February 10th 2009

SHANE D. GIBSON MP
PLP MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR GOLDEN GATES

MR. SPEAKER, THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW BILL TO CREATE A 2009 POLICE ACT COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE ECONOMY IS IN SUCH A STATE, THAT IT IS OBVIOUSLY AFFECTING THE CRIME RATE.  WE ARE NOW EVEN SEEING SUICIDE RATES RISING, WITH THREE BAHAMIANS TAKING THEIR OWN LIVES IN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.  THE NEW TERM THAT PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE COINED FOR SUICIDE WHICH COMES AS A RESULT OF THE PRESSURES OF THE ECONOMY IS “ECONOCIDE”.

IT’S A TRAGIC SITUATION WHEN A WOMAN WHO IS SAID TO BE PREGNANT, AND TWO FATHERS- THE HEADS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLDS - HANG THEMSELVES, BECAUSE THEY SEE NO WAY OUT OF FISCAL BINDS OR THE PRESSURES OF LIFE.  THE CRIME RATES ARE ALSO BEING AFFECTED BY ARMED ROBBERIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND MURDER, AND MANY OF THESE CRIMINAL ACTS ARE RELATED TO FINANCIAL MATTERS, OR ARE CREATED OUT OF A SOFTENING ECONOMY.

IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE DECISIONS MADE WITH REGARD TO THIS BILL WILL BE CRITICAL IN MAPPING THE WAY FORWARD FOR A POLICE FORCE THAT IS FACED WITH THESE GRIM REALITIES.

THE KEY, AS THE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY SEES IT, MR. SPEAKER, IS TO ENSURE THAT A BETTER RELATIONSHIP IS FORGED BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC.  IN 2007, WE PRESENTED THE BILL TO CREATE A POLICE SERVICE ACT.    THE NAME ITSELF WAS DESIGNED TO BRING THE COUNTRY’S OFFICERS INTO A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE BAHAMAS.  THROUGH THE EYES OF POLICE OFFICERS, “SERVICE” MEANS UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE SERVING THE PUBLIC AND SHOULD NOT USE THEIR STRIPES TO TAKE WRONGFUL ADVANTAGE OF ANY CIVILIAN.

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC, IT MEANS HAVING MORE RESPECT FOR OFFICERS AND UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE TO “SERVE AND PROTECT” US ALL ON A DAILY BASIS.  THAT IS WHY THIS BILL IS SO IMPORTANT AS WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT OFFICERS, THEIR DEPENDENTS AND THOSE CIVILIANS WORKING WITH THEM ARE REWARDED THROUGH BENEFITS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

FOR THAT REASON I SUPPORT ALL OF THE BENEFITS REPEATED IN THIS BILL WHICH WAS INITIALLY PASSED IN THE 2007 ACT BUT NOT SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND LEFT UNTOUCHED FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS BY THIS FNM ADMINISTRATION.

I SUPPORT BENEFITS LIKE FREE EDUCATION FOR DEPENDENTS OF POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND FULL PAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS ON SICK LEAVE FOR INJURIES RECEIVED WHILE ON DUTY IF THE INJURY IS NOT THROUGH THE OFFICER'S NEGLIGENCE. THERE’S ALSO 2 YEARS’ SALARY FOR DEPENDENTS AND A ONE YEAR SALARY FOR MEDICALLY BOARDED OFFICERS.

WHILE I SUPPORT THE ABOVE AND MORE, I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT THOSE CIVILIANS NOW WORKING WITH THE FORCE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LEGISLATION AS PROMISED, AND THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR ANY TYPE OF BENEFITS FOR CIVILIANS OR THEIR DEPENDENTS WHO MAY BE INJURED OR KILLED ON THE JOB DURING SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME AS A POLICE OFFICER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ALL WORKERS SHOULD BE PAID THEIR FULL SALARY WHILE ON SICK LEAVE AS A RESULT OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT, IF THEY WERE NOT NEGLIGENT.

MR SPEAKER I ALSO HOPE THAT THE BENEFITS CONTAINED IN THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, IF PASSED, WOULD BE GIVEN TO DEPENDENTS OF ANY OFFICER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND OFFICERS WHOSE PAY WAS REDUCED AFTER BEING INJURED ON THE JOB PRIOR TO THE PASSING OF THIS ACT, WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION AND THAT KISSES WILL NOT GO BY FAVOR.

 MR. SPEAKER THE BENEFITS FOR DEPENDENTS OF OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY SHOULD GO BACK AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AND IN SOME CASES IT SHOULD GO FURTHER BACK, AND IN THE CASE OF OFFICERS WHOSE PAY WERE REDUCED, THIS ACT SHOULD BE RETROACTIVE TO THE TIME IT COULD HAVE BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER. (PRISON, DEFENSE FORCE, CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION SHOULD ALL RECEIVE FULL PAY WHEN OUT ON INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT)

MY RESEARCH TELLS ME THAT WHEN THIS BILL WAS ADVANCED FROM THE FORCE IT WAS AGREED THAT THE CIVILIANS WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE AMENDMENTS, AND A SCHEDULE OF BENEFITS WAS ATTACHED TO IT. BUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THERE AND HERE, THE CIVILIANS WERE DROPPED.

I AM ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT ALL POLICE CANTEENS HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY CLOSED.

MY RESEARCH ALSO TELLS ME THAT THE CANTEEN SERVED MULTIPLE PURPOSES, WITH ONE BEING TO CREATE A STERILE ENVIRONMENT VOID OF POSSIBLE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES FOR POLICE OFFICERS OF DIFFERENT RANKS TO CONGREGATE. (POLICE COLLEGE, ISD, SERGEANT’S MESS ETC.)

MR. SPEAKER, UNDER THE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY, THE ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE FORCE AND THE COMMUNITY WERE DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP THAT I AM NOT SURE STILL EXISTS TODAY.

THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE MAY SAY THAT THE NAME CHANGE ISSUE ISN’T IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT I WANT THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, IS THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE AT WORK HERE.  THIS IS ABOUT ENFORCING THE FNM VISION AT ANY COST - AT THE COST OF HUNDREDS OF WORKERS WHO WERE SENT HOME UNDER THE FREE NATIONAL MOVEMENT, AND AT THE COST OF THE LATEST 15 WELL-SERVING POLICE OFFICERS, FORCED TO RETIRE AND SENT HOME.

MR. SPEAKER, THE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PARTY THAT WORKS TOWARD THE BEST INTERESTS OF BAHAMIAN WORKER, WHILE THE FREE NATIONAL MOVEMENT HAS HAD A HISTORY OF SHOWING LESS COMPASSION FOR THE WORKER.

THEIR STYLE IS TO ENFORCE THEIR RULES, AS OPPOSED TO SERVING THE PEOPLE OF THE BAHAMAS.  HENCE, HERE WE ARE TODAY, REPEALING THE POLICE SERVICE ACT, AND BRINGING BACK THE POLICE FORCE ACT.

THE POLICE ARE TO SERVE AND PROTECT, AND AT A TIME LIKE THIS, WHEN THE STATISTICS ARE STARING YOU IN THE FACE, THE POLICE MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH THE INTELLIGENCE, THE WISDOM, THE MANPOWER , AND THE TOOLS TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THEIR DUTIES.  POLICE OFFICERS WANT TO KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT THE SERVICE THEY RENDER TO THIS COUNTRY IS RESPECTED, AND THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE, ARE APPRECIATED.

MR. SPEAKER, WE CANNOT OVERLOOK THE TIMING OF THIS BILL, AS IT RELATES TO THE FIFTEEN POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE GIVEN TWO DAYS TO GO FROM BEING EFFICIENT LEADERS IN THE FORCE, TO SITTING AT HOME, TRYING TO PLAN A NEW WAY FORWARD FOR THE LIVES OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES AT THE LAST MINUTE.

SOME MAY SAY THAT THESE OFFICERS NEEDED TO GO HOME, BUT THERE IS A WAY TO GO HOME.  A WAY THAT DECADES AGO, WHEN THESE INDIVIDUALS JOINED THE FORCE, WAS MAPPED OUT CLEARLY AS THEIR PATH TO RETIREMENT.

THESE OFFICERS ARE NOT ONLY MAKING LAST-MINUTE, LIFE-CHANGING ADJUSTMENTS, THERE IS ALSO A CLOUD OF SUSPICION THAT LOOMS OVER THEIR HEADS.  THE POLICE OFFICERS, CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WHO WERE SENT HOME ALL HAVE THAT CLOUD OF SUSPICION OVER THEM.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU WERE THE ONE CHOSEN TO GO HOME, WHEN YOUR SQUAD MATE WHO IS FOUR YEARS OLDER THAN YOU, IS STILL ON THE JOB!  I RESEARCHED THE FORCE NORMAL ROLL AND SAW THAT BURKIE WRIGHT WAS THE YOUNGEST OFFICER TO BE SENT HOME AT 55 YEARS, AND OFFICERS HALF A DECADE OLDER THAN HIM ARE STILL ON THE JOB WHILE HE IS AT HOME.  WHAT WAS THE MEASURE?  WAS IT PERFORMANCE, ATTITUDE, ABILITY, OR WAS IT POLITICAL PERSUASION?

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO YOUR DAUGHTER, WHOM YOU JUST SENT OFF TO COLLEGE, MAKING FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, THAT THINGS HAVE NOW CHANGED, AND NOW THE FUTURE IS LESS CERTAIN.  YOU MAKE COMMITMENTS UNDER THE PREMISE THAT YOU HAVE AT LEAST EIGHT TO TEN MORE YEARS SERVING THIS COUNTRY ON THE ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE FORCE, BUT THEN YOU ARE UNCEREMONIOUSLY REMOVED, WITH NO HONORABLE EXPLANATION TO GIVE YOUR FAMILY, WHO WILL THEN DRAW THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS,

MANY TIMES LEADING THEM TO BELIEVE IT WAS SOME SORT OF VICTIMIZATION PLOT. THEN YOU HAVE TWO BROTHERS, BOTH CHIEF SUPERINTENDENTS, THE OLDER ONE KEPT ON AND THE YOUNGER ONE SENT HOME.

HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY AN OFFICER AFTER SPENDING 40 PLUS YEARS ON THE JOB, NOT GETTING TO SAY A PROPER GOODBYE TO HIS COLLEAGUES, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ENJOY A PROPER SEND OFF FROM THE FOLKS WITH WHOM HE HAS SERVED?  HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO YOUR FAMILY, WHO WATCHED YOU SUPPORT THE FREE NATIONAL MOVEMENT ALL YOUR LIFE, THAT THIS IS THE HAND OF CARDS THAT THEIR PARTY HAS DEALT OUT TO THEM?

SOME OF THESE RETIRED OFFICERS WERE PERFORMING WITH EXCELLENCE ON THE JOB RIGHT UP UNTIL THE TIME THEY WERE HANDED THEIR LETTERS, GIVING THEM 48 HOURS TO CLEAR THEIR DESKS AND TAKE OFF THE TUNICS THEY HAD PRESSED WITH PRIDE AND THE BUTTONS THEY SHINED WITH LOVE DAILY FOR MOST OF THEIR ADULT LIVES.

MR. SPEAKER I WAS SO RELIEVED WHEN I HEARD THE MEMBER FROM GARDEN HILLS SAY THAT ALL OF THE OFFICERS WERE HAPPY WITH THEIR PACKAGE AND GLAD TO GO HOME.

DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS LIKE WRIGHT, BLATCH AND RAHMING.  I HAVE HEARD MEMBERS OF THE PRESS GAWK AT THESE RETIREMENTS SAYING THAT MANY OF THESE OFFICERS WERE MOST EFFICIENT IN THEIR DUTIES AND WERE EXCELLENT AT COMMUNICATING WITH THE PRESS, FORGING THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THAT THE PLP WAS TRYING TO PRESERVE.

THEN THERE’S THE TIMING, MR. SPEAKER.  THESE OFFICERS WERE UNCEREMONIOUSLY REMOVED, RIGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL CHURCH SERVICE, WHICH MOST OFFICERS ATTEND WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE.  THEY WERE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO STAND IN THEIR UNIFORMS AND SHARE AND REFLECT WITH FELLOW OFFICERS, ASKING GOD’S GUIDANCE FOR THE YEAR AHEAD AT THEIR ANNUAL CHURCH SERVICE.

AND THEN WE LOOK AT THE CROWN OF THE ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE FORCE, MR. SPEAKER, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.  THIS BILL SEEKS TO CREATE A FIXED TENURE OF FIVE YEARS FOR THE COMMISSIONER AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.  WHAT ELSE HAPPENS IN A SIMILAR CYCLE, MR. SPEAKER? ELECTIONS!  EVEN IF THE FIVE YEARS TERM OF A COMMISSIONER DOES NOT COINCIDE EXACTLY WITH A GENERAL ELECTION, THERE IS EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW REGIME TO KICK HIM OUT JUST AS SOON AS THE FIVE YEARS EXPIRES.  IT’S A VERY DANGEROUS GAME, MR. SPEAKER.

AS PARLIAMENTARIANS, THERE MUST BE A GUARANTEE FROM US THAT ANY PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT COMES INTO FORCE RELATING TO CRIME IS ONE THAT WILL TRULY BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS OF THE BAHAMAS AND FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME.

WE CANNOT PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND REVERSE CRIME STATISTICS IF WE POLITICISE THE VERY CROWN OF THE POLICE FORCE.  THE PERCEPTION IS THAT THE CHIEF OF POLICE CAN BE MANIPULATED BY THE EXECUTIVE WHO DETERMINES HOW LONG HE STAYS IN OFFICE.  ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THERE’S A VERY GOOD CHANCE FOR LAWLESSNESS AND LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE POLICE. AFTER WATCHING THE WAY MANY WORKERS WERE TERMINATED AND VICTIMIZED BECAUSE OF THEIR POLITICAL PERSUASION AFTER THE LAST ELECTION, I HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS THAT THE SAME THING WON'T HAPPEN IF THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE DOESN'T DANCE TO THE RIGHT TUNE.

ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO THE MEMBER FOR NORTH ABACO ASK US TO GIVE HIM THE NAME OF ANYONE WE THOUGHT WAS TERMINATED FOR POLITICAL REASONS. I HAVE MANY NAMES BUT GAVE HIM ONE AND HE HAS YET TO ADDRESS IT.  I THEREFORE HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE THAT THE SAME THING WON’T HAPPEN WHEN IT COMES TIME TO RENEW A COMMISSIONER OF POLICE’S CONTRACT.

MR. SPEAKER, THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE MAY SAY THAT SOME OF THOSE OFFICERS WHO WERE FORCED TO TAKE A SEPARATION PACKAGES WERE GIVEN THEIR ENTITLEMENTS.  BUT, DID THE FNM SHOW ANY COMPASSION, AND HOW DID THEY CHOOSE THE OFFICERS WHO WERE SENT HOME?

THIS REMINDS ME OF THE OLD LEGAL PRINCIPLE THAT “JUSTICE MUST NOT ONLY BE DONE BUT MUST BE SEEN TO BE DONE”.  SO WHEN THEY SAY THAT JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE, BUT IT ISN’T SEEN TANGIBLY IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO WERE SENT HOME, THEN WE KNOW JUSTICE WAS NOT TRULY DONE.

REMEMBER AFTER THE 1997 GENERAL ELECTIONS, MR. SPEAKER, AT THE AGE OF FIFTY ONE (51) OFFICERS LIKE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL ELLIS AND OTHERS WERE FORCED OUT OF THE POLICE FORCE UNDER WHAT THEY THOUGHT WERE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED CIRCUMSTANCES.  OFFICER ELLIS IS ONE WHO PRESSED HIS CASE IN THE COURTS, AND WON WITH THE LAW ON HIS SIDE.  THE LEGAL NAME FOR THESE FORCED RESIGNATIONS IS “CONSTRUCTIVE DISMISSAL”.

REMEMBER, MR. SPEAKER, WHEN THIS FNM ADMINISTRATION FIRST ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WOULD BE A TWENTY FIVE MILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS AFTER THEIR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.  I SAID AT THAT TIME IN THIS HONORABLE PLACE THAT HUNDREDS WOULD BE SENT HOME TO ACHIEVE THIS.  MORE PERSONS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RESIGN FROM GOVERNMENT JOBS AND HAD CONTRACTS TERMINATED UNDER AN FNM ADMINISTRATION THAN UNDER ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE BAHAMAS.

IT WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, WHEN ALMOST A THOUSAND BTC WORKERS GOT PACKAGES AND WERE SENT HOME DURING SEVERAL DOWN SIZING EXERCISES AND SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT RECOVERED TO DATE.  THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS – THE FNM HAD NO PROBLEM SENDING THEM HOME.  SOME OF THE URBAN RENEWAL WORKERS WHO WERE THOUGHT TO BE PLP SUPPORTERS – SENT HOME AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTIONS AND REPLACED WITH FNM SUPPORTERS.  AND NOW, CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, JUST LIKE THE POLICE OFFICERS, HAVE BEEN THROWN INTO LIFE CHANGING SITUATIONS, AND IN MANY OF THESE CASES – ILL FEELINGS TOWARDS THE PEOPLE ELECTED TO GOVERN THEM.

I CAN’T THINK OF ONE TIME UNDER ANY PLP ADMINISTRATION WHEN PERSONS WERE FIRED AND FORCED TO RESIGN IN LARGE NUMBERS LIKE UNDER THIS AND THE PREVIOUS FNM GOVERNMENT.  MR. SPEAKER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TREND OF THE PLP VERSUS THE FNM WHEN IT COMES TO TERMINATING GOVERNMENT WORKERS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE FNM HAS NO PROBLEM SENDING PEOPLE HOME.

PEOPLE ARE BEING SENT HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION, MR. SPEAKER.  WHILE THEY ARE TELLING THE BAHAMIAN PUBLIC THAT DOWNSIZING IS NECESSARY AND NO JOBS ARE AVAILABLE, CABINET MINISTERS HAVE PAVED

THE WAY FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO BE ENROLLED ON THE PAYSHEETS OF THE PUBLIC PURSE.

MR. SPEAKER, IT IS WITH A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOLDEN GATES, THAT I MAKE OBJECTIONS TO CERTAIN PORTIONS OF WHAT IS PRESENTED IN THE BILL FOR AN ACT TO REPEAL THE POLICE SERVICE ACT AND INTRODUCE A 2009 POLICE FORCE ACT.

JUDGES AND THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE ARE ALL LISTED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE BAHAMAS.  IN THIS COUNTRY, JUDGES SERVE UNTIL THE TIME OF RETIREMENT. HOW CAN WE ALLOW THIS ARM OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM, THE ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE FORCE, TO NOT HAVE THE SAME DIGNITY FOR ITS CHIEF?  REMEMBER THE RAGING DEBATE, ESPECIALLY THE VIEWS PRESSED FORTH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL, THAT IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT THE EXECUTIVE DOES NOTHING THAT COULD APPEAR TO THE PUBLIC, AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE JUDICIARY, OR TAMPER WITH ITS INDEPENDENCE?  WELL IN THIS, CASE, THE SAME PRINCIPLE APPLIES.

THE GOVERNMENT MUST APPOINT A COMMISSIONER AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEY ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE JOB – NOTHING ELSE.

AND THE FACT THAT THE CONSTITUTION MAKES PROVISION FOR THEIR REMOVAL, THIS AMENDMENT TO LIMIT TWO FIVE YEAR TERMS IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

MR SPEAKER WE CAN SEE IN THIS PROPOSED PIECE OF LEGISLATION AS IN OTHER AREAS OF THIS GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES, THAT IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THIS FNM GOVERNMENT SIMPLY WANTS TO CHANGE WHAT THE PLP DID EVEN IF THEY HAD BELIEVED THE SAME THING INITIALLY.

(E.G. CHANGE OF NAME TO SERVICE RATHER THAN FORCE; PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT IN POLICE SERVICE TO PUBLIC OFFICERS; AND TRANSFER ALL PUBLIC OFFICERS NOW WORKING WITH THE POLICE FORCE, TO THE FORCE IF THEY SO DESIRED)

MR. SPEAKER SOME TIMES WE GET THE IMPRESSION THAT  THE AIM OF THIS GOVERNMENT IS TO CREATE A REPUBLICAN KIND OF STATE, WITH A GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL THEN HAVE FREE REIGNS TO ENFORCE ITS OWN AGENDAS ON THE PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF HOW THE PEOPLE FEEL.  IF YOU DO NOT HAVE STRONG AND STRIVING PARTIES ON OPPOSITE ENDS, YOU DO NOT TRULY HAVE A DEMOCRACY.

WHAT MANY FAIL TO REALISE MR. SPEAKER, IS THAT WHEN GOD HAS ORDAINED THE STEPS, THERE IS LITTLE THAT MAN CAN DO HALT THEM.  THE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY WAS ORDAINED BY GOD TO MOVE FOR THE PEOPLE AND LIBERATE THEM, THIS IS THE SAME PARTY THAT IS STILL FOR THE PEOPLE.  ROADBLOCKS AND SPEEDBUMPS DO NOT STOP DESTINY, BUT SPEEDBUMPS HELP YOU TO SLOW DOWN AND PROCEED WITH CAUTION.  ROADBLOCKS MAY PRESENT A DETOUR, BUT ULTIMATELY IF YOU STAY ON COURSE YOU WILL ARRIVE AT YOUR DESIRED DESTINATION.

AS WE CONTINUE TO REBUILD, MR. SPEAKER, THERE IS ONE FOUNDATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN SHAKEN BY THE BUMPS ALONG THE WAY – THAT IS THE DEDICATION TO DO THE BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE BAHAMAS.