The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PLP leadership challenger Alfred Sears said the party’s decision to delay its convention gives him an opportunity to reach more delegates.

The PLP’s council voted on Thursday night to postpone the party convention until January or February of next year due to the damage several islands sustained in Hurricane Matthew.

A January or February convention would coincide with the time frame in which the PLP is expected to ramp up its campaign for the next general election.

As to how the PLP would accommodate Mr Sears in election rallies as a leadership contender, he said: “Due process will require that a nominee for leadership of the party, and any other nominee of the party for any leadership position, be given a fair opportunity in party functions to have equal time to speak as the incumbent.”

Even though the convention is likely to be held as the general election campaign is in full swing, Mr Sears said he does not believe the door is shut on his chances to be made leader. 

“What this has done is cause me to appreciate the kind of leader, the kind of servant leader that I want our party to have,” he said. “The kind of attention to the party structure right now, the lack in many parts of our country six months out before an election of functioning branches in all of our constituencies, councils of stalwart councilors, regional councilors – the lesson I’m taking from all of this is how I conduct myself as leader to ensure that the constitutional elements of the party are functional and vibrant.”

However, Mr Sears conceded that certain “tactics” may have factored into the decision to postpone the convention.

He said: “As a challenger I have to deal with the situation as it is and I can tell you that the vision I am presenting, I am committed to it and my team is committed to it.”

“My position is that the postponement of the convention will give me the opportunity to travel to more Family Islands and I will intensify the campaign and present the alternative vision of broadening the party, deepening the democratic practice within the party and providing more relevant policy options to deal with the social problems and challenges within the Bahamas while better incentivising Bahamian entrepreneurs. The postponement will provide me with the time to reach more people and to gain a wider base of support within the party.”