By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FOREIGN Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell last night promised that the PLP would triple the country’s immigration force, expanding it from “300 to 900” in the next term if elected.
“That is real heavy lifting and empowerment,” he said, during night two of the PLP’s national convention at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort.
During one of the best received speeches of the night, Mr Mitchell also struck a nationalistic tone, railing against Fred Smith-led human rights organisations, which he said pose a “clear and present danger” to the PLP.
Mr Mitchell played an audio clip of Mr Smith calling the Bahamas “nationally insecure and very hateful” to foreigners, comments for which he later apologised.
“The broader point I make is that the PLP is struggling to control the narrative in the process of this political battle and in shaping public opinion,” he said. “This (convention) then is the time to take stock of how things really run and why there is overwhelmingly negative tone around everything that we do. We must reverse this and begin to move effectively to mould and shape public opinion.”
“I think, therefore, that this party has a compelling case to tell Fred Smith, QC, and his fellow travellers to take his so-called apology and shove it,” the Fox Hill MP said.
“ . . . Save The Bays, the phony environmental organisation, has the same people who run the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association, who are the same people who have run to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission to complain saying their lives are in danger then refuse to cooperate with the police,” Mr Mitchell told the crowd.
“These are the same people who want openness, transparency and freedom of information who have sued newspapers in libel to silence them and then have run to the courts to stop members of Parliament from speaking in the House.
“This is a clear and present danger to the PLP. In other words, the question is where does the money come from to pay for all this litigation, which is leading to the inability of your MPs to do their jobs? We must follow the money trail wherever it goes. This is a matter of this PLP’s survival.”
Speaking to increasing applause, Mr Mitchell also pledged to protect the Bahamas from all manners of people, those from “Latin America, China and the Far East,” as well as those who come “as legitimate traders and end up working outside the scope of their work permits, robbing Bahamians of legitimate job opportunities.”
He also pledged that the Department of Immigration “will revoke the permits of those found by the Department of Labour to abuse Bahamian workers.”
At the event last night, PLP supporters at the Melia Resort screamed and danced as government minsters and parliamentarians declared the PLP the party of stability.
After listening for years to anti-PLP sentiments blaring from radios and shown across social media, supporters boasted about the crowded and loud nature of the gathering, describing it as a prime opportunity to showcase their pride in a party they insisted has never stopped believing in Bahamians.
Last night, the convention saw its candidates speak of their accomplishments while firing up its base as the night’s programme moved along at a crisp pace.
Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald said the PLP has fulfilled its promise to double the country’s investment in education while introducing the national high school diploma, which “sets a new and higher, internationally recognised standard for graduation that holds everyone within the education system accountable while improving the chances of our students for entry into tertiary institutions nationally and internationally.” Although she lamented the country’s reputation as a tax haven, Financial Services Minister Hope Strachan said stakeholders have nothing to fear regarding the sector, pointing to the establishment of the Bahamas Bureau of Standards as a significant achievement of her tenure. Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez touted the benefits of one of the Christie administration’s flagship policy endeavours: National Health Insurance (NHI), emphasising that when the programme’s services are introduced, poverty will no longer hinder some Bahamians from receiving healthcare.
Throughout the night, speakers focused more on highlighting what they saw as accomplishments since their election in 2012, as opposed to laying out plans and a vision for a next term.
Comments
jus2cents 7 years, 9 months ago
Why triple immigration and the cost that go with it!? When your boy Trump will be doing most of it for us?
GrassRoot 7 years, 9 months ago
how about a wall?
Emac 7 years, 9 months ago
Lol,,Where we gon put that wall? Between Inagua and Haiti and perhaps have Haiti pay for it???
sealice 7 years, 9 months ago
Fweddy (bury your root in foxhill) Mitchell wants to try solve the unemployment in the bahamas by government hiring.... now that's original more do nothing government employees and their respective unions trying to get the raises for doing nothing......
Honestman 7 years, 9 months ago
No doubt Freddy's travel expense budget will also treble if granted another term. Seriously, if Bahamians vote these jokers in for another five years then the country deserves what's coming to it.
TalRussell 7 years, 9 months ago
Comrade Minister Freddy, drew the loudest applause with his strikingly powerful best of all addresses at the PLP's convention. You anti-Freddylites, really to take the timeout to fully read and digest the gifted minister's address - and its importance to guaranteeing the security and protection of our Bahamaland's under threat sovereignty.
DPM "Brave" Davis and Minister "Numbers" Obadiah - best guard their political futures when not if but when Freddy gears up to be PM.
TalRussell 7 years, 9 months ago
Comrades! Few will deny that not only is there but one cabinet minister willing to address important nationalism issues but Minister Freddy is the one member of the People's Honourable Assembly, willing to stand to protect the sovereignty of Bahamaland against all known andunknown enemies - foreign and from within.
banker 7 years, 9 months ago
I have seen the enemy, and it is us!
DEDDIE 7 years, 9 months ago
Fred Mitchell has brilliantly plotted his rise in the PLP right down to convincing Perry to gave him the Department of Immigration. Fred Mitchell knows that tough rhetoric on immigration will endear him to the populace. Alas, I thought his fanatic desire to be PM would have compel him into an arrange marriage but he doesn't seem prepared to make that sacrifice. He is betting that the seem way Jamaica overlook PJ Patterson singleness, Bahamians would also give him a pass.
SP 7 years, 9 months ago
.... Blah, Blah, Blah, We're Not Interested In What Fred "Say's" WHAT has He DONE? .....
Why the FOOK would anyone be stupid enough to believe Fred's promises when he already had 5 years to "DO" what he now says??
"We Believe In Bahamians" "Bahamians First" was the last big promise. Now this twaddle!
Go FOOK yourself Fred & the PLP. Nobody with an once of sense will ever believe anything you pirates say ever again!
Greentea 7 years, 9 months ago
10 years. He been here before. None of these fellas have anything to show for their time in government. It is a sad state of affairs.
Alex_Charles 7 years, 9 months ago
How about they fix the fucking deficit so we don't get downgraded for a 5th time?
Oh but no-one wants to hear about any fiscal policy, this is the Bahamas, one big plantation.
C2B 7 years, 9 months ago
600 more government employees costing 18 million a year or more. Great idea.
Porcupine 7 years, 9 months ago
Our children will suffer for the foolishness that goes on in The Bahamas. As backwards as backwards can be.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 9 months ago
We do not need one more civil servant in this country ......... we need 30% of the present government employees sent home now ........... most have NOTHING to do except collect salary that the government has to borrow each month ......... what as waste
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 9 months ago
And DAS where da WAT money gonna go!
Sign in to comment
OpenID