By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Senator Fred Mitchell says the party is seeing interest from hundreds of people seeking to be potential candidates in Grand Bahama and New Providence.
While in Grand Bahama Monday night, Mr Mitchell said at a Marco City branch meeting that he is very pleased with the level of interest in running for public office.
He indicated that already 300 to 400 people have been through the course for candidates, and other courses are scheduled for Grand Bahama and New Providence.
“I came to see how the branch (here) functions and to see what people’s responses are. . .I am glad the people are active and seeking to run for office,” Mr Mitchell said.
He said another course for candidates will be held later in the year for Grand Bahama, and one will be held in Nassau on February 27 through March 1.
“And all of this is trying to build a team so people have a common experience about the history of the party, the rules of Parliament, what it is to be a Cabinet minister, a backbencher or to serve on a statutory board, and how to work as a team because we want to hit the ground running when we win the next election,” said Mr Mitchell.
Mr Mitchell is encouraging others to come forward and offer themselves as candidates.
“There’s a young team coming up and there are a lot of ambitious young people, and we want to encourage more to come forward because the country needs them, and I shall lend my experience to anyone who ultimately emerges as the candidate for constituents,” he added.
When asked about potential candidates in Grand Bahama, Mr Mitchell said the party is seeing interest from both men and women.
“There are several…and there are at least two females here who are interested in running in the next election.
“I think Grand Bahama can use their skills. They got a lot of experience in the civic life of Grand Bahama, and so it would be great if they can lend that to politics.”
The PLP chairman also commented on the situation concerning the Grand Lucayan resort and the airport in Grand Bahama.
He believes that the government was duped by the owner of the hotel property who had failed to live up its obligations to repair the hotel after collecting on the insurance, and now the same thing has happened with the airport.
Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis recently announced that his government will sign a heads of agreement for the sale of the Grand Lucayan to Royal Caribbean International and ITM Group for the redevelopment of the hotel and harbour. The project is expected to revive the Grand Bahama economy and provide about 2,000 to 3,000 jobs.
Of the hotel purchase, Senator Mitchell stated: “The devil is always in the details. We thought that the government got hoodwinked by the people who owned the hotel by allowing them to get away with cashing in the insurance and not getting the hotel up and running.
“So now we cross that bridge, the question is whether this deal that they have announced is actually a real deal or whether it would come off.
“But what we do know is when it comes off, it is going to take them two and a half years to get up and ramping. So, they are a bit too late if they are trying to figure out something for this term.”
He expressed a similar warning for the purchase of the Grand Bahama International Airport.
“The advice we get is that the airport is in the wrong place. It is in a flood plain and the government essentially is going to be stuck with the $40m plus bill to fix that airport while the owners walk away and say ‘here, you take it for a $1.’
“Our view is that the Hawksbill Creek Agreement provides that they (Hutchison Whampoa and Port Group Ltd) are supposed to supply an airport and harbour for this city and they should be made to follow that,” he said.
Comments
Clamshell 4 years, 2 months ago
Buffet is open! Ev’body linin’ up for a new turn at da Gravy boat!
TalRussell 4 years, 2 months ago
Former Tall Pine's MP Pot cake Leslie is definitely party window shopping and following a successful snagging the Pot cake - may very tempt the reds Bamboo Town MP Bible Thumper Renward to sprint to recross the floor - back rejoin his PLP comrades over on other side House? Can't write this. Just, can't.
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 2 months ago
Of course you are, they want that Nygard money too....
DWW 4 years, 2 months ago
only 38 get to suckle, step back and let me up front.
joeblow 4 years, 2 months ago
If only these interested persons were replacing all the old heads now in and controlling the PLP.
It is clear this group is totally detached concerning how despicable they are seen to be in the eyes of thinking Bahamians!
Cobalt 4 years, 2 months ago
Agreed!
stillwaters 4 years, 2 months ago
Especially Fred, Brave, and company....old corrupt you-know-whats.
Sickened 4 years, 2 months ago
Are these interested persons all currently in prison? You sure they'll their time will be up in time to run? Just asking.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 2 months ago
And rumours abound that many of the new faces signing up to be a PLP candidate in the next general election are of Haitian descent.
stillwaters 4 years, 2 months ago
If we have given them citizenship and they are now Bahamians, why shouldn't they........just saying.....Again, it's us Bahamians that are the problem.
joeblow 4 years, 2 months ago
... citizenship should not be give, but rightfully and legally earned!
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 2 months ago
Way too many of them fraudulently obtained one or more official papers that they then wrongfully used to illegally 'buy' their Bahamian citizenship with the assistance of corrupt government officials.
bogart 4 years, 2 months ago
Whomsoever chooses to be a candidate must remember......NO MATTER DERE TOP LINE ASSETS....INTELLIGENCE....CHARACTER..etcetc..DEY HAV TO FOLLOW THE WESTMINISTER SYSTEM......
Look at all the PLP and Opposition....of the people by the people and for the people voted MAJORITY ....NO TO THE GAMBLING REFERENDUM....AND THE PARTY ALL TURNED AROUND AND SLAMMED THE DOOR SHUT IN THE FACES OF PEOPLE AND DEMOCRACY....AND WENT AGAINST THE PEOPLE..!!!!!!......Its in recent books....just cant make it up.....And who there is trustworthy to believe with ya most precious vote.....again..?????
birdiestrachan 4 years, 2 months ago
lest we forget doc was against VAT, then increased it 60% against BAH MAR and the spy bill There are no liars like FNM Masterful Lairs.
If the lives of the average Bahamian has become better under the FNM then Voted for them again. Every single dollar spent the FNM Government takes 12cents. so a dollar is only worth 88 cents.
visionless and dumb is the order of their day.
bogart 4 years, 2 months ago
The nation has now aLmost skyrocketed into being the sixth most exprnsive nation in the world...!!!!!.. what used to be GNP per capita $32,000. now at $34,000.....who on average earns that salary....not even bachbenchh MPs..but some group earns more than that !!!!..biggest gap increased between rich and poor. ....Cost of living skyrocketed.....before 12% VAT is on item costing $1.00 was .12 cents, and same .88 crnts ...and with very same item TODAY price now risen to $3.00 then the same VAT12% is .36 cents.....same.88 cents now costing $2.12 ....!!!!!...more .!!!!!!...try comparing item prices in Miami, AMAZON, Walmart,...and add the costs of paying at increasing facilitating agengies....biggest difference in local stores..!!!!!
bogart 4 years, 2 months ago
...error in rushing ..not 88 cents...following ..correction your dollar spent and same 88 cent...every dollar spent ...12 cents vat s incorrect......84 cents item x .12%= 1.00 spent rough close....spending 84 cents now item inflated more expensive costing $3... is still gettin 84 cents item plus inflation plus money for vat still at 12% govt benefits merchant benefits...more prices inflated is more money VAT collection...poor gets poorer
bogart 4 years, 2 months ago
Sorry...sorry...sorry...just rishing...calculations incorrect....just rushing ..no not texting an driving...but close..
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 2 months ago
"Of the hotel purchase, Senator Mitchell stated: “The devil is always in the details. We thought that the government got hoodwinked by the people who owned the hotel by allowing them to get away with cashing in the insurance and not getting the hotel up and running."
Um this did happen Fred, you lying so and so, but it happened on the PLP watch buddy.....
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