PLP Leadership On The Ground in Eleuthera As South Eleuthera Branch Officers Are Elected

PLP Leader Hon. Perry Christie, addressing members of the South Eleuthera PLP Branch on August 12th.

Three new Candidates in Nassau and Grand Bahama introduced to the audience. Seven Candidates in South Eleuthera vying to replace outgoing MP and former Speaker of The House of Assembly, Oswald Ingraham.

(Savannah Sound, Eleuthera) - The South Eleuthera Branch of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) hosted the Leader of the Party, the Hon. Perry Christie along with a number of PLP Members of Parliament and other high ranking party officials on Thursday, August 12th as they kicked off their 2012 political campaign season with an election of local branch officers.

The Resource Center in Savannah Sound where the meeting was held spilled over with many persons having to take advantage of standing room, where they robustly participated in nominating and voting in new officers in the positions of; Chairman, Lionel Fernander; 1st Vice Chairman, Hank Johnson; 2nd Vice Chairman, Danielle Gibson; Secretary, Paula Johnson; Assistant Secretary, Paulette Strachan; Treasurer, Shanell Richards; Assistant Treasurer, Reginald Bodie; NGC (National General Council) Member, Danny Rankine; and Chaplain, Vernon Sweeting. 

Newly elected Officers (L-R): Paulette Strachan (Asst. Secretary), Paula Johnson (Secretary),
Danielle Gibson (2nd Vice Chairman), Reginald Bodie (Asst. Treasurer), Shanell Richards
(Treasurer), Lionel Fernander (Chairman), Hank Johnson(First Vice Chairman), Danny Rankine (NGC Member)

Prior to the commencement of the official business of the evening, three recently deceased members were recognized and solemnly remembered with a moment of silence (they were Rowena Anderson – former Senior Councilor, Winsette Cooper – former Chaplain and Fred Bethel).

Front Row L-R:  Hon. Oswald Ingraham , Hon. Bernard Nottage, Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Lionel Fernander, Hon. Philip 'Brave' Davis, Hon. Perry Christie

A high powered panel of speakers addressed those present after the election of officers took place, beginning first with South Eleuthera’s current Member of Parliament, Hon. Oswald Ingraham, followed by Ryan Pinder, Parliament’s newest member and PLP representative for the Elizabeth constituency in Nassau – having won by a hair with just three votes in a highly contested bi-election in Q1, 2010.   Pinder highlighted his strong connection with Eleuthera, having descended from Spanish Wells parentage and claimed an understanding of the issues of farmers and fisherman on the island. 

Hon. Bernard Nottage addressing the crowd

Hon. Bernard Nottage, Member of Parliament for Bain and Grants Town also addressed the audience saying, “People are calling for a change”, and promised the building of a mini-hospital in Eleuthera, an issue he felt was a concern for many on the island.  Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini and Deputy Party Leader & Member of Parliament for Cat Island and San Salvador, Hon. Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, also spoke, motivating the membership present.

Party Leader, Christie, rounding out the panel of main speakers at the event delivered the main address, and gave a clarion call at the end, declaring, “We have to win to save this country!”

Hon. Perry Christie highlighting the Eleuthera roots of the Hon. Ryan Pinder a descendant of Spanish Wells. Pinder proudly stated to The Eleutheran that his ancestry goes back to The Eleutheran Adventurers.

Boasting, “Young, dynamic minds”, being added to the party’s roster, three newly confirmed PLP candidates for the Mount Moriah constituency (Arnold Forbes – Lawyer – taking on the Minister of National Security, the Hon. Tommy Turnquest), Marco City constituency (Gregory Moss – Lawyer – taking on the Minister of State for Finance, the Hon. Shivargo Laing), and Killarney constituency (Jerome Gomez – Venture Capital Fund Manager) traveled with Mr. Christie to Eleuthera and were introduced to the membership. 

Confirmed Candidates (L-R): Jerome Gomez (Killarney constituency) , Arnold Forbes (Mount Moriah constituency), Greg Moss (Marco City).

In the presence of, Mr. Oswald Ingraham, and with his announced consent, Mr. Christie also revealed that applicants for the South Eleuthera PLP Candidacy were now being considered, with some seven possible applicants vying for the opportunity to represent South Eleuthera - including, Mr. Mervin Sweeting, Mr. Romell Knowles , Mr. William McCartney III, Mr. Stafford Symonette, Mr. Damian Gomez, Mr. Hank Johnson, and one unnamed recent applicant.

The Hon. Oswald Ingrahan, MP for South Eleuthera addressing the crowd

He also made known that there were several applicants being currently considered for the North Eleuthera constituency candidacy, which would be decided before year’s end. It was intimated that there was one favoured candidate for the constituency and on the day after, in South Eleuthera, the name of at least one prominent Eleuthera native was being discussed. 

With upcoming elections being described by local branch Chairman, Lionel Fernander, as being, “Just 17 months out”, members in attendance were encouraged to begin important ground work now.

Hon. Perry Christie greets members of the audience

An attentive audience filled the Resource Center in Savannah Sound Eleuthera.