By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Attorney General Alfred Sears yesterday called on Bahamians to “join our revolution” as he unveiled his road map for the modernisation of the Progressive Liberal Party and the country.
The leadership platform document details the leader-hopeful’s plan to revolutionise the country’s economic, cultural and social status quo through transformative initiatives that draw on core values of stewardship and accountability in governance.
His first proposed initiative, under the sub-heading Governance, is to appoint a bipartisan commission to conduct public consultation on the establishment of the Commonwealth Republic of The Bahamas. Such a republic, Mr Sears envisioned, would have a Bahamian executive president and a mixed member system of proportional representation.
He theorised that such a move would “strengthen separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches, enhance the ability of the House of Assembly to check executive authority and action, improve gender balance and the representation of various sectors of civil society in Parliament and incorporate talented and expert citizens from civil society into the governance process.”
Other governance reforms include: impose two-term limits on the Office of the Prime Minister and reduce the size of the Cabinet to a maximum of 16 portfolios; and to include the right to vote and freedom of the press as fundamental rights under the Constitution.
The document read: “After 40 plus years as an independent nation, it is clear that our system of representative democracy needs change in order to limit the powers of the Office of the Prime Minister; arrest the abuse of state resources in the reward or punishment of political allies and adversaries; and stop the abuse of the public service as an employment agency for incumbent political parties.”
With a nod to his tenure as a former minister of education, Mr Sears suggests that primary and secondary schools should extend class times past 3pm in a bid to enrich curriculum, and accommodate social realities faced by single parent homes. He called for the development of Bahamian and Caribbean focused national curriculum that put an emphasis on environmental stewardship and proficiency in at least two languages.
In the 26-page manifesto, entitled “A Vision For Our Revolution: Transforming the Bahamas for the 21st Century”, Mr Sears positions himself as a “transformational servant leader” who overcame stark adversity to attain academic and professional accolades, drawing on his public service record, family values and Christian ethics.
The policies and initiatives outlined therein are intended to be adopted within the context of the country’s national development plan – Vision 2040.
Mr Sears’ platform features initiatives that target reforms for economic expansion and diversification; technology and innovation; public transportation; social; energy and environmental; culture industries and cultural development; youth development; Grand Bahama and Family Island development; local government and community empowerment; and to restore, rebrand, and rebuild the PLP.
He previously announced his intention to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie for the PLP’s top post when the party holds its convention in November.
Mr Sears, who retired from politics in 2012, is the PLP’s ratified candidate for the Ft Charlotte constituency, an area he previously represented.
• See tomorrow’s Tribune for a special pullout supplement detailing Mr Sears’ Vision for Revolution.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 6 months ago
Sears is going nowhere....his slow mind is weighed down too much by the black American mindset tied to another era.....his ideas are therefore not in keeping with the future way forward for most Americans of colour in the western hemisphere....he is trapped by a sense of entitlement he believes is rightfully borne out of the era of slavery.....but progressive thinking blacks living in the Americas today have long ago freed their minds of those shackles. Sears has never understood the difference between remembering history (and embracing its impact on present day culture) as opposed to dwelling on the past as if restitution of some kind must be received as the only way forward for blacks to gain an equal opportunity footing in the Americas. Sears, for whatever reason, will always have a shackled mind. He is much more suited to leading a revolution in a small backward nation somewhere on the African continent....certainly not in the Bahamas.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 6 months ago
Why is this numbers house-loving man making a mockery of the word "revolution"????? .......... hasn't the Pingdomites done enough of that for 50 years??????? .......... Sears, just go and hide under a rock
ohdrap4 7 years, 6 months ago
For a 60 year old man to lead a revolution, or even reform, he would have to be like mahatma ghandi.
he played nice all these years, was mp and cabinet minister multiple times and now he wants a revolution.
which revolutionary was born of conformity
SP 7 years, 6 months ago
........ The Only "Revolution" We Need Is To Investigate And Jail Corrupt Politicians! .........
History dictates the PLP is corrupt to the core and the FNM are just as bad.
Bahamas has been destroyed by decades of political cronyism, friends, family and lovers deals and massive corruption from the high office of prime minister down to environmental health!
Alfred Sears is too close to, and cannot tackle corruption of his peers which he too was part and parcel to for decades, which explains the exclusion of dealing with decades of corruption in this so called manifesto.
The country could never be set on the right course as long as these pirates are allowed to carry on business as usual, regardless of who leads the PLP or FNM.
Both parties are equally inherently corrupt!
PLP & FNM have run their course, failed at everything imaginable and must now be held 100% accountable for "leading" our country into this current disastrous mess we now find ourselves!
Bahamas needs a thorough, transparent, forensic audit of the countries affairs to find, weed out and jail corrupt politicians and their accomplices followed by a "real" FOIA to reset our trajectory for a better future!
Decades of unbridled, massive corruption brought us to this point. Nothing short of stamping out corruption is required to "begin" correcting the many disasters wrought upon our people and country by these PIRATES!
Sickened 7 years, 6 months ago
I can't stand the absolutely corrupt PLP. I would rather eat a live rat that to vote for those sub-humans. BUT... I have to say I like what Alfred is proposing. I think that we desperately need this change. Now, if Alfred happens to take over the PLP at the convention, Minnis will finally be able to vocalize his master plan. We may end up having a decent choice of leadership after all.
Greentea 7 years, 6 months ago
I am disturbed by the response to Sears's declaration by the commenters above. Bringing down the plan and the man simply because he is tied to a party - as if he is the party- is another step on the road to nowhere for the country. I question the quick dismissal of this platform when I don't see anyone, anywhere else in ANY party proposing a damn ting. While I don't think 'revolution' is the right word EVERYTHING proposed here is sound and necessary. My only compliant is that it doesn't go far enough because as a former education minister, he knows that our number one problem in this country is the piss azz education being doled out in the public schools and certain so called private schools. Extending the school day doesn't do one thing to help that situation. Sorry Sears-I am a sucker for lost causes and always hope against hope- so I am actually rooting for you, but you have to come again on that one.
Sickened 7 years, 6 months ago
I like the idea of extended school time especially if the time is used for doing homework (like a study hall where kids are monitored and assisted by either teachers or senior students). Many of our students have parents who cannot help their kids with homework, either because of the parents' lack of education or because the parents aren't around because of work or other commitments.
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