The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

PRIME Minister Hubert Ingraham last night reminded Bahamians that while they are voting for individual representatives, they are ultimately choosing a party and leader to guide the country for the next five years.

At the FNM's first Mass Rally on R M Bailey Park, Mr Ingraham urged supporters to keep in mind the nature of the parties between which they are choosing.

He said: "Very importantly, we want to remind voters that they are electing a government. Each voter will vote for a single candidate but that candidate is a part of a team. Each team has a Leader.

"So when you vote you are deciding if you want Hubert Ingraham, the leader of the FNM to be Prime Minister, or somebody else. You are voting to determine if you want the FNM to be the government or some other party. And I remind you that as you prepare to vote and you consider your choices, take a good look at what you could get when you're tired of what you got."

The Prime Minister said the FNM is the only party with effective leadership with a bold serious vision for our future.

"You, your families and the voters of this country, must ask yourselves which of these parties has a plan? Which of these parties has the track record of results to accomplish the plan and which of these parties isn't just writing pretty words on paper to

get themselves elected," he said.

"Well, my friends let me tell you, I haven't seen a PLP election platform yet. Have you? I guess they are still trying to figure out how many fake promises they can fit onto a sheet of paper. And even when they do figure that out, the Bahamian people are smart enough to know that it is all just a bunch more of Perry Gladstone Christie's 10 dollar promises and penny-ante action. When Hubert Ingraham and the FNM make you a promise you can believe it. We have proven leadership you can trust to deliver for you over the next five years."

Mr Ingraham said the FNM manifesto is now available to be viewed and downloaded on the party's website.

The Prime Minister said this Sunday the government will deliver one million dollars in grants to assist a number of urban outreach and youth programmes. The grants will be made to groups here in New Providence, in Grand Bahama and on various family islands.

Additionally, he said in the FNM's next term they will create a Native Food Market.

"We will begin planning to create the Native Food Market in a location over the hill," he said. "This will be one of the biggest urban development and economic empowerment projects over the hill since independence. We hope that a revitalized over the hill area will welcome hundreds of Bahamians and thousands of tourists who all can go to buy tamarind sauce, cassava bread, coconut tart and coconut water, dilly syrup or all kinds of whatever fruits are in season."

Mr Ingraham encouraged the crowd to band together as FNM's to ensure the PLP remains "yesterday's news."

He said the FNM offers the promise of tomorrow building on their accomplishments over the past five years.