While receiving his instruments of appointment to the office of leader of the official opposition, former prime minister, Hubert Ingraham, promised Bahamians that if elected to office he would work to remove them from a culture of dependency on politicians, while developing a more fair and just society.
“I expect in the weeks ahead to confirm to the public why next time they ought to vote for the Free National Movement,” Mr. Ingraham said during a special ceremony at Government House on Monday.
“We will be re-defining our policies, articulating our positions, and developing a programme to be implemented, when God willing, we assume the mantel of office following the next general election, as is our confident expectation.
“We look forward to working toward the deepening of our democracy and toward developing a fairer and more just society.”
He also promised to be the government who worked for the benefit and advancement of all Bahamians, while making it easier to obtain a job or a contract without political affiliation.
Mr. Ingraham added that one of the visions of his government is to produce an atmosphere of fair play in applying for government housing, licences, or even a scholarship.
Mr. Ingraham’s official appointment came just over two weeks after he was re-elected to lead the Free National Movement at its national convention. He said that the ceremony was particularly important to him because Her Excellency Dame Ivy Dumont, the first female Governor General, conducted it the day before she officially leaves office.
“My apointment this afternoon by Her Excellency Dame Ivy Dumont is also important to me,” he said. “Dame Ivy is the fourth Governor General from whom I have received an instrument of constitutional office.
“I was appointed a Cabinet Minister by Sir Gerald Cash in 1982. In 1990 Sir Clifford Darling appointed me leader of the opposition and in 1992, Prime Minister. Sir Orville Turnquest, the first Governor General appointed under an FNM administration, appointed me Prime Minister for the second time in1997.
“Now Her Excellency Dame Ivy Dumont, also appointed by my administration and the first female Governor General of The Bahamas, has appointed me leader of the opposition.”
He also suggested that he intends to hold the office of official leader for only a short time, as the next general election is less than 18 months away.
“The last time I had this position was from May 1990 to August 1992, a long period of 27 months,” he said. “I do not intend to keep this job for that long this time, as general elections must be held within 18 months and I intend to give up this post to another.
“As we await what I consider, and hopefully what you consider an inevitability, I will perform my duties as leader of the opposition with vigor, determination, and purpose.”
By: Perez Clarke, The Bahama Journal
