PLP Leader Philip 'Brave' Davis.
By FARRAH JOHNSON
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
OFFICIAL Opposition Leader Phillip “Brave” Davis said Bahamians must acknowledge where the country has come from in order to appreciate the progress it has made in providing all citizens with equal opportunities to succeed.
Reflecting on Majority Rule Day at the PLP’s walkabout on East Street Thursday, Mr Davis said the historic event has opened doors and given hope to many Bahamians.
“An exercise that I have done some years ago is to look into the Yellow Pages in 1967-1968 and look under the rubrics of our professionals and see how many Bahamians were there,” he said.
“For example, look at architects and you’d note that there were maybe about three Bahamian architects. Look under accountants and you’ll see about two, look under doctors and you’ll see about five. Look under the lawyers and you may see about 12.”
“And then, take the Yellow Pages of 1992 when the Progressive Liberal Party was voted out and compare and see the transformation of the professional class and how persons like myself, who came from the underbelly of this society, (managed to) reach the heights that we were able to.”
Mr Davis maintained that the number of Bahamians working in respectable professions today sum up what Majority Rule means to him.
“Majority Rule means that we ought not to be and don’t have to be limited by our circumstances once those who are in power and the policies of government release the shackles of oppression so that equal opportunity and justice will prevail for all,” he explained.
“Once that has happened, we Bahamians have that indomitable spirit and that desire to achieve. And once you allow that to happen, it will happen. Majority Rule meant that.”
Insisting the historic event released the country from the “shackles” that had kept it bound, Mr Davis also said the day “opened the public’s eyes” to a world of possibilities.
“Yes we may be barefoot today (and) we may be poor today, but there is hope,” he asserted. “There is that opportunity for me to do be whatever I would wish to be once I am aided by others (and) once I have that desire, commitment and dedication to be somebody. And every Bahamian I think, desires to be somebody.”
Comments
bahamianson 4 years, 3 months ago
Yeah, opened your door.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 3 months ago
This tired 'ole fart just couldn't resist playing that tired 'ole race card by his use of the word "shackles". Younger Bahamian voters today are rightly much more concerned about the impact on their lives of corrupt politicians like Davis than they are about the oppressive slave era many moons ago. Some younger Bahamian voters actually believe the black slave master of today is no better, if not worse, than the white slave master of yesterday. But thankfully most younger Bahamian voters today are either truly colour blind or not nearly so easily manipulated as their parents and grandparents were by yesterday's corrupt PLP politicians who had a divide and conquer mentality, much like the one Davis still has today. Davis just too detached from what's most important to the vast majority of Bahamian voters today and is guaranteed to pay a dear price for being so irrelevant come the next general election.
Chucky 4 years, 3 months ago
Sure has opened doors for some Bahamians, some became politicians and have looted the country for their and their friends enrichment while impoverishing the remainder of the population
Some became professionals and stole/steal the assets of foreigners , stealing physical assets right off their private property and then taking those stolen assets and park them in their own front yard.
Majority rule has its benefits
joeblow 4 years, 3 months ago
The vast majority of Bahamians are uneducated and virtually unemployable despite 12 years of public or private education, 75% of children are born in dysfunctional single parent homes, crime has been gradually escalating for decades, the middle class is virtually nonexistent and corrupt politicians cannot get convicted and he thinks this is a step forward? What a dimwit!
shonkai 4 years, 3 months ago
Look in the yellow pages under webshops, guess how many. You’ll be surprised.
stillwaters 4 years, 3 months ago
The PLP and FNM have done far more damage to this country than the UBP, and maybe Majority Rule holiday is not the best replacement for the former Columbus Day.....and yes, I am a black Bahamian saying this!
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID