The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE National General Council of the Progressive Liberal Party last night announced the ratification of two longstanding party members to contest seats in the upcoming general election.

Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin and former Attorney General Alfred Sears were announced as the official candidates in the Yamacraw and Fort Charlotte constituencies.

Mrs Griffin is the current MP for Yamacraw.

Mr Sears represented Ft Charlotte from 2002 to 2012, but did not offer himself for re-election in the last race.

In a statement released last night, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said the ratifications represented the first of several rounds to come as the party works to assemble its team of candidates to contest the 2017 election.

“I am happy and proud to predict that Melanie and Alfred will again be in the winner’s column when the ballots are counted,” he added.

Addressing Mrs Griffin, Mr Roberts said she represents the “proof that justice, social justice and the rule of law can be properly and sensibly reconciled with principles of morality.”

Mr Roberts said he has worked closely with the social services minister in both the House of Assembly and the Senate, insisting that in both capacities Mrs Griffin approached her assignments with tremendous energy and passion.

“Few can argue that Mrs Griffin has become one of the country’s great champions for women’s affairs, the equal treatment of those living with disabilities and the protection of our most vulnerable, our children and the poor among us,” he added.

“As a good Christian woman, mother, and wife, her abiding faith and conviction has served as her guide and moral compass as she executed public policy on behalf of the vulnerable among us. Melanie truly believes that what she does to the least among us she has done unto Christ.”

Additionally, of the former Fort Charlotte MP, Mr Roberts said he viewed him as “consummate political leader.”

Mr Roberts highlighted a number of major milestones in the political career of Mr Sears.

As attorney general from 2002 to 2006, Mr Sears headed the legal team that successfully removed the Bahamas from the monitoring list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in October 2005 and later chaired the Caribbean arm of the FATF.

Under his watch, construction began on the South Street Magistrate’s Court complex and led the way in having witness protection laws enacted in the Bahamas, Mr Roberts said. Mr Sears is also a former minister of education.

Mr Roberts said the Bahamas would be well served with the former Fort Charlotte MP and his “record of accomplishment” a part of the team charting the course for the future of the Bahamas.

Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins was selected by the PLP to be its standard bearer in 2012.

However he quit the party last summer before joining the Free National Movement a few months later.

Residents in Fort Charlotte have on a number of occasions called for the return of Mr Sears to the area.