Greetings!
Ever so often in the course of human history there is a time of transition. Ever so often in the course of the history of a nation and a people, a new generation emerges upon the scene with a fresh breadth of vision, with new hopes and new aspirations. “One such generation came forth in the 1950’s and it gave birth to our great Progressive Liberal Party. Today that party guides the political, social, cultural and economic progress of our nation. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or creed. It is very partial to Bahamians, as opposed to anyone else, yet it extends a hand to all who wish to join us in the struggle for the betterment of our Nation.
A Bahamian poet once wrote: “With these hands we will build monuments to a world of futures for a better tomorrow and a greater people. Yes we had a dream. We had a dream that one day our Nation would have its own heroes. Thank God that dream has come true. Milo Butler, Clarence Bain, Tommy Robinson and Mary Ann Higgs are household names already, but we should never forget Fenwick Sturrup, David Tucker, Edward Williams and Austin Smith who gave their lives for the protection of our Bahamas.
So what does lie beyond the blue-grey horizon? What new frontiers are there to conquer? (Ladies & Gentlemen this is an address given at the Progressive Liberal Party convention October 1981)
To our esteem Leader and Member of Parliament for Centerville and Farm Road The Honourable Perry Gladstone Christie and his wife Mrs. Christie. Our Deputy Leader and Member of Parliament for St. Ceclia The Honourable Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and Mr. Pratt. The Progressive Liberal Party’s Chairman Mr. Raynard Rigby and Mrs. Rigby, other distinguished Members of Parliament and Guest, and leaders of this great organization, Stalwart Councilors, Delegates, Party Supporters. Good Night.
My name is Melissa Sears and I am a delegate from the High Rock Constituency on the beautiful island of Grand Bahama.
It is with great humility and honour that I stand before this great convention tonight to participate and give my contribution to this historic event where we as Progressive Liberal Party supporters convene for our 50th convention. About one year ago when I lent my assistance to the campaign of the PLP candidate for High Rock Dr. Doswell Coakley, I would have never imagined that my journey would have brought me to this point tonight, however, had it not been for a group of young people in Grand Bahama who refused to allow the defeat of May 2nd 2007 to define the way forward for the PLP supporters on that island and Nationwide, and took on the challenge to regenerate the energy and the resilient PLP spirit that has existed for more than fifty years, I do not think I would have been here, and for that I am grateful and I thank God for this occasion. That group is called the Progressive Liberal Action Network, better known as the PLAN.
Sir Lynden once said: (I quote)
Losing does not have to be a bitter experience. Defeat is bitter only if you swallow. We are not failures because we lost one election; we are only failures if we start blaming someone else. We are champions, and champions bounce back from defeat, champions don’t blame other people for losing, champions accept personal responsibility for losing as well as the challenge of the comeback. The ability to bounce back is the true mark of a champion.
The Progressive Liberal Party is made up of Champions and nobody can take that away from us. We proved ourselves worthy of the name champions because we stood up when every one else was content to sit down. We are champions because we set the record for the most consecutive democratic election victories in the Western Hemisphere. We are champions because we gave Bahamians the third highest standard of living in our hemisphere. We are champions because we brought education, health care, decent housing and National Insurance to more of our people than any government before us or since and we are the peoples champion because we will not sell our souls or our principals to remain in power (End Quote)
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a rich history; it has always been the hallmark of the Progressive Liberal Party to respond to the needs of the Bahamian people and the social and economic injustices that existed in our country. We never waited for anyone to tell us to respond to the needs of our people, we saw the void and arose to the occasion to fill it. I can remember as a little girl and my earliest encounter with politics, I often heard my mother speak of a man who wasn’t ashamed or afraid to stand up as a freedom fighter, he and many others build an organization that went beyond a political organization, but became a movement, because there was a need and a calling that was greater than any self fulfilling opportunity, and as I grew up to understand more about our social and economic environment, I realized that this man called Sir Lynden Pindling and the great organization of the Progressive Liberal Party was more than fighters, because fighters understood that there will be some fights you will lose and some fights you will win, but Sir Lynden and the PLP were about conquering, and the difference between a conqueror and a fighter is that a conqueror immortalizes the pages of history.
The objectives of the PLP were always directed towards greater economic and social opportunities for Bahamian citizens. We have always believed in the Bahamian people and can never give up fighting for them. The struggle doesn’t end, our voices don’t become silent, but we should now sing with a melodious voice in unison, never forgetting that the race is not for the swift, but to the one who endures to the end. The matriarchs of the PLP understood the importance of bridging the gap and maintaining unity, but young people tonight I submit to you that as I read the history books and acquaint myself with the history of the PLP, I have determined that it is no longer enough to bridge the gap or agitate for change, we as young people who are serious about the continuity of this organization have to take it a step further and instead of agitating for change, we have to now become change, we are the change, change in our mindset, change in our conduct, change in our approach and change in our image. We can no longer settle for the bridging of the gap, but we have to now be the bridge that closes the gap from one generation to the other. We can no longer sit idly by and point fingers and place the blame, and say that no one wants to give us the opportunity to make our mark and contribution, we have to understand that in everything in life there is a process, there is a season and this season right now my PLP brothers and sisters is a season to Rise Up and be counted, this is a season to Rise Up and move forward.
The symbol of the Progressive Liberal Party has always been hope. Against hope, there is hope. As a young black woman, I have been inspired by those who have gone before us and those who still fight in the struggle today to believe that I do have ownership of my country, that my input does matter, and I can make a difference. The PLP symbolizes to me that despite the nay sayers and those who set out to trap me, who say I am too black, or I am too young or because I am a woman I have nothing to offer, but as I listen through the pages of the history books I can hear the architects of the Bahamas like Dame Doris Johnson, and Sir Lynden Pindling saying come on Melissa you can do it, don’t let them discourage you, they told me too I could not do it, but look at what we have done, we have created the modern Bahamas. Stand on the shoulders and foundation that we have laid for you and continue to build, though you may stumble and fall, keep pressing forward, because each time you fall, you are falling forward, which puts you that much closer to your dream. Don’t give up, no matter how it looks, because you have to be the voice for those who can’t speak, you have to be the legs for those who can’t walk, you have to be the eyes for those who can’t see and you have to rise and fight for those who don’t know how to fight. As a young woman I can not be dissuaded or distracted. I have to remain focus and stand on the shoulders of the freedom fighters and reach out to the down trodden and help our brothers and sisters who can’t help themselves. The accomplishments of this great party was for all Bahamians, black, white, green or yellow, men and women, boys and girls, big and small, because we are all in this race together and we in the PLP understand that we are Nation Builders.
Bahamians across this great country form Bimini in the north to Inagua in the south can dream as big as they want to because the road has been paved for us to achieve what ever we want in order to positively impact or communities and our country. Great leaders understand that they don’t make the people, but he people make them. Young people it is our job to help the message of this great party to resonate with all people from all walks of life in this country, that the Progressive Liberal Party is still connected to our objective which is to wipe every tear from every eye. As we retool and repackage our message, we must understand that the Bahamian people are watching us and the goal post has been moved. The Bahamian people are demanding greater accountability and commitment from our leaders, the Bahamian people and the young people especially are not concern about empty words and empty promises. We have to be committed to the task, yes ours is a deep bench and big tent and the best players can not remain on the bench, but as our leader has cited before, we have a revolving door and all are welcomed, the same way in is the same way out. We have to be determined that we are willing to stand for what we believe, not because of our selfish agendas, but because we believe that the Progressive Liberal Party is the party of the people.
But as I conclude, I would be remiss if I do not challenge this present administration, you see for me all politics are local and I listened during the campaign and afterwards the promises that was made to Grand Bahamians, and it grieves my heart as a young woman when politicians don’t learn from their mistakes and they take the Bahamian people for granted. Grand Bahama was promised that within one hundred days that local economy would turn around. Now I don’t know which one hundred days in which year, but currently the only thing to report about the economy of Grand Bahama is depressive and for now only the strong will survive. The Royal Oasis saga was a gimmick, and some good politics played on the emotions of the Grand Bahama voter, but has any one heard anything since the disbursement of those $17 and $22.00 cheques during the Christmas holidays? The Urban Renewal episode where the name has been changed at least three-four times in the last nine-ten months, and today they still don’t have a grasp of the concept of the Urban Renewal programme. The reality is no matter how you slice it, dice it, or cut it up, it was a programme that was touching the lives of many people and it was a long term goal to combat the root of crime. We are tired of our leaders politicizing every thing. Urban Renewal should have never been stopped and we as a country can not continue to play politics with the lives of the Bahamian people. And to the Minister of Tourism, who occupies an auspicious seat where for years Tourism has been the bread and butter of the Bahamas, the Bahamian people expect for you to correct the message and then provide us with the plan to adjust and change and move The Ministry of Tourism forward. The Bahamian people can not and will not accept mediocrity as the standard, WE DEMAND A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE!
To my PLP brothers and sisters, we can not allow the media and the side opposite to cause us toe self destruct. The PLP is a party that has always demonstrated the ability to mend fences; we have to reconnect not just with the Bahamian electorate, but also with each other. United we stand, divided we fall, don’t mind the noise in the market place, but let us keep our eyes on the price of the fish. We cannot use yesteryear’s homeruns to win today’s ball game. What worked 25 years ago will not resonate with today’s culture and generation, we have to find a way to speak the same language, and in doing this I would like to liken the Progressive Liberal Party to the mythical bird called the Phoenix, Where out of the ashes emerges a new Phoenix, just like the PLP out of the ashes of defeat emerges a new and more determined people, and more focused and committed people, a people who will not allow our own selfish egos and agendas to destroy what so many have worked so hard to build. A people who is determined to work towards the same goals and vision, who are prepared to look beyond our current status and embrace a better future because the PLP is alive and well, we will Rise UP, WE will move forward. Young people we do have a part to play, don’t look to the left nor to the right, just keep focus for the way ahead is straight ahead, Rise up young people in Bimini, Rise up young people in Grand Bahama, Rise up in New Providence, and in Cat Island, Abaco, Exuma, Long Island and all over this Bahama Land, let the message be heard that the PLP will Rise again!