By KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, Guardian Staff Reporter
As a result of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Frances in Grand Bahama and a number of Family Islands, the Progressive Liberal Party has decided to postpone its 39th Annual General Convention, which was scheduled to take place in Grand Bahama, Nov. 14-20.
The Guardian was told that members voted unanimously on the matter Thursday night, at a meeting of the National General Council at the Sir Lynden Pindling Centre on Farrington Road.
The resolution for postponement was introduced by Leadership Council Member, George Mackey, who reminded members that it was the strength of the Family Islands that allowed the party to be victorious for 25 years, in fact to be in power now.
The Hon George Smith, who heads the party Hurricane Relief Committee, seconded the motion, pointing out that in Grand Bahama 600 homes were destroyed and about 2,000 buildings remain in a state of disrepair.
In an interview with the Guardian on Friday, Mr Mackey said these islanders are the ones who kept the Progressive Liberal Party in government for 25 years. He said it was only fitting now that the party assist those people who were affected by Hurricane Frances, regardless of their political persuasion.
"These people, particularly in Grand Bahama where we have six constituencies, these people have lost everything. I could have cried when I heard the prime minister mentioned one particular street in West End where the whole street was lined with just old clothes. And we can't, in good conscience, expect them to pay to come to the convention," he explained.
Mr Mackey said it was decided last year to hold the convention in Grand Bahama, but after the matter was revisited earlier this year and executives considered the feasibility of that, it was noted that the party would not have been able to go through with that plan because of the cost.
It was estimated that to host the convention in Grand Bahama the cost would have been over a $250,000 million.
"Even if we could have afford to bring them here, their minds would not have been on no convention. We need help, and to me, if you are going to set your priorities right, you cancel out your convention and whatever funds you would have used for that convention, you donate that," Mr Mackey said.
He pointed to a relief fund set up at the party headquarters. He explained that each year, each constituency sends in $1,000 as a convention tax, and all of that will go into a pool to help with the cost of the convention.
"What I recommended last night in asking for them to postpone the convention was that the New Providence constituencies, which is about 20 of them, still pay their convention tax which will give them about $20,000 and that money be used to assist people in the Family Islands," he said.
Mr Mackey, the former representative of the Fox Hill constituency, chaired 21 conventions for the Progressive Liberal Party, starting in 1969. He said, over the years, Family Islanders have supported the party, many coming to convention having to foot the bills on their own.
Now, he said, politics must be placed aside and all who were victims of Hurricane Frances must be rendered assistance. He pointed out that the storm did not discriminate.
"There are Bahamians out there who are in need, and whomever need the help, we give the help," he said.
No date has been set for the postponed convention.
