Firstly, permit me to ask your indulgence during this evening’s festivities to prayerfully remember those families in Grand Bahama that have been devastated by Wilma. Our Party must continue to lend our prayerful and financial support to the restoration- we must be seen to be our Brothers keepers. And as we demonstrated during Frances and Jeane last year, this PLP will continue to assist in a meaningful way so that those families can return to normal as quickly as possible. I welcome your support to our effort and that of the Government.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On Wednesday of this week, the Nassau Guardian published the commemorative supplement on the legacy of the Father of the Nation, Sir Lynden O. Pindling. As I read the featured stories, I came to the immediate conclusion that Pindling’s legacy is still evolving and that by some majestic intervention Pindling was the instrument by which all of us have helped in the shaping of our nation; in different ways and at different periods.

In fact, this evening’s Induction falls within the spectrum of one of those periods in our nation’s development where so many deserving Bahamians are being celebrated for their commitment to the building of the PLP.  It is a logical conclusion that those of Sir Lynden’s generation and era and those who were instrumental in the movement were also the heroes and heroines of the Revolution. And therefore, those who are amongst us this evening and who will be inducted into the prestigious Stalwart Council are in the distinguished class of being the heroes and heroines of the Quiet Revolution.

Sir Henry Milton Taylor in his political autobiography spoke of the early days of the formation of the PLP and used words to create the imagery of persons who were brave and courageous and who stood firm in their faith and resolve. Those Bahamians of whom Sir Henry referred, many have past on to their eternal reward, and some are in this room this evening, were the protectors of the PLP’s message in the 1950s and saw the Party to its victory on the 10th January, 1967.

In reading Sir Henry, one will understand that they had to endure many sacrifices and many economic obstacles on the road to political victory; but their spirits and collective resolve to the cause and mission of the PLP did not falter. Many of them remained faithful to the very end; faithful to the cause and faithful to the leadership of the Revolution.

One cannot hear the story of the early days of the PLP without arriving at the conclusion that the hands of God were present to guide and direct this Party and her leadership and that it was only by divine intervention that the PLP was able to wrestle this nation from the hands of the minority, in just 14 years after its formation.

It is with that understanding of the past that I extend congratulations to those who have come to be inducted into the distinguished order of the Stalwart Council. I must also extend to all of you congratulations from those who are of my generation, who grew up in a Bahamas that was materially different in character from the Bahama Islands of the 1940s and the 1950s.  Our experiences were the end product of your work, your sacrifices and your toils, and for that we will forever be grateful to you.

Our Party is now 52 years. We have a rich and vibrant history. We have been blessed with two great leaders. We have served the people of The Bahamas with distinction. Our task now must be to ensure that the next generation of leaders of the PLP have a deep appreciation and love for the history of the PLP and will not disregard the past but will welcome it into the formation of a new era of PLPism. This respect for the past successes and sacrifices of our national heroes and heroines is critical if we are to continue on the path of peaceful evolution and it will guarantee our continued domination of Bahamian politics.

As a fourth generation PLP, I have welcomed the opportunities extended to me to serve my Party and I remain steadfastly committed to ensuring that the PLP remains the party of choice in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. And I firmly recognize that without the role played by all of you, our nation’s path may have been fundamentally different.

I trust therefore that the new breed of Stalwart Councillors will continue the rich tradition of being the Party’s leaders in their communities and will by their example and display of love for our Party and her leadership will cause for many others to flock to our Party because of their understanding that this PLP is the only political organization in The Bahamas that was built on the foundation of helping the lest amongst us and that we have yet even today remained committed to that philosophy under the leadership of Perry Christie.

For my part, this event is not just a celebration but is a clarion call for others to join us and to serve our Party as we continue in our mandate to build a just and peaceful society where all Bahamians have equal opportunity and where there is no barrier to restrict our mobility.

It is good to be in Eleuthera and I will continue to pray that God will bless each of you as He blesses the Progressive Liberal Party.

Thank you….