Addressing thousands of FNM supporters at R.M. Bailey Park on 19 April, Prime Minister Ingraham highlighted the stark differences, which characterise the ongoing campaign: the FNM’s leadership, readiness, honesty and delivery, versus the PLP’s weakness, indecisiveness, corruption and empty promises.
“In transforming our country – remarked Mr Ingraham – we cannot go with the smallness of vision and the weakness of leadership of the PLP. Not only will they take the country backwards; they lack the vision and the quality of leadership needed to move The Bahamas forward”.
The PM continued, “The FNM is the Party of Opportunity. You can believe what I pledge to do on your behalf. You can believe the FNM. We are the Party that delivers. We are the Party of Proven Leadership. We are Ever-Ready to work for you”.
Mr Ingraham referred to the perils of consigning the Bahamas to a party, which is unable to find internal cohesion around one leader, let alone capable of running the country; a party, which claims to be ready to govern from day one, yet cannot outline its plan for government to the voters; the party, which has no credible jobs plan, and that wants to tackle crime, yet fails “to condemn the simulated killing of an FNM by their supporters”
“They are the party of Never-Ready. That’s what we must call them: Never-Ready!” said Mr Ingraham.
The Prime Minister underlined the importance of clear, moral government and pledged to provide, once more, transparency and accountability; he promised to uphold the values outlined in the ‘Standards in Public Life’ and ‘The Seven Principles of Public Life’ of the FNM Manifesto, and to make all members of his Cabinet adhere to the high standards that Bahamians expect of them: no Minister will be allowed to hold “tens of thousands of dollars in a foreign currency in bags in a bedroom closet” said Mr Ingraham in reference to a scandal during the last PLP Government.
The PM reminded voters that the PLP record is marred by hypocrisy and led by a man who “presided over a scandal-ridden cabinet filled with corruption and wheeling and dealing”.
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to counter PLP’s accusations that Government was unable to bring relief to the Bahamian economy, and said that it was the FNM that eased the shock of the Great Recession with targeted spending, and that managed to improve living standards.
“They see the roads, they see the parks, they see the beaches, they see the Straw Market, they see the new and expanded schools, they see the hospitals expansions, they see the new LPIA, and they see the biggest ships in the world sailing into Nassau Harbour because we dredged the harbour”, said Mr Ingraham, and reminded how the FNM improved health care, unemployment benefits and social assistance, and introduced vocational training and job readiness programmes.
By contrast “those who oppose us – continued Mr Ingraham – have a record of incompetence, a record of providing privileges for cronies, a record of failure to deliver on promises and commitments to the Bahamian people”.
The Prime Minister also highlighted his government’s achievements in the fight against crime, like the introduction of gun courts and mandatory sentences for possession of illegal firearms; the recruitment of judges and police officers, the increase in CCTV coverage and the adoption of crime fighting technologies. Pledging to double the Government’s efforts to fight crime, while, at the same time, addressing the causes of crime, Mr Ingraham pointed out that the PLP “only have a crime brochure. They don’t have a crime plan. The FNM has a comprehensive National Security Agenda”.
Thanking the thousands of FNMs who turned up to show their support, Mr Ingraham ironically remarked on the PLP’s inability to attract enough supporters, forcing them to cancel a televised meeting on April 18, in a Town Hall as empty as the PLP’s promises.
“Followers they are,” – concluded the Prime Minister – “leaders they are not!”
Read prime minister Ingraham’s full remarks (111KB PDF) at the RM Bailey Rally
