FORMER Prime Minister Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling signing the constitution of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas in 1972 at the Constitutional Conference in London, England.
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell has proposed that the government make the birthday of Sir Lynden Pindling, or a nearby date, a national holiday.
Speaking at a PLP branch meeting in Fox Hill last night, Mr Mitchell said he presented a draft resolution to the party’s caucus to begin discussions on the matter. Sir Lynden, the country’s first prime minister and a key figure in attaining majority rule, would have turned 95 on March 22.
Mr Mitchell said the resolution should be tabled on Thursday and called on supporters to rally behind it.
“His birthday is the 22nd so I’d guess we’d say the 3rd Monday in the month or something,” he said.
Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis, the meeting’s guest speaker, used the platform to call on PLP supporters to prepare for re-election efforts, warning that the party cannot afford to lose power as it continues its policy agenda.
“We have much much more in store and much much more coming on stream,” she said. “We cannot risk losing this term.”
Mrs Coleby-Davis touted several of the administration’s initiatives, including VAT reductions on groceries and imported items, a minimum wage increase that she said benefited nearly 60,000 Bahamians, and an affordable housing initiative.
She said the government’s energy reforms have helped lower electricity costs, with 62 percent of residential customers — some 58,933 households — now receiving monthly bills under $125.
The minister also aimed at the Free National Movement, branding the opposition as weak and disorganised and calling FNM leader Michael Pintard a “jokey” leader.
“I would ask you what has he achieved?” she said, questioning his record as a Cabinet minister in the Minnis administration.
“We know the policy of the FNM. Their policy is to stop, review, cancel and mess up the country. We can’t allow them to get away with that.”
She ended her remarks by urging supporters to unite behind the PLP for a second term.
“The FNM cannot win. We cannot allow us to stop the progress we’re having in this country,” she said.
Comments
bahamianson 1 day, 8 hours ago
Stop running out of, we don’t need anything more named in pindling’s name. Dang , let’s name the island in his name . Let’s name each male born kid Lyndon. When will it stop. Stop running on.
Sickened 1 day, 7 hours ago
Mitchell or is it Michelle now??? You can only laugh at how his mind works. Some say he's smart, most say his head ain't no good.
Serious question though. Did we ask for independence or did England call us in and say here, sign this? Everything I've read points to the latter. If so, I'm not sure why Pindling is credited for it.
empathy 1 day, 7 hours ago
No disrespect to Mr. Pindling or any future Bahamian hero, however we don’t need another holiday in this country 🤦🏽♂️
rosiepi 1 day, 7 hours ago
So at a moment in history while the Bahamas awaits the discovery from the plea deal arranged between the US Attorney and the four incarcerated and indicted former Bahamian officials for drug smuggling, money laundering etc etc., Davis&Co’s Mitchell proposes a holiday to laud the first Bahamian born PM who set himself up as the Kingpin of the Caribbean drug trade?
Who was so successful and made so much money that he obviously still stirs the pride and the ‘entrepreneurial’ spirit of Bahamians today! The Bahamas, where our only bad optic is our murder rate!
Dawes 1 day, 6 hours ago
March 22nd wouldn't work as that could be Easter which already is a holiday. PLP need to remind people about majority rule and independence and make them think PLP did this (not the Bahamian people who voted), as they hope people would then forget all the terrible decisions they have made (and a lot of them recent). If we are going to have a holiday make it at a period when there aren't many holidays and you can call it PLP day. Hell maybe make it the fourth Thursday in November as most of us already celebrate that day (or the Monday after Superbowl would be great too).
hrysippus 1 day, 6 hours ago
Why not have 73 new public holidays; one for each of the PLP's elected with a declaration of owning less than $100,000 but left office owning several millions of dollars?
hj 1 day, 4 hours ago
Here are some more suggestions to Freddy about some more public holidays Pindling's wedding day Christie's day he was called to the Bahamas Bar Freddie's day he graduated from high school Davis day he was first elected as an MP
sheeprunner12 1 day, 2 hours ago
We don't need a SLOP Day.
We have two faux PLP holidays now Jan 10 and October Monday.
This PLP hero worship is becoming ridiculous.
ExposedU2C 1 day, 2 hours ago
The last thing our country needs is another public holiday. Our nation's domestic productivity levels are already way too low as it is.
Corrupt and wimpy Davis is desperate to distract our attention with all kinds of nonsense, including the PLP's non-stop worshipping of Poodling. Wimpy Davis may even be unaware that most Bahamians, especially those under age 55, now appreciate that the last 15 years of Poodling's 25 year reign as PM put our nation on course to the very dismal state it finds itself in today.
The PLP must be truly desperate if they are trying to turn Poodling into the Bahamian version of Islam's Muhammad. LOL
bahamianson 12 hours, 34 minutes ago
Plus , they want to give a 28 year old female living in a car a year off for each pregnancy. What the hell is that all about. No one works in government offices as we speak much less we give a female 1 year off for pregnancy. Next the 4 males accused of being the father will want time off as well.
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