The Tribune

TAKING full advantage of the fact that the upcoming election will be the first time that Bahamians overseas will be allowed to vote, representatives from the Progressive Liberal Party travelled to St Thomas University, Miami, to hold a forum with Bahamian college students explaining their party's respective positions on crime, the economy, and other relevant issues in the Bahamas.

Among the delegation in attendance were PLP leader Perry Christie, deputy leader Philip Davis, Opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, and Pinewood candidate and former President of the Chamber of Commerce Khaalis Rolle.

Opening the forum, Mr Mitchell highlighted that their presence in Miami represented the third such forum that the party has held in the past four months, with the first being held in London in October 2011, and the second in Kingston, Jamaica, in November of that year.

"We have had excellent dialogue and I think a fuller understanding of what the Bahamian community wants from its government and the job we in the Progressive Liberal Party have to do," Mr Mitchell said to those in attendance.

Pointing out the PLP was officially announced to the Bahamian public on November 23, 1953, Mr Mitchell said that the party "in that day" was at the cutting edge.

"It is the first political party in the history of the country. It was responsible for all the major political and social changes in our country in the modern political era. It has a record of progressive change and helping to democratise the Bahamas which is unmatched by any other political party. All the modern institutions of the state came into being under the PLP. Indeed, the full human rights of Bahamian citizens were ushered into being under the PLP. We do not argue that the PLP caused it. We argue that the PLP had the honour and the privilege to lead the way.

"But that was yesterday and this is today. History is a most reliable predictor of the future. History, however, is not to be dwelt upon but to be built upon. That is why we are here today. Thank you for joining us and thank you for Deanna Christensen, Andy Ingraham, Leonard Stuart, Rosie Gomez and all of you for helping us organize this forum. The forum is an opportunity to speak to you on the matters of import today. I would think those subjects must include how to grow our economy and restore it to good health, what is to become of our tourism product and how must it evolve.

"What role can the young Bahamian play in the building up of his or her country? How will small business play a part in this? What is the PLP's position on crime and on education? Indeed the PLP has promised to double the investment in education over the ensuing five years when we win office again," Mr Mitchell said.