bradleyB
11-25-02, - 02:45 AM
47th PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY CONVENTION
REMARKS BY
OUTGOING NATIONAL CHAIRMAN & MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS, UTILITIES & BAHAMASAIR
BRADLEY B. ROBERTS, M.P.
NOVEMBER 19, 2002
THEME: “THE STORM IS OVER. SECURING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER”
PRIME MINISTER & PARTY LEADER, PERRY CHRISTIE & MRS. CHRISTIE,
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER & DEPUTY LEADER, CYNTHIA PRATT & MR. PRATT, LADY MARGUERITE PINDLING,STALWART COUNCILLORS,
PARTY DELEGATES,YOUNG LIBERALS, SESSION CHAIRMAN,
LADIES & GENTLEMEN AND THOSE OF GOODWILL IN RADIO & TELEVISION LAND
GOOD EVENING
OPENING REMARKS
After 25 years as the government and ten years as the Opposition, the PLP has returned to government new and improved. We of the new PLP have so much to be grateful for and we thank Almighty God.
After ten years as a Government backbencher and ten years as an Opposition Member, and the new PLP’s National Chairman for two years, I have so much to be grateful to the Grants Town and Bain & Grants Town Constituencies, the PLP and Almighty God for. And though along the way to victory God took some PLP’s home to be with Him and other PLP’s took different paths, after six months in government, the new PLP has so much to be grateful to the electorate for.
And after these first six months in Office, though the economic finances of the government is much worse then anyone could have imagined, the electorate has so much to still be grateful for; because they got rid of the dastardly FNM on May 2, 2002. The storm is over.
And tonight as I make my last speech as Chairman of the new PLP, I have not come to praise the FNM and their Caesar—but to bury them once and for all!
My fellow PLP brothers and sisters and those of goodwill toward the Bahamas, I have firstly come tonight to say goodbye as the PLP National Chairman and to welcome my successor who will walk in my footsteps as the new Chairperson. I have also come to explain how through the deliberate acts of the previous Administration, just how serious and dire the economic condition in the nation is at this time. And naturally, as Minister of Public Works, Utilities and Bahamasair, I have also come to tell you what my government is planning and doing to rescue the country from the terrible circumstances left by the FNM on the Bahamas. The new PLP is about securing our future together with all Bahamians.
Therefore, as we celebrate this 47th PLP National Convention, for all of those wicked FNM Officials sitting out in television land, I have come in part tonight to say that though the storm is over for the Bahamian electorate, it’s still going to be real stormy for FNM’s in this place tonight.
CHAIRMANSHIP REPORT (2000 TO PRESENT)/
ADVICE FOR NEW CHAIRPERSON
My brothers and sisters, I was privileged to have been the new PLP’s National Chairman for the past two years during which time we won the General Elections. And though I can call my chairmanship successful because the end resulted in my Party winning the General Election Campaign, I would be ignoring how valuable everyone in the Party Corp was at pivotal times, if I didn’t summarize for this Convention what really happened along the way.
My brothers and sisters, the Chairmanship race of the 2000 Convention was hotly contested. I challenged the former Chairman and the formidable protégé of Sir Lynden Pindling, known now as Minister Obie Wilchcombe. Both of us fought mightily, though never losing sight of our inherent right to campaign with the reality being that the winner would have the support of the other. And at the end of the day, though I was the victor, Minister Obie Wilchcombe still supported me and today we still support each other as Cabinet Colleagues. I thank Minister Wilchcombe for helping in the smooth transition of the Chairmanship from his stewardship to mine at what would turn out to be the most pivotal point to date in the PLP’s march to victory.
My brothers and sisters, it is against that backdrop of events that I now report to you on my time as Chairman of the greatest and oldest Political Party in the history of the Bahamas. Though all the odds were against us, we in the new PLP worked hard to put together a group of candidates that obviously was formidable and credible. And even the candidates that did not win are poised to be in the next team of new PLP’s to win seats in the next General Election.
My brothers and sisters, our Candidates Committee picked the very best of the best to represent us not only on the Campaign field, but also in the character needed to show the public that this organization was really a new PLP. We worked day and night and as I now reflect on those times, I truly believe that God had already given us our General Election victory after the 2000 Convention and all we had to do was claim it and possess the land set out for us.
My brothers and sisters, when the Referendum came along in February of 2002, the new PLP was in high gear and we got even more encouragement to press on when God put the reality of our victory in the mouth of the enemy, when big mouth Hubert told the nation whoever won the Referendum would win the General Election. Nevertheless we still had to posses what God would give our great organization. And come election time, PLP’s literally swarmed the land. At times rallies were being held in three different places across the nation. I can remember the many times big mouth Hubert would laugh when I would tell him in Parliament that 2002 would not be like 1992 or 1997. He laughed then but he’s not laughing now, for after the recent Elections even he said that we had a very cohesive campaign team.
My brothers and sisters, though persons living in New Providence witnessed the togetherness and razor sharp precision of the new PLP Campaign, I want to tell you that it was in the Family Islands that we on the campaign trail saw the full fruits of our efforts. The Family Islanders showed unconditional support and love. It was Family Islanders that stayed with us from the moment we touched down in a Family Island, until the minute our plane left for another venue.
It is with that in mind that I salute all the Family Island delegates who are with us at this Convention, as well as those residents who showed absolute confidence in the new PLP. It goes without question that while we stationed in New Providence were totally focused on the business at hand, Family Islanders were also focused on blazing the path ahead of us to bring our message to them. I say a special thank you as the Chairman to Family Islanders; the new PLP certainly could not have come this far without all of you.
My brothers and sisters, it was also said by those who had wished to see our demise that during the recent Election Campaign we were flush with money and the kind of money that is nefarious. Well let me tell you tonight that when God is on your side it always seems that way to the wicked. And it seems that way because God always prepares a table in the midst of the enemies of his children.
It would have seemed like we had a world full of money and that is because God opened his storehouse of treasures to the new PLP by giving us just enough of what we needed to do what needed to be done at a given time. So to those who mean us harm, if it seems that we had millions of dollars, that is only because what we had came pressed down and multiplied as a blessing from God. Therefore, if anyone has any claim of corrupt intentions on the part of this Party concerning campaign financing, I encourage them to come forward and make their case. But to you my PLP brothers and sisters, I can assure you as Chairman during the Elections that no such weapon formed against this new PLP Party will prosper.
It is also in that regard that I take this opportunity to again thank all of those persons who contributed financially to our 2002 Campaign Crusade. I thank those persons who gave out of what little they had and those persons who gave out of their abundance. And the one and only promise made to you still stands; we will move the country forward and to its proper place and role in the world, with prosperity as our goal for all Bahamians. The storm is over and we are about the business of securing our future together with all persons of goodwill.
And as I make this last speech as your humble Chairman and servant, I give this advice to the one who shall follow in my footsteps, such as my introducer, Raynard Rigby is vying to do; be committed, be resolved; be loyal; be innovative and stay focused on what is most important, moving the Party forward into new vista’s and new plateau’s. It will not be easy, but it will be rewarding if you accept that your job is to keep the PLP relevant to the times and to the small man. The new PLP has so much to be grateful to God and the voters for.
FNM ASSISTANCE IN PLP VICTORY
As a result of our recent victory at the Election Polls, it would be most ungrateful if I also didn’t thank the concepts of criminality, corruption, deception, indecency and stupidity. It would be wrong if I didn’t thank Hubert Ingraham and the FNM. While we didn’t find out until 2001 that FNM Officials were bouncing cheques to the Treasury and swindling hotel investor’s way back in 1993, the year 1997 was when the FNM made it known that voters needed the new PLP.
My brothers and sisters, do you remember the $143 million dollar deficit right after the 97 Elections? The criminal mind never ceases to amaze me. Do you remember Hubert said the deficit had nothing to do with trying to buy an election? And then there was the case of Oncology Associates Ltd Cancer Scandal. And my brothers and sisters, what about the 17 babies that died in PMH because of government negligence over bacteria in the prenatal care unit? Who was held accountable for that? And what about the U. S. Travel Advisory in the summer of 1998 after some bomb threat? Did we ever find out who the supposed suspect was? In fact, from the profile description that Hubert gave the nation of this mysterious pathological liar and Sandilands patient, one could easily believe that he was talking about himself.
My brothers and sisters, then there was the Gulf Union Bank Scandal. The FNM Government knew for months that the bank was in trouble and even used Central Bank money to prop it up. Did they ever try to hold anyone accountable for this fiasco? Then there was Hubert Ingraham’s attempt to bust up the Batelco Union and privatize Batelco. And who was it that almost got busted up instead by Batelco Workers on Bay Street? Big mouth Hubert Ingraham. His mouth was hard when he was inside the Parliament, but outside he was speechless and out of breath as he ran for his life into the Churchill Building.
And what about Clifton Cay? Do you remember that Ingraham had his goon squad, led by the Chief Goon, Speaker Italia Johnson, cut off the cameras in the Parliament, just so the public couldn’t hear the debate?
And what about this one, my brothers and sisters…. The only Minister that Hubert said he could trust, Frank Watson and the $135,000 spent on a plane that never flew this way? We knew long time what happened to that money. We have so much to be grateful to the FNM for. And how about the Long Island Dossier Drug Scandal? Didn’t FNM’s say that I was lying? Didn’t FNM’s say I put lives in danger? Didn’t even some of the suspects say that the money used to build a 100-room hotel and marina was not drug money? Where are my accusers now and who were the liars? The only injustice done in my revealing the drug scandal is that some FNM Officials are not before the courts also. I guess FNM’s blame me for that too.
My brothers and sisters, then there was the outrageously scandalous year of 2001 and government contracts given out to FNM’s to garner their loyalty and in other cases contracts were given out by FNM Officials to their own companies. So who was to blame for that? While we can assume that Tommy and Dion were only learning and Brent was only doing what he knows to do when it comes to government contracts; it took a more seasoned crook to abuse the taxpayers funds in 2001. And again it was Hubert Ingraham who was the prime suspect. Oh we have so much to be grateful to the FNM for.
And finally my brothers and sisters, in 2002, January 16th to be exact; the question and subject of treason came into the public domain. And what did Hubert Ingraham do? He shut down the House of Assembly. He said to hell with the Hurricane Relief Bill and the $125 million dollar Appropriation Bill to prop up the economy. He put his tail between his legs and hauled u know what out of the Parliament, to never again see the place as Prime Minister or Government Member. What was he afraid of? He ran out of Parliament in January and in February he ran right into an angry monster called the Referendum. Again I say; we have so much to be grateful to the FNM for because they weren’t taking any chances on the new PLP losing, so they decided to attack the church. The FNM couldn’t wait for May 2nd to roll around. And today, the new PLP and the people of the Bahamas has so much to be grateful to the FNM for because now the storm is over.
My brothers and sisters, the greatest advantage for me personally of the electorate voting the FNM out of Office is that I don’t have to see Madame Speaker in the House of Assembly anymore. I don’t have to hear her muttering under her breath anymore. I don’t have to wonder anymore if she’s making faces at what I say, or if that’s just the way she looks. I don’t have to see Madame Speaker in the Parliament anymore or ever again. Thank God, the storm and the ugliness it brought to the nation is over. I thank the FNM for giving her enough rope in Parliament to hang herself.
My brothers and sisters, though the new PLP is moving to secure our future together and have much to be grateful to the FNM for, they could have at least told us a few things before they left Office. They could have told us that all the bragging they did about an improved infrastructure wasn’t true. They could have told us that all the fixing up and construction they did was only cosmetic. They could have told us that they wouldn’t have been out of power for more than six months before we found out that the Prince George Dock should be condemned.
My brothers and sisters they could have told us the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority was ready to close us down because our airport runways were accidents waiting to happen. They could have told us that the schools, even some new ones, were deathtraps waiting to injure our children and teachers. And they could have told us that our economy was going belly up long before the terrorist attacks of September 9, 2001.
My brothers and sisters, though we knew some of these things while in Opposition, they still could have told us the full story. Nevertheless the storm is over my brothers and sisters and we should never be ungrateful to the FNM for their ten spiteful years in Office, for it has given us new encouragement to secure our future together as new PLP’s and Bahamians.
And just to show how grateful the new PLP is for the ten years of the FNM, we are going to fix the dock. We are going to fix the airport roads. We are going to fix the schools. We are going to fix the economy and your pockets in the process. And yes, we are going to tell Cable Bahamas to put their services in every island—or we’ll find someone else who will. All of these things and more the new PLP Government are going to do and though it’s going to take time, we are moving to secure our future you and I, us and them, the entire Bahamian community together. It is going to take all of us, and our prayers to God, to overcome the rough ten-year journey we’ve taken to a new day in the Bahamas. But now that the storm is over, we can do it, after all the FNM made it possible.
SECURING THE FUTURE TOGETHER/ MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS
My brothers and sisters, now that I have thanked the FNM for ten years of criminality, corruption and deceit as contributing factors for our victory on May 2, 2002; I would like to now focus on my ministerial portfolios and how they will assist us in securing our future together.
THE WATER SECTOR
I shall begin first with portable water, a critical and vital item to man’s existence. There are many concerns that need to be addressed in upgrading the services that are provided by the Water and Sewerage Corporation. First and foremost is the need for appropriate regulations so that the groundwater resources of the Commonwealth can be protected and conserved for future generations. In this regard a study is being undertaken which will focus on the environment, the threats to groundwater, and the legislation and regulations needed to administer this sector in a Bahamian context.
Secondly, significant amounts of funding are required to develop the infrastructure that is needed to make water available for all, and to deal with the untreated sewage that the nation’s urban areas is creating. The problem of sewage is a major concern in New Providence where many persons still use private wells, and it is now becoming a serious problem in the Family Islands, particularly where there are settlements with enclosed harbours which are being threatened by pollution from septic tanks and boats which discharge wastes directly into the sea. As we speak the Water and Sewerage Corporation in the process of implementing a pilot project to test private wells in specific areas of New Providence, to show the homeowners the quality of the water they are using and give inducements for these persons to make use of, or return to, the city supply which is a safe treated supply. It is hoped that this project will become an island- wide undertaking in the near future.
In New Providence we all know that too much water is being lost through old leaky pipes and these all need to be replaced in an ongoing mains replacement program. The Water and Sewerage Corporation has received proposals to deal with what is now known as “non-revenue water” but there is no cheap solution and we may be looking for as much as $20-million to come to gripes with this problem.
There are many challenges facing the Water and Sewerage Corporation and in order to confront these, head on, the Corporation has developed – with the assistance of the Inter-American Development Bank, and others, a Corporate Business Plan. The objectives of this is to turn the Water and Sewerage Corporation around, from being a net loss to the Government to becoming a profitable operation capable of funding the large capital expenditures required to bring water and sewerage facilities up to the standards that are required in the developed world.
These are challenging times for the Water and Sewerage Corporation and to be able to deal with the problems facing it the Corporation will need a cadre of highly trained professionals with visionary insight and the strength and determination needed to achieve what has always seemed to be the impossible. The Government must work closely with the Water and Sewerage Corporation, and provide the support it needs, so that it can move to the level of service we all expect for such an essential commodity.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS TOWARDS IMPROVING FAMILY ISLAND WATER SUPPLIES
A decision has been made to address the needs of those islands that require water produced by means of the desalination process known as reverse osmosis. To this effect a contract was signed with Bimini Bay Water Company to provide high quality water in Bimini and the residents have been benefiting from this arrangement since August.
A contract has also been agreed with Aqua Design Bahamas Limited to provide a similar supply of high quality water in Inagua, and this should be implemented before Christmas.
Approval has been given for the Water and Sewerage Corporation to negotiate the best terms and conditions it can with a local company that submitted the lowest bid to provide desalinated water for the system that was installed in Central Long Island, and it is hoped that his supply will become available by May 2003.
Arrangements are now being made for pipes to be installed in Farmers Cay and Staniel Cay so that these communities can also benefit from having water supplied by means of reverse osmosis. These pipes are currently being installed prior to the reconstruction of the roads.
The Water and Sewerage Corporation recently went out to tender for contracts to supply desalination water in Great Exuma and South Eleuthera and the bids are due on 12th December.
From the above it is evident that the Government has made a serious commitment to bringing quality water to Family Island communities. This water is costly and no doubt water rates will need to be increased so that the level of subsidy can be minimized. There are other islands that require desalinated water and in due course they too will benefit from this programme. These will include San Salvador and Ragged Island in particular amongst others.
In Acklins some level of relief has been brought to the people of Salina Point. A new 2000 gallon tanker was shipped to the island along with two 2000 gallon tanks and these are now in place in Salina Point. The Water and Sewerage Corporation is now capable of delivering 4000 gallons of water a day to this community which they can access by means of standpipes. The Corporation is actively considering the introduction of a reverse osmosis plant and the installation of pipes to the homes in the Salina Point community.
In North Acklins the new water system serving Lovely Bay, Pastel and Chesters has been completed and piped water has finally become a reality to these people. Just yesterday afternoon I instructed the Water Corporation to connect without delay all homes in the mentioned settlements and where necessary a standpipe to each home. A 2000 gallons tanker has been shipped to Cat Island and with improvements made to the wellfield in the Deans Wood area, the efficiency of the water tankering service on the island has been greatly improved.
There are still many areas in the Bahamas where piped water is not available, but all of us know water is essential to life, and therefore these needs must be addressed. The programme to bring drinking water to all will continue.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the new PLP Government is securing the future for portable water for all Bahamians.
BAHAMAS ELECTRICTY CORPORATION
Mr. Session Chairman, fellow delegates, As Minister with responsibility for B.E.C I just recently had the pleasure of being a part of the commissioning of one of the corporations gas turbines generators which I am advised should provide some relief to the load shedding problem which takes place constantly throughout the island.
I am cognizant of the fact that the Bahamian Public expects better service from Bahamas Electricity Corporation (B.E.C) Consequently, I will never let the opportunity pass to remind the management and staff at Bahamas Electricity Corporation (B.E.C) of this deficiency until the public is reasonable assured that Bahamas Electricity Corporation (B.E.C) is able to provide them with a reliable service. I will continue to admonish management of the need to become more proactive. I will continually stress the need for the corporation to implement maintenance programmes along with the need to bring Bahamas Electricity Corporation (B.E.C). to become the best it can become.
A recent review of the power generation needs of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation has revealed that B.E.C’s management needs to be more forceful in addressing short comings with employees, equipment, processes and vendors. It stated that generating unit availability is much lower that it should be.
Average system availability has fallen from around 83% in 1997 to only 73% in 2001. Many major overhauls and periodic inspections have not been performed.
As a result of management’s negligent, chronic defects are often accepted instead of solved and repaired as long as the unit can still be operated. To put it in plain language, they let the engines run until they break down. Historical insurance audits indicate that maintenance has been lacking and the report calls for additional technical talent being needed at both Clifton Pier and Blue Hills.
The study further revealed that the pattern of not diagnosing and not addressing problems at the Corporation has led to malaise and the growing acceptance of mediocre performance. “The will to manage the Corporation is weak”. The end result is that those employees who would wish to make a difference at the corporation are normally discouraged.
Mr. Session Chairman, Fellow Delegates, Ladies & Gentleman;
Some three (3) weeks ago, B.E.C. commissioned new K.W. Gas Turbine Generator at the Blue Hills Power Station. This piece of equipment is the beginning of a programme to modernize the equipment at Blue Hills. I am advised that the modernization programme, along with the introduction of a high performance work force, would prepare B.E.C. to meet the demands and challenges both present and future.
It is the intention of the present B.E.C. Board to transform the company into a more customer friendly organization. By so doing, customers should expect to receive faster responses to queries, billings related matters, new services connections and street lighting matters.
Mr. Session Chairman, fellow Delegates, As the Minister I will continue to highlight B.E.C.’s shortcomings and will continue to strongly admonish those responsible for shoddy the service the corporation gives the Bahamian taxpayers.
B.E.C is also currently installing a new 30 Megawatt Slow Speed Diesel Generator costing $34.8 million Clifton Pier which should be operational during the first quarter of 2003. The company is also constructing a new 132 KV transmission line to link Clifton Pier with the leisure time substations and the Cable Beach substation which is also under construction. This work, along with the construction of other additional substations, will cost the company some $20 million and should also be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2003.
The island-wide street lighting programme in New Providence is almost 100% complete and should be completed early next year and the Corporation has advised that similar programmes are ongoing in the more populated Family Island communities. In Abaco, Treasure Cay was recently connected to the Marsh Harbour electricity supply and similar re-inforcements are in progress in the Abaco Cays.
A new generating plant will be installed in Exuma at a cost of $8.0 million and new fuel storage facilities are being constructed in Eleuthera at a cost of $750,000.00. This work is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Fellow delegates, your new PLP Government will continue to aggressively resolve the problems at BEC in our commitment to secure continuous power supply for all.
REMARKS BY
OUTGOING NATIONAL CHAIRMAN & MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS, UTILITIES & BAHAMASAIR
BRADLEY B. ROBERTS, M.P.
NOVEMBER 19, 2002
THEME: “THE STORM IS OVER. SECURING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER”
PRIME MINISTER & PARTY LEADER, PERRY CHRISTIE & MRS. CHRISTIE,
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER & DEPUTY LEADER, CYNTHIA PRATT & MR. PRATT, LADY MARGUERITE PINDLING,STALWART COUNCILLORS,
PARTY DELEGATES,YOUNG LIBERALS, SESSION CHAIRMAN,
LADIES & GENTLEMEN AND THOSE OF GOODWILL IN RADIO & TELEVISION LAND
GOOD EVENING
OPENING REMARKS
After 25 years as the government and ten years as the Opposition, the PLP has returned to government new and improved. We of the new PLP have so much to be grateful for and we thank Almighty God.
After ten years as a Government backbencher and ten years as an Opposition Member, and the new PLP’s National Chairman for two years, I have so much to be grateful to the Grants Town and Bain & Grants Town Constituencies, the PLP and Almighty God for. And though along the way to victory God took some PLP’s home to be with Him and other PLP’s took different paths, after six months in government, the new PLP has so much to be grateful to the electorate for.
And after these first six months in Office, though the economic finances of the government is much worse then anyone could have imagined, the electorate has so much to still be grateful for; because they got rid of the dastardly FNM on May 2, 2002. The storm is over.
And tonight as I make my last speech as Chairman of the new PLP, I have not come to praise the FNM and their Caesar—but to bury them once and for all!
My fellow PLP brothers and sisters and those of goodwill toward the Bahamas, I have firstly come tonight to say goodbye as the PLP National Chairman and to welcome my successor who will walk in my footsteps as the new Chairperson. I have also come to explain how through the deliberate acts of the previous Administration, just how serious and dire the economic condition in the nation is at this time. And naturally, as Minister of Public Works, Utilities and Bahamasair, I have also come to tell you what my government is planning and doing to rescue the country from the terrible circumstances left by the FNM on the Bahamas. The new PLP is about securing our future together with all Bahamians.
Therefore, as we celebrate this 47th PLP National Convention, for all of those wicked FNM Officials sitting out in television land, I have come in part tonight to say that though the storm is over for the Bahamian electorate, it’s still going to be real stormy for FNM’s in this place tonight.
CHAIRMANSHIP REPORT (2000 TO PRESENT)/
ADVICE FOR NEW CHAIRPERSON
My brothers and sisters, I was privileged to have been the new PLP’s National Chairman for the past two years during which time we won the General Elections. And though I can call my chairmanship successful because the end resulted in my Party winning the General Election Campaign, I would be ignoring how valuable everyone in the Party Corp was at pivotal times, if I didn’t summarize for this Convention what really happened along the way.
My brothers and sisters, the Chairmanship race of the 2000 Convention was hotly contested. I challenged the former Chairman and the formidable protégé of Sir Lynden Pindling, known now as Minister Obie Wilchcombe. Both of us fought mightily, though never losing sight of our inherent right to campaign with the reality being that the winner would have the support of the other. And at the end of the day, though I was the victor, Minister Obie Wilchcombe still supported me and today we still support each other as Cabinet Colleagues. I thank Minister Wilchcombe for helping in the smooth transition of the Chairmanship from his stewardship to mine at what would turn out to be the most pivotal point to date in the PLP’s march to victory.
My brothers and sisters, it is against that backdrop of events that I now report to you on my time as Chairman of the greatest and oldest Political Party in the history of the Bahamas. Though all the odds were against us, we in the new PLP worked hard to put together a group of candidates that obviously was formidable and credible. And even the candidates that did not win are poised to be in the next team of new PLP’s to win seats in the next General Election.
My brothers and sisters, our Candidates Committee picked the very best of the best to represent us not only on the Campaign field, but also in the character needed to show the public that this organization was really a new PLP. We worked day and night and as I now reflect on those times, I truly believe that God had already given us our General Election victory after the 2000 Convention and all we had to do was claim it and possess the land set out for us.
My brothers and sisters, when the Referendum came along in February of 2002, the new PLP was in high gear and we got even more encouragement to press on when God put the reality of our victory in the mouth of the enemy, when big mouth Hubert told the nation whoever won the Referendum would win the General Election. Nevertheless we still had to posses what God would give our great organization. And come election time, PLP’s literally swarmed the land. At times rallies were being held in three different places across the nation. I can remember the many times big mouth Hubert would laugh when I would tell him in Parliament that 2002 would not be like 1992 or 1997. He laughed then but he’s not laughing now, for after the recent Elections even he said that we had a very cohesive campaign team.
My brothers and sisters, though persons living in New Providence witnessed the togetherness and razor sharp precision of the new PLP Campaign, I want to tell you that it was in the Family Islands that we on the campaign trail saw the full fruits of our efforts. The Family Islanders showed unconditional support and love. It was Family Islanders that stayed with us from the moment we touched down in a Family Island, until the minute our plane left for another venue.
It is with that in mind that I salute all the Family Island delegates who are with us at this Convention, as well as those residents who showed absolute confidence in the new PLP. It goes without question that while we stationed in New Providence were totally focused on the business at hand, Family Islanders were also focused on blazing the path ahead of us to bring our message to them. I say a special thank you as the Chairman to Family Islanders; the new PLP certainly could not have come this far without all of you.
My brothers and sisters, it was also said by those who had wished to see our demise that during the recent Election Campaign we were flush with money and the kind of money that is nefarious. Well let me tell you tonight that when God is on your side it always seems that way to the wicked. And it seems that way because God always prepares a table in the midst of the enemies of his children.
It would have seemed like we had a world full of money and that is because God opened his storehouse of treasures to the new PLP by giving us just enough of what we needed to do what needed to be done at a given time. So to those who mean us harm, if it seems that we had millions of dollars, that is only because what we had came pressed down and multiplied as a blessing from God. Therefore, if anyone has any claim of corrupt intentions on the part of this Party concerning campaign financing, I encourage them to come forward and make their case. But to you my PLP brothers and sisters, I can assure you as Chairman during the Elections that no such weapon formed against this new PLP Party will prosper.
It is also in that regard that I take this opportunity to again thank all of those persons who contributed financially to our 2002 Campaign Crusade. I thank those persons who gave out of what little they had and those persons who gave out of their abundance. And the one and only promise made to you still stands; we will move the country forward and to its proper place and role in the world, with prosperity as our goal for all Bahamians. The storm is over and we are about the business of securing our future together with all persons of goodwill.
And as I make this last speech as your humble Chairman and servant, I give this advice to the one who shall follow in my footsteps, such as my introducer, Raynard Rigby is vying to do; be committed, be resolved; be loyal; be innovative and stay focused on what is most important, moving the Party forward into new vista’s and new plateau’s. It will not be easy, but it will be rewarding if you accept that your job is to keep the PLP relevant to the times and to the small man. The new PLP has so much to be grateful to God and the voters for.
FNM ASSISTANCE IN PLP VICTORY
As a result of our recent victory at the Election Polls, it would be most ungrateful if I also didn’t thank the concepts of criminality, corruption, deception, indecency and stupidity. It would be wrong if I didn’t thank Hubert Ingraham and the FNM. While we didn’t find out until 2001 that FNM Officials were bouncing cheques to the Treasury and swindling hotel investor’s way back in 1993, the year 1997 was when the FNM made it known that voters needed the new PLP.
My brothers and sisters, do you remember the $143 million dollar deficit right after the 97 Elections? The criminal mind never ceases to amaze me. Do you remember Hubert said the deficit had nothing to do with trying to buy an election? And then there was the case of Oncology Associates Ltd Cancer Scandal. And my brothers and sisters, what about the 17 babies that died in PMH because of government negligence over bacteria in the prenatal care unit? Who was held accountable for that? And what about the U. S. Travel Advisory in the summer of 1998 after some bomb threat? Did we ever find out who the supposed suspect was? In fact, from the profile description that Hubert gave the nation of this mysterious pathological liar and Sandilands patient, one could easily believe that he was talking about himself.
My brothers and sisters, then there was the Gulf Union Bank Scandal. The FNM Government knew for months that the bank was in trouble and even used Central Bank money to prop it up. Did they ever try to hold anyone accountable for this fiasco? Then there was Hubert Ingraham’s attempt to bust up the Batelco Union and privatize Batelco. And who was it that almost got busted up instead by Batelco Workers on Bay Street? Big mouth Hubert Ingraham. His mouth was hard when he was inside the Parliament, but outside he was speechless and out of breath as he ran for his life into the Churchill Building.
And what about Clifton Cay? Do you remember that Ingraham had his goon squad, led by the Chief Goon, Speaker Italia Johnson, cut off the cameras in the Parliament, just so the public couldn’t hear the debate?
And what about this one, my brothers and sisters…. The only Minister that Hubert said he could trust, Frank Watson and the $135,000 spent on a plane that never flew this way? We knew long time what happened to that money. We have so much to be grateful to the FNM for. And how about the Long Island Dossier Drug Scandal? Didn’t FNM’s say that I was lying? Didn’t FNM’s say I put lives in danger? Didn’t even some of the suspects say that the money used to build a 100-room hotel and marina was not drug money? Where are my accusers now and who were the liars? The only injustice done in my revealing the drug scandal is that some FNM Officials are not before the courts also. I guess FNM’s blame me for that too.
My brothers and sisters, then there was the outrageously scandalous year of 2001 and government contracts given out to FNM’s to garner their loyalty and in other cases contracts were given out by FNM Officials to their own companies. So who was to blame for that? While we can assume that Tommy and Dion were only learning and Brent was only doing what he knows to do when it comes to government contracts; it took a more seasoned crook to abuse the taxpayers funds in 2001. And again it was Hubert Ingraham who was the prime suspect. Oh we have so much to be grateful to the FNM for.
And finally my brothers and sisters, in 2002, January 16th to be exact; the question and subject of treason came into the public domain. And what did Hubert Ingraham do? He shut down the House of Assembly. He said to hell with the Hurricane Relief Bill and the $125 million dollar Appropriation Bill to prop up the economy. He put his tail between his legs and hauled u know what out of the Parliament, to never again see the place as Prime Minister or Government Member. What was he afraid of? He ran out of Parliament in January and in February he ran right into an angry monster called the Referendum. Again I say; we have so much to be grateful to the FNM for because they weren’t taking any chances on the new PLP losing, so they decided to attack the church. The FNM couldn’t wait for May 2nd to roll around. And today, the new PLP and the people of the Bahamas has so much to be grateful to the FNM for because now the storm is over.
My brothers and sisters, the greatest advantage for me personally of the electorate voting the FNM out of Office is that I don’t have to see Madame Speaker in the House of Assembly anymore. I don’t have to hear her muttering under her breath anymore. I don’t have to wonder anymore if she’s making faces at what I say, or if that’s just the way she looks. I don’t have to see Madame Speaker in the Parliament anymore or ever again. Thank God, the storm and the ugliness it brought to the nation is over. I thank the FNM for giving her enough rope in Parliament to hang herself.
My brothers and sisters, though the new PLP is moving to secure our future together and have much to be grateful to the FNM for, they could have at least told us a few things before they left Office. They could have told us that all the bragging they did about an improved infrastructure wasn’t true. They could have told us that all the fixing up and construction they did was only cosmetic. They could have told us that they wouldn’t have been out of power for more than six months before we found out that the Prince George Dock should be condemned.
My brothers and sisters they could have told us the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority was ready to close us down because our airport runways were accidents waiting to happen. They could have told us that the schools, even some new ones, were deathtraps waiting to injure our children and teachers. And they could have told us that our economy was going belly up long before the terrorist attacks of September 9, 2001.
My brothers and sisters, though we knew some of these things while in Opposition, they still could have told us the full story. Nevertheless the storm is over my brothers and sisters and we should never be ungrateful to the FNM for their ten spiteful years in Office, for it has given us new encouragement to secure our future together as new PLP’s and Bahamians.
And just to show how grateful the new PLP is for the ten years of the FNM, we are going to fix the dock. We are going to fix the airport roads. We are going to fix the schools. We are going to fix the economy and your pockets in the process. And yes, we are going to tell Cable Bahamas to put their services in every island—or we’ll find someone else who will. All of these things and more the new PLP Government are going to do and though it’s going to take time, we are moving to secure our future you and I, us and them, the entire Bahamian community together. It is going to take all of us, and our prayers to God, to overcome the rough ten-year journey we’ve taken to a new day in the Bahamas. But now that the storm is over, we can do it, after all the FNM made it possible.
SECURING THE FUTURE TOGETHER/ MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS
My brothers and sisters, now that I have thanked the FNM for ten years of criminality, corruption and deceit as contributing factors for our victory on May 2, 2002; I would like to now focus on my ministerial portfolios and how they will assist us in securing our future together.
THE WATER SECTOR
I shall begin first with portable water, a critical and vital item to man’s existence. There are many concerns that need to be addressed in upgrading the services that are provided by the Water and Sewerage Corporation. First and foremost is the need for appropriate regulations so that the groundwater resources of the Commonwealth can be protected and conserved for future generations. In this regard a study is being undertaken which will focus on the environment, the threats to groundwater, and the legislation and regulations needed to administer this sector in a Bahamian context.
Secondly, significant amounts of funding are required to develop the infrastructure that is needed to make water available for all, and to deal with the untreated sewage that the nation’s urban areas is creating. The problem of sewage is a major concern in New Providence where many persons still use private wells, and it is now becoming a serious problem in the Family Islands, particularly where there are settlements with enclosed harbours which are being threatened by pollution from septic tanks and boats which discharge wastes directly into the sea. As we speak the Water and Sewerage Corporation in the process of implementing a pilot project to test private wells in specific areas of New Providence, to show the homeowners the quality of the water they are using and give inducements for these persons to make use of, or return to, the city supply which is a safe treated supply. It is hoped that this project will become an island- wide undertaking in the near future.
In New Providence we all know that too much water is being lost through old leaky pipes and these all need to be replaced in an ongoing mains replacement program. The Water and Sewerage Corporation has received proposals to deal with what is now known as “non-revenue water” but there is no cheap solution and we may be looking for as much as $20-million to come to gripes with this problem.
There are many challenges facing the Water and Sewerage Corporation and in order to confront these, head on, the Corporation has developed – with the assistance of the Inter-American Development Bank, and others, a Corporate Business Plan. The objectives of this is to turn the Water and Sewerage Corporation around, from being a net loss to the Government to becoming a profitable operation capable of funding the large capital expenditures required to bring water and sewerage facilities up to the standards that are required in the developed world.
These are challenging times for the Water and Sewerage Corporation and to be able to deal with the problems facing it the Corporation will need a cadre of highly trained professionals with visionary insight and the strength and determination needed to achieve what has always seemed to be the impossible. The Government must work closely with the Water and Sewerage Corporation, and provide the support it needs, so that it can move to the level of service we all expect for such an essential commodity.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS TOWARDS IMPROVING FAMILY ISLAND WATER SUPPLIES
A decision has been made to address the needs of those islands that require water produced by means of the desalination process known as reverse osmosis. To this effect a contract was signed with Bimini Bay Water Company to provide high quality water in Bimini and the residents have been benefiting from this arrangement since August.
A contract has also been agreed with Aqua Design Bahamas Limited to provide a similar supply of high quality water in Inagua, and this should be implemented before Christmas.
Approval has been given for the Water and Sewerage Corporation to negotiate the best terms and conditions it can with a local company that submitted the lowest bid to provide desalinated water for the system that was installed in Central Long Island, and it is hoped that his supply will become available by May 2003.
Arrangements are now being made for pipes to be installed in Farmers Cay and Staniel Cay so that these communities can also benefit from having water supplied by means of reverse osmosis. These pipes are currently being installed prior to the reconstruction of the roads.
The Water and Sewerage Corporation recently went out to tender for contracts to supply desalination water in Great Exuma and South Eleuthera and the bids are due on 12th December.
From the above it is evident that the Government has made a serious commitment to bringing quality water to Family Island communities. This water is costly and no doubt water rates will need to be increased so that the level of subsidy can be minimized. There are other islands that require desalinated water and in due course they too will benefit from this programme. These will include San Salvador and Ragged Island in particular amongst others.
In Acklins some level of relief has been brought to the people of Salina Point. A new 2000 gallon tanker was shipped to the island along with two 2000 gallon tanks and these are now in place in Salina Point. The Water and Sewerage Corporation is now capable of delivering 4000 gallons of water a day to this community which they can access by means of standpipes. The Corporation is actively considering the introduction of a reverse osmosis plant and the installation of pipes to the homes in the Salina Point community.
In North Acklins the new water system serving Lovely Bay, Pastel and Chesters has been completed and piped water has finally become a reality to these people. Just yesterday afternoon I instructed the Water Corporation to connect without delay all homes in the mentioned settlements and where necessary a standpipe to each home. A 2000 gallons tanker has been shipped to Cat Island and with improvements made to the wellfield in the Deans Wood area, the efficiency of the water tankering service on the island has been greatly improved.
There are still many areas in the Bahamas where piped water is not available, but all of us know water is essential to life, and therefore these needs must be addressed. The programme to bring drinking water to all will continue.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the new PLP Government is securing the future for portable water for all Bahamians.
BAHAMAS ELECTRICTY CORPORATION
Mr. Session Chairman, fellow delegates, As Minister with responsibility for B.E.C I just recently had the pleasure of being a part of the commissioning of one of the corporations gas turbines generators which I am advised should provide some relief to the load shedding problem which takes place constantly throughout the island.
I am cognizant of the fact that the Bahamian Public expects better service from Bahamas Electricity Corporation (B.E.C) Consequently, I will never let the opportunity pass to remind the management and staff at Bahamas Electricity Corporation (B.E.C) of this deficiency until the public is reasonable assured that Bahamas Electricity Corporation (B.E.C) is able to provide them with a reliable service. I will continue to admonish management of the need to become more proactive. I will continually stress the need for the corporation to implement maintenance programmes along with the need to bring Bahamas Electricity Corporation (B.E.C). to become the best it can become.
A recent review of the power generation needs of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation has revealed that B.E.C’s management needs to be more forceful in addressing short comings with employees, equipment, processes and vendors. It stated that generating unit availability is much lower that it should be.
Average system availability has fallen from around 83% in 1997 to only 73% in 2001. Many major overhauls and periodic inspections have not been performed.
As a result of management’s negligent, chronic defects are often accepted instead of solved and repaired as long as the unit can still be operated. To put it in plain language, they let the engines run until they break down. Historical insurance audits indicate that maintenance has been lacking and the report calls for additional technical talent being needed at both Clifton Pier and Blue Hills.
The study further revealed that the pattern of not diagnosing and not addressing problems at the Corporation has led to malaise and the growing acceptance of mediocre performance. “The will to manage the Corporation is weak”. The end result is that those employees who would wish to make a difference at the corporation are normally discouraged.
Mr. Session Chairman, Fellow Delegates, Ladies & Gentleman;
Some three (3) weeks ago, B.E.C. commissioned new K.W. Gas Turbine Generator at the Blue Hills Power Station. This piece of equipment is the beginning of a programme to modernize the equipment at Blue Hills. I am advised that the modernization programme, along with the introduction of a high performance work force, would prepare B.E.C. to meet the demands and challenges both present and future.
It is the intention of the present B.E.C. Board to transform the company into a more customer friendly organization. By so doing, customers should expect to receive faster responses to queries, billings related matters, new services connections and street lighting matters.
Mr. Session Chairman, fellow Delegates, As the Minister I will continue to highlight B.E.C.’s shortcomings and will continue to strongly admonish those responsible for shoddy the service the corporation gives the Bahamian taxpayers.
B.E.C is also currently installing a new 30 Megawatt Slow Speed Diesel Generator costing $34.8 million Clifton Pier which should be operational during the first quarter of 2003. The company is also constructing a new 132 KV transmission line to link Clifton Pier with the leisure time substations and the Cable Beach substation which is also under construction. This work, along with the construction of other additional substations, will cost the company some $20 million and should also be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2003.
The island-wide street lighting programme in New Providence is almost 100% complete and should be completed early next year and the Corporation has advised that similar programmes are ongoing in the more populated Family Island communities. In Abaco, Treasure Cay was recently connected to the Marsh Harbour electricity supply and similar re-inforcements are in progress in the Abaco Cays.
A new generating plant will be installed in Exuma at a cost of $8.0 million and new fuel storage facilities are being constructed in Eleuthera at a cost of $750,000.00. This work is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Fellow delegates, your new PLP Government will continue to aggressively resolve the problems at BEC in our commitment to secure continuous power supply for all.