OPENING REMARKS

Fifty years ago, I was an Augusta Street boy approaching ten years old. I had hopes and dreams but no tangible means of bringing them to reality. Fifty years ago, prosperity for the masses was defined and choreographed by a select minority and the options were not many. Fifty years ago, oppression of the masses, kept us terrified, away from and out of certain social areas and business places, unless we were working as a part of a menial labor force. Then the Progressive Liberal Party was born.

And today, fifty years later, prosperity is an expectation available to all Bahamians who want to do positive things to achieve it. Today, basic human rights are no longer defined by color, creed or association. Today, we of the masses who were once chained to the dictates of the small minded and clannish, not only work in social and business establishments, but we also own those kinds of establishments.

Five decades later as we celebrate our 50th year as the oldest political Party, we of the Progressive Liberal Party should be proud and humbled by what Almighty God has allowed us to do; for we not only built the modern Bahamas, but we also built lives and saved lives. And fifty years from now when our Progressive Liberal Party is celebrating a century as the oldest political Party in the Bahamas, those of that day will have twice as much to say about the PLP, because no one will ever be able to alter the fact that the greatest of Bahamian minds all got an opportunity to contribute to the progress of the Bahamas because of the Progressive Liberal Party.

In fact, the PLP is the root of the tree from which every significant change took place in the Bahamas. From 1967 to 1992, it was the PLP tree that brought significant changes to the Bahamas. From 1992 to 2002, it was the branches broken off from the PLP that moved the Bahamas further. And in 2003 till the end of time, it is the PLP tree that once again must sustain the new branches and even the broken off ones left to rot. And though we have had media persons trying for 50 years to destroy the true record; the true reputation and the true intentions of the PLP; Bahamians cannot be terrified by them any longer and that too is because of the Progressive Liberal Party. We have brought to naught anyone’s belief that they have a right to terrorize any Bahamians into believing that the PLP has not been good for the Bahamas.

So my fellow PLP’s and all Bahamians, this year we not only celebrate fifty years of the Progressive Liberal Party, but also fifty years of a progressive Bahamas for all Bahamians. And today we continue to transform the Bahamas and secure our future.

BAIN & GRANTS TOWN CONSTITUENTS
I extend on behalf of the good people of Bain and Grants Town warm and heartfelt congratulations to this 48th Annual Convention of the greatest political party in the history of the Bahamas, and its supporters throughout the length and breath of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.  May Almighty God continue to bless the people of The Bahamas as we celebrate our Party’s 50th Anniversary and our continued quest to transform the Bahamas and secure the future.

Session Chairperson, I shall forever be grateful to the always-faithful people of Bain and Grants Town who have elected and re-elected this humble servant for five consecutive elections.  I shall always be in their debt.  A number of constituency projects are on going.  My personal pledge to build a community Center in Bain Town is progressing.  The land for the Center has been acquired and the architecture   drawings are scheduled to be completed in early 2004.  Ground breaking will follow shortly thereafter. Over the Hill, like other parts of the Bahamas, under the new PLP, will be transformed and secured for future Bahamians.

Fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen, with the vast areas encompassing my portfolio, I shall endeavour to provide you with some recent initiatives all designed to impact the transforming of The Bahamas thereby securing the future.  Eleanor Roosevelt once said:  “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

So as we look toward the beauty of our future, I wish to turn your attention to the Public Corporations for which I hold ministerial responsibility. I will begin with the Bahamas Electricity Corporation.

BAHAMAS ELECTRICITY CORPORATION
Delegates will recall that during the Annual Budget Debate I announced that BEC was involved in a number of initiatives designed to ensure that the electrical infrastructure in New Providence/Paradise Island as well as the 28 supply areas throughout the Family Islands continues to keep pace with the ever increasing demand for electricity.

Further, that the initiatives were intended to ensure that the quality of supplies and customer service continue to improve and be maintained at world-class standards.  Improved generator maintenance, increase availability of plant and timely decisions had resulted in minimum load shedding this past summer.  Plans are well in hand to acquire new and efficient plant in New Providence to allow BEC to retire old inefficient gas turbine units.

As a result of a number of identified savings that the former FNM Administration had no desire to pass on to the consumer, my Government foreshadowed a reduction in electricity rates across the board.  As promised, the first ever in the history of BEC, reduction became effective October 1, 2003.  This was a bold, outstanding example of Perry Christie’s Government delivering on a major campaign promise.  Yet critics continue to say, ‘what have you done for me lately, what have you done for me today.’  We also, for the first time ever, effective October 1, commenced the payment of interest on security deposits with BEC.   Most residents of New Providence were singing the praises of BEC and the Government.

Reliability Concerns
Fellow delegates, out of the blue and unexpected, on November 6, 2003 a total shut down of the electrical system occurred in New Providence, as a result of the generating units at Clifton Pier and Blue Hills Power Station shutting down and a major transmission line tripping.  This outage was unprecedented and prolonged as attempts to restore supply were frustrated by a number of factors.

These include an initial explosion on a generator at Blue Hills and subsequent auxiliary system failures.   Fellow delegates, the cause of the Island-wide outage is still inconclusive at this time.  However, I am advised that the Management has corrected a number of deficiencies and orders have been placed to address the remainder.

I again profusely apologize to the public for this unexpected outage. This recent event has however strengthened the resolve of the Board and Management to rededicate themselves to providing improved service to its many customers. Improved service is the only way we can transform the Bahamas and secure a future of reliability.

FAMILY ISLANDS

Initiatives in the Family Islands to date have been dominated by projects in Exuma, Eleuthera, Abaco and Bimini, which have caused BEC to commence distribution, transmission and generation system studies to ensure the coordinated development of the electrical infrastructure. These studies will be extended to include the islands of Cat Island, North and Central Andros.

EXUMA
To accommodate the new Emerald Bay Four Seasons Resort, a new $8 million 8.8 megawatt power station was completed in July 2003 and is currently in operation. $1.8 million of new transmission/distribution power lines were constructed to ensure that reliable supplies be provided to Emerald Bay and the other various touristic projects. An additional 8.8 megawatts of generating plant is scheduled for commissioning during the summer of 2004 to ensure adequate capacity is in place to meet new developments, including Crab Cay, at a cost of $4.5 million.
RAGGED ISLAND

Fellow Delegates, the new power station planned for construction in Ragged Island is planned for completion by the summer of 2004.

ELEUTHERA
A new fuel oil pipeline and storage facilities have been completed in Rock Sound at a total cost of $670,000.  The system study will ensure adequate expansion to meet projected load growth resulting from the following developments:
Windmere Island, Tranquility Bay, Winding Bay, Sweetings Pond near Hatchet and a resort at Jacks Bay.
Numerous outages have occurred in Eleuthera, particularly in North Eleuthera and Harbour Island, as a result of incidences associated with weather conditions (storm surges) at the Glass Window Bridge.
The Corporation had intended to install cables in association with the proposed construction of a causeway replacing the glass window bridge. However due to pressing need the corporation has included in the 2004 capital budget funds to install submarine cables and increase the generating capacity in Harbour Island.
ABACO

In Abaco, both the generation and transmission and distribution infrastructure is being upgraded and reinforced to accommodate the forecasted load developments. (E.g. the Abaco Club development at Winding Bay near Cherokee Sound.)
Additionally, a seventeen-mile transmission line, connecting Sandy Point to the Marsh system, will be completed by the summer of 2004.

Additionally, in the Abaco’s, a programme to complete the connection of all the cays and to upgrade existing submarine cables is in progress with a view to programme completion by November 2004.
BIMINI
The generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure is being upgraded and reinforced to accommodate the forecasted load developments. Capital investments programmed to accommodate developments in Bimini include; a new submarine cable connecting north and south Bimini, install an additional 4 megawatts of generating plant, and upgrade the main North Bimini substation.
CAT ISLAND

The generation, transmission and distribution system study will be conducted to determine the extent of upgraded and reinforced to accommodate forecasted load growth.

Union Negotiation

Fellow delegates, lastly but by no means the least, I wish to advise that talks with the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union have been ongoing for approximately four months, with discussions now focused on pay increases, pension plan accrual rates and high performance productivity compensation system.  The BEWU have opted to lodge a dispute at the Ministry of Labour for possible resolution.

WATER & SEWERAGE CORPORATION

The Water and Sewerage Corporation continues to be challenged with trying to deliver a satisfactory level of service not only in New Providence where improvements are necessary, but also throughout the many settlements in the various islands, some of which are still waiting for the first good source of a potable, piped water supply.

New systems or better sources has been delivered over the last two year in:

Bimini –    Which now has Reverse Osmosis water flowing.

Inagua -    Which has it’s first piped water system with Reverse
                  Osmosis water flowing

Lovely Bay & Chesters – Has its first piped water distribution system

Farmers Cay/Staniel Cay –  Distribution Mains have been laid in Farmers Cay and mains are currently being laid in Staniel Cay to deliver existing R.O. water
 
Harbour Island –   New water mains are being laid throughout

Construction is underway and the service will be coming on stream within the next few months

George Town Exuma –  A new R.O. plant is due to come on stream by February 2004.

South Eleuthera – A new R.O. plant is due to come on stream by the end  of December 2003
 
Moore’s Island – A new R.O. facility should be completed by December 2003
 
Deadman’s Cay Long Island – A new R.O. facility will be completed by the end of March 2004
 

Immediately to follow are consideration and finalizing agreements for R.O. plants for:

· Ragged Island
· San Salvador

All of these new arrangements are being subsidized from Central Government funding, since presently there is no external funding available for W&SC. The various components of the Inter-American Development Bank funded loan have been executed; where improvements can be seen in Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay, Casuarina and Crossing Rock in Abaco and shortly in Exuma and South Eleuthera. Our Family Islands are the hope of the future and we will not stop until each and every area has been satisfied. It is important that priorities be set so that residents will know when their concerns will be addressed.

Our New Providence Operations scorecard has marked some dramatic occasions, but in general, improvement in delivery of service can already be seen.  There are many incentives on going for customers willing to return to W&SC services and you are advised to take advantage of these. In analyzing our greatest concern for the high water losses, it has become even more evident that a two-fold approach must be taken to address this vexing situation. Without any doubt, the methods by which water is produced for New Providence are simply too erratic.

Too much time and energy is wasted on a daily juggling act to meeting a growing demand; without having a reliable and consistent supply. The excuses ranging from no rain, no boat, bad weather, must all be put aside so that a reliable and adequate source can be made available.

A new R.O. plant, able of providing five (5) million gallon/day supply, is expected to be in place within the next eighteen to twenty-four months. The customers can then look forward to a better supply. Consideration will also be given to a private company under water piped line project from Andros to New Providence.  Operations that are now carried out and which adversely affect our water loss reduction program will be eliminated.

The Corporation has developed a comprehensive water supply and non-revenue water program and has a strategic plan for implementation.  However, a significant financial commitment is  required. The benefits to be derived, once the financial commitments have been made, will put the Corporation on the road to becoming a financially viable and sustainable operation.

Consumers must all be prepared to make their contributions because there is too much at stake for us all, in the way water and sanitation issues are now taken and left in hands of individual homeowners, to do as each sees fit. The issue of groundwater contamination continues to be understated and therefore more stringent environmental regulations must be enforced to ensure that no national epidemic occurs to threaten our major Tourism Industry. A framework for groundwater regulation, completed under an I.D.B study will soon be tabled in the House of Parliament.

In a global environment our country must be seen as safe in all aspects: from international terrorism, local crime, and from water contamination through the spread of health related water borne diseases.  It is unfortunate that more than two-thirds of the residents in New Providence continue to take the high risk of using a private water supply, while together we can all provide enough resources to make water and sanitation the number one priority that it should be.

The Corporation is positioning itself as an efficient and effective organization and so the productivity of each employee will be able to be measured.  Consumers will be able to see a positive difference in service while threats to the country’s economic growth and development will be minimized.
 

BAHAMASAIR HOLDINGS LTD.

Fellow delegates, the revenues at Bahamasair have declined over the past two fiscal years ending June 2002 and June 2003 by $7.6 million (10.4%) and $3.0 million respectively.  On the other hand, operating expenses have also decreased appreciably by $14.9 million (14%) and $4.5 million for the same periods.  The reasons for the decline in revenue are all too well known as we here in The Bahamas continue to feel the negative economic impact of the 9/11 terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.
Bahamasair, over the past two years, has only been able to add two new routes to its system; the Freeport/Miami route and a Nassau/Havana route which had to be cancelled after four months for poor load factor.

The Board of Directors and Management, however, made a conscientious effort in reducing expenses by implementing a number of cost saving initiatives including:
· to recommence the in-house repairs to aircraft braking systems;
· and aircraft A & B checks;
There has also been a reduction by 98 in the employee head count, over the past two years.

Just recently Bahamasair added two Dash-8 aircraft to its fleet which will tremendously improve the airline reliability record as well as allow for additional lift into Freeport and Exuma.
Flights will also commence shortly between Nassau and Haiti and Exuma and Ft. Lauderdale.  These additional routes, made possible by the acquisition of the additional Dash-8 aircraft, should contribute some $4.0 million in revenue over the next two years.
Fellow delegates, during the fiscal years 2004 and 2005 Bahamasair will be looking forward to improving its financial position significantly  through the implementation of a number of additional well-thought-through initiatives, some of which are contingent on the union’s cooperation and agreement to concessions.

Fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I deeply regret the inconveniences to the Bahamian public as a result of the current industrial action taken by members of the AAAWU.  These actions appear to have been unjustified as I   am advised that the union only filed the industrial dispute with the Labour Department on 28th October, 2003.

The union never allowed for the conciliation process to begin before taking industrial actions against the airline.  Initially, the union claimed that the staff actions were a sickout, however the Board and management discovered that this was not the case but rather premeditated illegal industrial action in an attempt to inflict undue hardship on the traveling public and further financial burden on the taxpayers.

 I have also seen evidence that executives of the AAAWU attempted to dissuade a wet lease operator from assisting Bahamasair by making personal contact with the operator telling them that there was an industrial dispute and that there would be no maintenance of fuel available at NIA.  I have also been advised that members of the AAAWU were seen at Saunders Beach yesterday partying well into the night.  If you were sick, Fellow Delegates, would you be attending a party?  This is disgraceful!

I take this opportunity to encourage the President and Officers of the AAAWU to conduct their affairs in a sensible and mature manner because Bahamasair is not an airline whose coffers are overflowing with money.  Indeed the airline is bankrupt.

My strong advice to the union is to return to work forthwith and allow due processes to take place as was demonstrated by the President and Officers of the Bahamas Public Service Union.
 
BAHAMAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LTD.
 

Cellular Services

I am pleased to report, that BTC is in the process of building a GSM cellular overlay network in New Providence and Grand Bahama at a cost of some $28 Million.
This overlay network when completed, will allow the moratorium placed on cellular subscription in January of this year to be lifted. It is anticipated, that the offering of new Cellular services will be available in December 2003, just in time for the Christmas holidays.

I am advised that this new GSM network will initially be able to accommodate an additional 90,000 subscribers in New Providence and Grand Bahama. BTC believes, that the network is scaleable so that no other moratorium will have to be placed on Cellular subscription in the future.

Further, I am advised, that this GSM cellular network, in addition to new features like surfing the Internet on your phone and taking and sending pictures from one phone to the next, will also allow BTC customers to use their phone seamlessly, when traveling abroad.

BTC’s engineers have already designed the GSM overlay for the Island of Abaco and will began installation on that Island in the first quarter 2004, progressing to deployment for the rest of The Bahamas.

This new GSM system that BTC is installing, not only is the most modern in use cellular network, with almost a billion customers using it world wide, but is also EDGE ready. This EDGE feature when deployed next year, will allow customers to access the Internet on their cell phones at speed comparable to DSL.

Fellow delegates, my brothers and sisters, The Bahamas will be able to boast of having a cellular network with the latest GSM technology in the world.

As promised by your PLP government, BTC intends to restructure and reduce its rates for GSM Cellular Services and long distant calls. We in the PLP are all about transforming communications and securing the future of an ever-expanding Bahamas.

Telephone Network
My brothers and sisters, since our party came to power, there has been a marked improvement in the quality of service and efficiency provided by BTC. BTC has been able to reduced its average repair time for telephone faults from months to days, and is in the process of introducing a plan where if your telephone is disrupted and is out of service for more than 48 hrs, subscribers rental for the month will be credited, except in case of Acts of God and natural disasters.

Other Projects.
BTC this year provided cellular services for the first time to the residents of Moorse Island and Harbour Island. Last year, celluar services were provided for the first time to Crooked Island, Acklins, Mayguana and San Salvador.

BTC is continuing to upgrade its services in Andros, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and Exuma and this year for the first time, fixed telephone services were made available to the residents of Acklins, Crooked Island and Mayguana.

Fellow delegates, before moving on from BTC I embrace this opportunity to announce this evening, that the Board of BTC at the request of the Government of The Bahamas have agreed to pay BTC’s customers interest on their security deposits at a rate of 3% with effect from January 1, 2004.  Based on the level of security deposits as at the end of August 2003, BTC will credit some $1,050,000.00 per annum to the accounts of its customers.

Fellow delegates, this represents the fulfillment of a campaign promise made by your Progressive Liberal Party.  Interest on security deposits began with BEC effective October 1 of this year.  The remaining utility is the Water & Sewerage Corporation and the announcement on security deposits for that Corporation will be made in early 2004.

And just to think of the FNM Emperor who, in his shameful nakedness, runs his mouth in the Parliament, in effect claiming that our giving interests on deposits are meaningless, privately he complains that the PLP should give him credit for our ability to give interest on those deposits.
And ladies and gentlemen, while I hadn’t planned to waste any breath on the political lifeless, I must tell you the news—that the Emperor is said to be claiming his return to the helm of his FNM Court accompanied by the same Court Jesters. One can only conclude that he was not satisfied how he destroyed the FNM the first time around, so he’s coming back to finish the job. All I can say is that if he believes that there is any more room for him and the FNM in the new Bahamas, he and they obviously like to be punished. Today’s Bahamas is about transformation and security—not digression and sinking sand.

Hence, the PLP focuses on transformation, on security, on the living and we shall let the dead bury the dead. I now turn your attention to the Ministry of Works.
 
MINISTRY OF WORKS PROGRAMMES

NEW PROVIDENCE ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

The scope of the project as included in the contract with Associated Asphalt included the construction of approximately 9.5 miles of new roads and rehabilitation of some 15 miles of existing roads.  The contractor went bankrupt and the works came to a crushing halt.

My Ministry will shortly commence negotiations with the one contractor that satisfied the prequalification requirements for construction of the works - M/s Jose Cartellone of Argentina.  Subject to a satisfactory conclusion to these negotiations in terms of price and timeframe for completion, the works may be expected to re-start in the Spring of 2004, with completion by the end of 2005

Harrold Road Rehabilitation and Dualling Project
BACKGROUND
Based on the advanced stage of deterioration of Harrold Road between Milo Butler Roundabout and Baillou Hill Road, Government decided, with IDB approval, to remove this major section of Harrold Road from the New Providence Road Improvement Project and carry out the improvement works using local resources.  By doing so, government will give much needed opportunities to Bahamians to complete a fairly large and complex infrastructure project. With the works due to start shortly, it will bring much needed relief to the public while enabling the Bahamian contractors involved to become familiar with the specification and workmanship normally required to participate in large international projects.
The project is estimated to take 10 months to complete.

Meanwhile, throughout the island  of New Providence,  some 25 miles of roads in New Providence have been repaved by the Ministry of Works since this Government assumed office, at a cost of $2.5 million.

MAJOR FAMILY ISLAND PROJECTS
 Great Harbour Cay: Here the airport, along with 10 miles of road, have been completed at a cost of $2.4 million.  During this fiscal year infrastructural works, including docks, airport, roads, seawalls, and land reclamation have  been planned for Bimini, the Exuma Cays, Great Guana Cay, Grand Cay, Rum Cay, Soouth Andros, Harbour Island, mainland Abaco, Eleuthera, Cat Island and San Salvador at a total cost of $17.1 million.

The design for a new causeway to replace the Glass Window Bridge will begin very shortly, with construction to follow at an estimated cost of $8.0 million.
New Civil Construction
· Marsh Harbour Dock and new Bypass Road were opened in May 2003. Total construction cost for this project was $11.7M
· Construction of a new 150 ton Bollard Prince George Wharf
· Sidewalk construction and repair in Downtown Nassau - Augusta St. and Wulff Road $900,000.
· New Providence Flood alleviation/Drainage - 28 new wells have been constructed and  15 wells redrilled. A further 65 new wells and redrilling of further 340 existing wells will commence shortly.

MAJOR STRUCTURAL PROJECTS 2002/2003
1. Prince George Wharf Upgrades: Consultancy works, structural design and installation of  new fendering and bollards is well under way and will continue into 2004.  The estimated cost for these works is approximately $6 million.  The Minister of Transport has told you of the importance of Prince George Dock to our number one industry,  Tourism.

New Buildings
A brief list of major new buildings underway in 2003/2004 is as follows:
- commencement of design drawings for a new Straw Market

- the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation recently hired a Private Architect to drawings for an office building along with the Department of Housing

- construction underway on expansion of the Exuma Airport Terminal to accommodate additional passenger traffic flow

- Ministry Architects are working on design drawings for the Bahamas Law School

- Ministry Architects are working on a tender for additional Magistrate Courts on Nassau Street

- health clinic in Steventon Exuma nearing completion

Schools Expansion and Repairs
A total of 38 schools on New Providence and the Family Islands were repaired at a cost of some $3m

There are also 14 school extension projects under construction at an approximate value of $5 million, with an additional 13 extensions in the design/ tendering stage being prepared for construction.

Building Control Statistics For the First Three Quarters - 2003
Fellow Delegates, my Ministry’s Buildings Control statistics show that over the first three quarters of this year, there was a 10% increase in  buildings application submissions with an approved value totaling $258,327,413.00  representing a 6.4% increase over the first three quarters of last year.  This, of course, is a step in the right direction.

 
Production of the Bahamas Building Code Third Edition and Construction Manual for Small Buildings

For sometime now the Ministry of Works & Utilities have been preparing and updating the Building Code standards for the construction industry throughout the Bahamas. Additionally my ministry has also produced a Construction Manual for Small Buildings which is targeted towards the small works contractors and building Inspectors, in particular those on the Family Islands.

Fellow delegates, I am happy to announce that the Third Edition of the Bahamas Building Code has now been completed and we are now in receipt of printed copies for both of these documents.

This new code takes into consideration not only guidelines for updated technology and standards, but also provides universal standards for our physically challenged brothers and sisters who continuously cry out for less restrictive access to public buildings and more suitable accommodations within buildings.

The Professional Engineers’ Bill
As you may have heard, the Professional Engineers’ Bill was passed in the honourable house of assembly in September of this year. This is an historic achievement for the Engineering profession in the Bahamas, and marks the end of a long and arduous journey of more than thirty years.

Upon passage by the senate and Gazetting, the resulting act, along with the accompanying regulations, which will be developed, will result in an act, which will “provide for the registration and regulation of Professional Engineers.

The Construction Contractors’ Bill
Now that the Professional Engineers Bill has been passed in the House, I will now focus more on the Construction Contractors Bill. This is another piece of legislation that is long overdue and much needed in our country. It seeks to provide for a system of licensing and regulation, which will provide for an enhanced level of safety, quality and consumer protection for prospective homeowners, businesspersons and anyone who is embarking on a construction project.

This bill will hold Construction Contractors to a much higher level of accountability, and reduce shoddy workmanship, unprofessional service and unethical practices to an absolute minimum.

CONCLUSION
Session Chairman, Fellow Delegates and Bahamians the length and breadth of the Bahamas, as I close I wish to give you something to consider. Fifty years in existence is a very long time. A half of a century has seen many changes come to the Bahamas and to the world.

And for fifty years, the Progressive Liberal Party has been a staple of the Bahamas. When one thinks about the treasures of the Bahamas, you think of conch, you think of sand, you think of sea, you think of Junkanoo and you think of the PLP.

They said in 1967, that we couldn’t last as a Government. They said in 1973, that we couldn’t take the nation into successful Independence. They said in 1984 that we were taking the Bahamas straight to hell. And they said in 1992 that we were dead, never to see the seat of governance again. But yet, here we are today approaching our second year of governance, for the sixth time and though they are again singing our swan song, the way the grass looks on the FNM side, don’t be surprised if we govern for another 25 years again.

Yes, fifty years is a long time. But I want you to remember tonight, that out of those fifty years, we have governed this country for twenty- seven of those years and the clock is still ticking. In fifty years, we have empowered the small man. In fifty years we have further enriched the minority, don’t mind what they say, they never had it so good as under the PLP, they won’t tell you while they are awake, but in their sleep they thank the PLP. In fifty years, we have educated, not only sons and daughters, but also grandsons and granddaughters.

In fifty years we created a spectacular middle class and in this same fifty years we shall restore that middle class to it’s original position after ten years of plunder and pillage. In fifty years we even created an Opposition, qualified because of the PLP, to run this country for ten years. And just as wisdom is reposed in those of age, our fifty years of existence taught us enough to know that we can teach others everything they know, but not everything we know. And so we are in governance again, to complete what no other Political Party has ever been able to do. We the PLP, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Perry Christie, have come again to transform the Bahamas and in such troubled times we have come to secure our future.

With God’s help and guidance, we of the PLP started the transformation fifty years ago and though we are battle-scarred and carry the wounds of an ever-changing world, we travel on bravely to complete the journey of transforming the Bahamas and secure our future. Fifty years ago, the clarion call was ‘PLP All The Way,’ today fifty years later the call is ‘PLP, The Only Way.’

THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT.