that will unite rather than divide us.
“And yes, you are right to demand from those who seek to lead you that they always have your interests at heart, that they are forever looking forward for the good of the country, and not over their shoulder to save their own skin; and that they have the ability to lead and the vision to know where they are leading us to.
“Demand of your leaders a Vision that you can believe in, a plan that you can trust, and the Experience to know that they will deliver on their promises.
“And so, my fellow Bahamians, I invite you to join with me and our team as we prepare to march to a new frontier of change for our country. Let us be united and unafraid.
“Let us march together, hand in hand, united in our vision, in our common purpose, in our collective resolve to make our beloved Commonwealth of the Bahamas a safe and happy home for ourselves and for our children; a land of plenty in which each of us can achieve his or her full potential; a land we are all proud of.”
He called on PLPs to remember the beginnings of the party, pointing to the creation of the National Insurance Board (NIB), Bahamasair, the Central Bank of the Bahamas and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force among other institutions.
The final night of the PLP’s 52nd convention featured a party atmosphere with performances by the legendary Ronnie Butler, the singing prophet Lawrence Rolle, the Spank Band featuring singers Veronica Bishop and Lady E.
Investments
As he touted his party’s accomplishments, Mr Christie highlighted the level of investments in the country including the remobilsation of Baha Mar, telling supporters not to be fooled by critics who insist the government is not fulfilling the promises it made to Bahamians.
Mr Christie said another conclusion is undeniable – investor confidence in the Bahamas is riding “very high”.
“But let’s look a little more closely of what we’ve done. Look at Baha Mar! The FNM don’t like us to talk about Baha Mar because we saved it, like a Phoenix from the ashes, we saved it. And now it’s poised to become one of the greatest economic success stories in Bahamian history. You just wait and see.
“We negotiated skilfully and wisely, persuading the lenders to Baha Mar, who were under no legal obligation to do so, to inject $100m million directly into the Bahamian economy; $100m of hard currency to pay the Bahamian contractors and suppliers who had been left holding the bag, unpaid by the former owners.
“$100m dollars of private capital is a lot of money to inject all at once into a small economy such as ours. It goes a long way. It helps a lot of people. It makes a big and positive difference. That has certainly been the case with the $100 million paid to Bahamian contractors and suppliers.”
He also said: “But don’t be fooled. It’s not just Baha Mar that is making our economic future look so bright now.
“Over on Paradise Island, the Atlantis Resort, with 7,763 employees already, is carrying out tens of millions of dollars in upgrades and renovations. This further investment is going to reap handsome dividends for the Bahamian economy and will complement the wonderful things that are happening at Baha Mar.
“But it’s not just Nassau and Paradise Island that account for all the good economic news. Over in East Grand Bahama, which has been suffering for so long, Carnival Cruise Lines will soon be constructing a brand new cruise port. This is going to have a major positive impact, boosting employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for Grand Bahamians considerably.
“Meanwhile, more than $350m has been committed by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCA), Disney and Mediterranean Cruise Lines (MSC) for refurbishment and creation of cruise ports in The Bahamas.”
Veering away from his prepared speech, Mr Christie used the platform to also speak of instances in which his family was targeted.
“Young people call my wife a whore, they call my daughter a whore, they target my son Adam,” Mr Christie said.
“We should not take any delight in talking down the integrity of people. We should be teaching our young people that we should not do these things. We have to be sensitive to the feelings of people,” Mr Christie said.
The party convened its convention from January 24 to 26 after several delays and amid rumblings in the party for the event to be held. The last PLP convention was in 2009.
Many criticised the party’s executives for their decision to hold the convention in an election year.
Comments
John 7 years, 3 months ago
If you could say what was the most dramatic moment or most impressive thing that came out of the PLP convention, what would they be? Well most people expected Perry Christie to be re-elected as leader of the party so that did not surprise anyone. And since so many saw this as a mere exercise of putting David up against Goliath the margin of victory impressed only the gullible. Political grandstanding, not only to make Perry Christie the most favored leader of his party but as the only great savior of the Bahamas. And unfortunately with a weak and barely visible opposition, many will buy into it. Most of the speeches were political rhetoric, half truths and grandstanding. While they continue to blame the former government for the bare cupboards and broke condition the country in, they failed to tell you that four years of the FNM's governance was during one of the deepest recessions in the modern history of the world. Yet they managed to hold the country together and get major projects completed and left many others on the drawing board. Like the Sandy Bottom project that outfitted the Defence Force with new ships and dredged harbours, or the replacement of Bahamasair's fleet. Obie Wilchombe's address was purely idol worship to god Perry Christie and Perry Gomez's address was dry as a pack of crackers and equally as boring. But the greatest and most disappointing speech must have come from Bernard Nottage, as Minister of National Security. While he riddled of how many millions the government has spent here and there and while he bragged about how they have increased officer numbers at the defence force, immigration, police and at the prison, everyone wanted to know what plans his government had to stop the carnage of young men (some 550 plus on his watch this term alone). His only utterance was these were a small group of prolific offenders killing each other and he did mention that there are laws on the books to deal with gangs, but it is not being enforced. Another disapointment is his praise and support of the "Shock Treatment" program. This means of 'treating' young offenders by exposing them to prisions and hardened criminals ;has been determined ineffective and has been discontinued in the country that created the program. The shock treatment is determined to be only temporary and after young persons become exposed to prison and prison life, amny go on to become hardened and/or violent criminals. Most psychologists believe that positive enforcement programs and spiritual enrichment are more effective and it is better to keep young people as far away from criminals ans prisons as possible.
John 7 years, 3 months ago
Perry Christie not only believes he is the only and only savior for the Bahamas, who deserves one other chance as prime minister of the country, but he is dancing to his own praises of rescuing Bah Mar from bankruptcy and turning it in to one of the most amazing projects on this side of the earth. But while Christie claims people say he created a miracle, the fact is christie and his goon squad, meddled in a private company's affairs. He helped wrestle Bah Mar from its rightful owner and the man whose dream, and hard work, and dedication, and sacrifice it was to make it into the magnificent project Christie admits it is and dump it squarely in the hands of the Chinese, who now seems to be having problems managing and keeping the doors open to other properties in the country. it was sickening to hear this man brag about how much he has done to save this country and to save Bah mar when he has raided the treasury to fix the problem he almost single handed created at Bah Mar. And while most financial institutions in the country are producing healthy returns for their shareholders, BoB continues to bleed uncontrollably after being raped and ravished by the Christie government. If Chrisite is so proud of his performance as prime minister and so sure he is the only right man for the job, he should top blowing his horn and let the Bahamian electorate decide in just a few short months. He claims he takes offence to his PLP party being called crooked and corrupt, yet he takes the stage and feeds the public half truths and misinformation.
TalRussell 7 years, 3 months ago
Comrades! I am not sure which I have the bigger problem with - uniformed senior policeman's acting as the background photo props for the PM, or an executive of Baha Mar joining the PM on stage. The PLP cabinet keeps reminding us how crime is on the decline - yet the evidence points squarely at their personal policeman's protection seems to be on the increase?
Totally amazing so much policeman's protection would be required to protect members of the government from such happy convention delegates and attendees? You have imagine all the cars parked out front the convention hall that are awaiting their exit to safely drive them to their homes through the capital city's crime infested killers. Something the delegates are not afforded - yet tis they the taxpayers that are footing the bills to protect so many government officials. You go figure - hey?
Sickened 7 years, 3 months ago
It over now. We ain't got long now to gather our stock, build our boats and hope the wind and currents get us safely to America!
Sir Trump... I comin'!!!!
John 7 years, 3 months ago
One of the good things you have to give Perry G. Christie and the PLP for is they acted mature and progressive in their admittance to the offices of government of the Bahamas. They met many good and well thought out plans in progress and on the drawing board when they took power. Rather than stop, review and cancel like the former prime minister did, almost single handedly, they continued with these projects and plans. Not only did it make the PLp look good, but it moved the country forward. it saved the tax payer millions and hopefully after Election 2017, the new government will do likewise. Not be like Donald trump whose first official duty was signing an executive order to dismantle ObamaCare without an alternative plan in place and without thought or consideration to the millions of people his actions will leave without health care. The plans of the FNM made the PLP govenment look good.
Greentea 7 years, 3 months ago
This is a sad day for the Bahamas. Country cannot survive four more years of what it has. The FNM made a huge mistake not changing leadership. Doc could Roc when the Big Boppa was clearing the way but the demands of leadership and more than that the political savvy, personal touch and killer instinct required of leadership in Bahamian politics is totally absent in Doc. He lacks personality, communication skills, personal touch, vision and quite frankly leadership qualities more generally. I believe Loretta was right to leave. She isn't the perfect candidate but she is better than Minnis and would have gone further with the party behind her than Minnis can. My two hopes, Dames and D'Aguilar have been silent and Lloyd needs to reign in his arrogance. But FNMs hard headed. How many times have they entered the arena and LOST with good men but bad politicians? Anyone remember Kendal Isaacs? Truly a sad day.
John 7 years, 3 months ago
Usually when a major political party is having a well publicized and televised event such as a national convention, opposition parties would hold smaller events or give press releases so that the nation is not polarized by the convention. The DNA's leader managed to grab one or two headlines as well as other members of his party. And while the FNM's chairman did offer opposition views on the convention, the FNM leader was missing in action.
The_Oracle 7 years, 3 months ago
I would like to see real demographics from that convention, the average age was probably 70, and it would be easy to envision the attendees being die hard sink or drown PLP supporters or contract beneficiaries. That the whole field was tilted in Christies direction was no surprise, that the die hards ate it up is a sad indictment and depressing. It really says nothing about the upcoming election, except that if the internal skullduggery at convention is an indicator, the General Election will be dirtier than ever.
TalRussell 7 years, 3 months ago
Amen!
Emac 7 years, 3 months ago
Tal and John are on target today! I cannot add any more to these comments. Except, that I don't believe that Bahamians will elect the PLP to run this country again. I think this election will surprise many. If this convention was such a raging success as it appears to be to many, then we should see an immediate spike in voters registration. Don't forget during last election rallies, the FNM crowd far out numbered that of the PLP, but the PLP still won the election.
Greentea, let me say that I was a LBT supporter, up to the FNM's last convention. The Official Opposition, as the FNM, was looking good coming out of their last election. However, the only people you can now lay the blame squarely on are Loretta and the seven. As a matter of fact, she should have let the party flow the direction iit was going when she was opposition leader- It is obvious that she and the seven do not have the Bahamian people interests at heart. If they did, they would have thought about the betterment of this country rather than their egos.
John 7 years, 3 months ago
Well Hillary's crowd also outnumbered Trump's. And here in the Bahamas many persons attend both sets of rallies, and yes some attended the DNA rallies because they wanted to hear their platforms. and the entertainment and free food... And yes some were looking for those 'special' T-shirts and other goodies too. This election is going to be unique because of the low number of registered voters, the number os smaller parties hoping to contest and the apparent unpopularity of the leader of the FNM. (Minnis is no longer the leader of the official opposition and since Lorretta Butler is running as an independent candidate, technically there is no official opposition party. Social media has become very popular and will play a very important role in the upcoming election, be it for the disemination of information, fact checking or the spreading of rumors and creating political mischief....
sheeprunner12 7 years, 3 months ago
For the first time ........ even the PLPs did not sound convincing ........ they know they have 4 months left to cause havoc
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