41st Anniversary of Majority Rule
Live Simulcast on Radio & Television
10th January, 2008

TALKING POINTS

Check Against Delivery

1. January 10th is a day in the national calendar that belongs to all Bahamians – not just PLP’s but to all Bahamians, black and white, rich and poor, young and old, city dweller and Family Islander, and, yes, PLP and FNM alike.

2. January 10th needs to be commemorated and celebrated by all of us because it represents one of the truly great and defining moments in our evolution as a people.

 
3. With the exception of Emancipation from Slavery in 1834 and the attainment of Independence in 1973, there is no event of more consequence and historical importance than the attainment of Majority Rule on January 10th, 1967.

4. January 10th, 1967 represents the transition from the old Bahamas to a New Bahamas; the point of transition from minority government to Majority Rule; the point of transition to a modern democracy.

 
5. It also represents, however, one of the highest pinnacles in the historic – and still ongoing – struggle of the Bahamian people for economic empowerment, for equality of opportunity, and for social justice.

6. January 10th, 1967, to be sure, was not an end nor even a beginning.  Instead, it was an important milestone in a journey that was begun centuries ago when some anonymous slave struck a blow for freedom for the first time.

 
7. It is a journey that continued with the slave known as Pompey in Exuma and the slave known as Black Dick in Cat Island who, with others, in the early 1830’s, against the most overwhelming odds, struck their blow for freedom and for justice.

8. It is a journey that continued with men like Stephen Dillet, Thomas Minns and John P. Deane who struck their blow for a more just society when in 1834, after years of agitation and struggle; they won election to the House of Assembly – the very first men of colour to do so.

 
9. The journey continued with men like James Carmichael Smith, originally from Port Howe, Cat Island, who in the 1880’s struck his blow for a better Bahamas by leading the protest for a more just and equitable society for all Bahamians.

10. The journey continued into the 20th century with men like W.P. Adderley, Etienne Dupuch, T.A. Toote, Leon Walton Young, C.R. Walker, Milo Boughton Butler, and others who, each in his own way, struck a major blow for a better Bahamas.

 
11. The journey continued with Clifford Darling and Clarence Bain; and with H.M. Taylor, Cyril Stevenson and William Cartwright, and, most significantly of all, with  Lynden Pindling, and that mighty band of brothers and sisters who joined with him to build a new Bahamas and a new Bahamian, upward-striving and free………..  A. D. Hanna, Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, Carlton Francis, Doris Johnson, Arthur Foulkes, Clement Maynard, Paul Adderley, Orville Turnquest and all the many others who played their part, be it however long or short, be it however great or small, in advancing the progress of the Bahamian people.

12. And the struggle continues still with people of my generation and BJ’s; it continues with the generation right behind ours like Fred Mitchell and Vincent Peet and Alfred Sears and it will continue even further with the generation of the Jerome Fitzgerald’s and Selwyn Basden’s, and all the other bright young men and women who have stepped forward to take their place in the great march of history of which our party, the Progressive Liberal Party, has been the spearhead for the last half-century and more.

 
13. The struggle endures.  It is ongoing.  It is never finished.  Our work is never done.  One generation of leaders passes into another.  Some soldiers step forward from the ranks to take up commanding positions at the front.  Some soldiers slip away.  Some fall by the wayside.  Some soldiers are seduced by the promise of life on the other side, so they slip over to sleep with the enemy.  Some soldiers turn out to be craven cowards whose knees buckle under pressure.  Others turn out to be downright traitors.

 
14. But never mind, because for every one that leaves, 10 more step forward to claim their place of honour and courage on the frontlines.  We have an open door and the door swings both ways.  It opens inward to let all men and women of goodwill in, but it also swings out to let out all who want to leave.  This is a free country and this is a free Party.  This is the Party that broke the chains.  We don’t have chains on anybody.

15. So never lose heart over the failings of the few.  Keep your eyes on the prize and keep on marching in unity.

 
16. The struggle is bigger than any one man.  It is bigger than Lynden Pindling was and it is bigger than Perry Christie is.  It is bigger than any one generation of men.  It transcends personalities and it transcends generations.  It is quest, a struggle, that is bigger and better than the men who lead it.

17. We in this generation of leadership can say that the PLP has crafted the foundation for success for our nation’s economy for generations to come with the diversification of income for the Family Islands through Anchor Projects, the plans for National Health Insurance, the University of The Bahamas and the transformation of the City of Nassau.

18. As we look to the future, it must be; it must be that the average man, making the average salary; with children to educate to university level: it must be that in The Bahamas we seek to build that these people can make ends meet.

19. And so, my friends, we come here to mark a critically important milestone in our progress as a people – and to re-commit ourselves to a struggle that never ends.