Forward…Our Future is now.
Introduction of family.

Reverend gentleman, parliamentary colleagues, stalwart councilors, fellow delegates and friends, thank you for blessing me with your presence this evening, your kind thoughts and your warm words of support.

A few months ago, with the encouragement and support of many I respect within the PLP, I embarked on what many may have considered an unlikely journey to determine whether I should place my name in nomination for Deputy Leader at our Party’s 51st  National Convention.

That journey has taken me throughout The Bahamas. I was driven by the core belief that as a people we have settled far too long with what is, and not spent sufficient time, energy and resources on what could be.
 
As I moved about the country, people wanted to know who is Jerome Kennedy Fitzgerald? They had seen me on TV and heard me on talk shows. Some said they thought I was taller, others said they did not realize I was 6 foot 2 inches. Most said that I was a lot gentler in person than they had imagined. I promised them that I would not be easing up in the Senate as long as the Government failed to address the pressing issues facing The Bahamas.

What I did tell them was simply, that I am a 43 year old Bahamian who has been married to Zarina Fitzgerald for 17 years and we have 2 sons and a daughter; Edward, Jared and Zara. I am a trained attorney of 19 years who spent all of my adult life immersed in either my family business or my own business endeavors. I am a proud Bahamian and a proud, committed and dedicated supporter of the Progressive Liberal Party.

I truly believe that Bahamians are the most gifted people on earth, and if these gifts are properly harnessed and focused, our potential as a people will be endless.

I am often asked why have I decided to enter front line politics? It is simple really. I have made a conscious decision that from a governmental and national policy perspective I will no longer be a back seat driver. I will make a meaningful impact on the future direction of our country; the greatest little country in the world. I will step forward and assist in the building of this great nation and offer meaningful solutions to the many ills that face our great country. I will work with others to ensure that our children’s future and the future of generations to come are safe and secure.

I have not entered political life looking for personal gain for Jerome Fitzgerald. In fact we all know that I will leave with a lot less than I entered with. I am convinced, however, that this is my season to serve and give back to a political party, a country and a people who have given much to me and my family. I am honoured, humbled and privileged that I have been given such an opportunity to serve. I have simply challenged myself to speak truth in all I do and to ensure that I leave The Bahamas a better place than I met it.

I feel this is the same guiding principle that gave our past great leaders the courage, conviction and determination to stand up and fight against inequality, injustice and corruption wherever it was. Tonight I feel the spirit of Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Milo Butler, Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, Dame Doris Johnson and Clarence Bain. Tonight, I stand on the shoulders of these great leaders and again look deep into the future.
 I see a future that will require some of the best, brightest and most focused minds that this country has in order to steer it out of the financial, social and moral predicament in which we, as a people, find ourselves. Leaders with vision and courage, wherever they are, must step forward.

We should be undaunted by the challenges that lie ahead. In fact those challenges must motivate us to be the best we can be. To meet these challenges, we will need all of our training, intellect, exposure, courage and determination. Our country has prepared us for this. My country has prepared me for this.

This was so evident during the past few months when I had the privilege to visit and meet with so many party members and stalwarts from all walks of life encompassing the length and breadth of our country. They have many differences, concerns and challenges, but they all have one common belief: that the PLP is our country’s only hope for a better and brighter future.

I was particularly fascinated by the number of young people who are either directly involved in politics or seeking to find ways to get involved. This has encouraged and inspired me to work even harder.  I have therefore decided after their encouragement, kind words and support to allow my name to be placed into nomination, at convention, for the position of Deputy Leader of the great Progressive Liberal Party.

I am mindful and humbled that when my name is placed into nomination, all of their names, the young and young at heart, will be placed into nomination too.

They have entrusted me an awesome responsibility: to manage a delicate balance of using my God-given talents to reach out to the youth of our nation and make them a part of our rebuilding process, while balancing the wise council of our fore fathers, so together we can  chart the way forward. We need all Bahamians of good will to come forward. This is the dawning of a new day in our Bahamas.

But some say I am too young to ascend to a role of leadership within the PLP. I can only assume they are inferring or assuming that age and wisdom are inextricably linked. At 43 I am 7 years older than a 36 year old Sir Lynden when he became Premier of The Bahamas and 2 years younger than Hubert Ingraham when he became Prime Minister.

Some even say that I should wait my turn because “I just reach”. Just reach from where? I am a PLP but, first and foremost, I am a Bahamian who has done what his country has asked him. I was asked to get an education and I have studied in 3 countries which afforded me the opportunity to be exposed to many cultures. At the age of 25 after studying abroad for 8 years, I returned home with a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Laws and a Master in Shipping Trade and Finance.

I was asked to own a part of the Bahamian economy, and at the age of 28 I helped to build a company that at one point employed over 150 persons and today has assets in excess of 11 million dollars and net profits around 1 million dollars. Today, I am proud of that accomplishment and the winding road travelled to build a company to last. I have always just tried to make a difference. The point being, we have to try. Accepting the status quo is no longer acceptable. We must move forward.

My core values and training encouraged me to   marry and start a family. I did that. I have a lovely and caring wife of 17 years and 3 beautiful children.

I was asked to give back and serve this great country of ours that has blessed me so richly. I am now doing that.

I have seen things that at one point I only imagined. I have accomplished things which at one time I only dreamt about. I have had many successes and my fair share of failures. I have learnt great lessons from all of these experiences. My life experiences and my country have prepared me for this next step forward. So no, I have not just reached; I am a product of 43 years of your collective work. You produced me. You prepared me for leadership.

The role of Deputy Leader, however, is a delicate one requiring patience but not necessarily “sucking up”. Your vision should be known, but it is the vision of the Leader that is to be implemented. So I will not talk much tonight about my vision because I am not running for leader. But I will tell you that education, diversifying our economy, controlling debt, land reform, real empowerment and ownership of the Bahamian economy by Bahamians should be of paramount importance to all of us. I pledge to use all of my persuasive reasoning to encourage the leader that these are included in the vision of the PLP and The Bahamas moving forward.  What I am suggesting is a change in our focus, emphasis and priorities.
 
People talk about change all the time, but change is difficult; Change is hard work; Change requires courage.  Sometimes change requires a new direction or thinking outside the box. Sometimes change demands a new vision and, sometimes, it simply requires a new face and a new voice. We all know that the only constant is change. The question for us is; do we have the courage and are we prepared to do the hard work to change??.

As the PLP goes into its 51st Convention, it does so with a great deal of history and responsibility. Historically it is the oldest political party in the country and with that demands the responsibility to uphold the beacon of fairness, transparency and accountability in the upcoming convention electoral process. Win, draw or lose, I am a PLP, and I am committed to do my part to ensure that the Party leaves this convention united. That is why you will not hear me say anything negative about any of my opponents in the Deputy race. In the political arena they are not my enemy. I caution all PLPs to be level headed and careful what they say about other PLPs. We are on the same side, and we must leave this convention as a united party as we prepare to be the next Government of The Bahamas. Our future and the future of The Bahamas demand it.

Our future depends on the new generation of Bahamian leaders to step boldly to the forefront and take their rightful place at the table of political decision making.

Our Future depends on not only fulfilling the dreams of the great visionaries and nation builders who have preceded us, but creating our own.

Our future depends on us to coming together as a people and developing a national strategic plan that will guide and propel The Bahamas in the 21st century.

Our future depends on us as a nation diversifying our economy.
Our future depends on us as a country empowering Bahamians in a meaningful
 way.

Our future depends on ensuring that we have an education system that prepares its people to compete in the increasingly competitive global environment.

Our future depends on us putting God first and returning to the age old Christian values.

Our future demands that we are constantly moving forward.

Forward my friends, thinking forward, acting forward and moving forward… Our Future is now!

I ask for your support and the vote of those who are eligible to vote at convention.

Thank You. God bless you and God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.