REMARKS BY:
Hon. Neko C. Grant I, J.P.,
Member of Parliament for Central Grand Bahama
on
Sunday, August 21, 2016
at
WESTGEORGE,
Freeport, Grand Bahama
On August 19, 1992 – twenty-four years and two days ago, I was elected as the first Member of Parliament for the newly created Constituency of Lucaya on the island of Grand Bahama.
The Country was in crisis at the time and in need of deliverance. I entered front line politics not to enrich myself, nor for other selfish endeavours, I entered because I felt that I could make a difference.
I was re-elected on the 14th of March 1997, the 2nd of May, 2002 and the 4th of May, 2007. On the 7th of May 2012, I was elected for the newly created Constituency of Central Grand Bahama.
Having been elected for five (5) consecutive terms, I have the privilege of being the longest serving FNM Member of Parliament in the history of the Party.
From 1992 to 1997, I served as Chairman of the Grand Bahama Housing Commission. From 2000 – 2002, I served as Chairman of the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation. Conscientious of the fact that the largest investment most of us would make in life, is the purchase of a home, I was therefore pleased to impact the lives of hundreds of ordinary Bahamians.
Following the General Elections of 2007, I was appointed a Cabinet Minister, serving as Minister of Tourism & Aviation for one year.
In July 2008, I was appointed Minister of Public Works and Transport. A position I enjoyed and found most rewarding. I was honoured to oversee the most comprehensive and ambitious infrastructure program in the history of this country.
I will forever remember August 14, 2008. It was on this day that I landed in Rock Sound, Eleuthera just after sunrise and executed my first contract for road works. I worked my way north, finishing in Harbour Island. By sunset I had executed some $16M dollars in road work contracts for the island of Eleuthera.
The events of August 14, 2008 launched “The Trust Agenda’s Infrastructure Crusade”.
The projects and benefits of the Trust Agenda Infrastructure Crusade are well-documented. Most notable among them is the $150M plus New Providence Road Improvement Project. Though challenging, New Providence road users are extremely pleased and enjoying the benefits of the new roads. The quality of their lives has certainly been improved as a result.
Lucaya/Central Grand Bahama
The boundaries of my Constituency have changed in every General Election since 1992.
Originally, the Eastern boundary was Seahorse Road in the east, and extended to Lewis Yard Primary School in the west. Now, the eastern boundary is Coral Road and it extends to Will Butler corner in Eight Mile Rock in the west.
I am extremely proud to have survived two political tsumanis – May 2nd 2002 and May 7, 2012.
I wish to thank the wonderful people of Lucaya and Central Grand Bahama for their confidence, love and support in five consecutive Elections.
I also thank the Members of Neks Team Lucaya and Neks Team Central Grand Bahama for their hard work, dedication and support over the years.
I am very pleased and proud of the personal accomplishments over the past twenty-four (24) years in my Constituency. From ensuring that the residents of Royal Bahamian Estates, Mack Town, Hunters and Lewis Yard receive city water, the installation of street lights for the first time throughout the Constituency to the transformation and beautification of the Williams/Russell Town shoreline. The works are well-documented. See the attached for just some of them.
My Music Ministry is now celebrating its 20th anniversary – the donation of musical instruments to churches, schools, marching bands and Junkanoo groups, have positively impacted the lives of thousands of youngsters. Marching bands in Exuma and Eleuthera have been the beneficiaries of this project as well.
Schools in my Constituency, St. Georges High and Sister Mary Patricia Juniour High, can boast of having the best Music Labs in the country. I have equipped them with wind instruments, keyboards, piano and violins. Lewis Yard Primary was also presented with wind instruments and keyboards.
I was also pleased to present computers to schools in my Constituency.
In the new fiscal year, focused attention will be given to the improvement and enhancement of recreational facilities throughout the Constituency.
On April 17, 2012 after nominating, in an interview with ZNS Northern Service T.V. in the presence of my wife, my grandson Danny, my sister Violet Wright, I informed the Reporter Joan Davis-Rolle, that it was my last Election.
When Dr. Hubert Minnis assumed the leadership of the FNM in May 2012, I informed him of my intention.
I now wish to reconfirm that I will not seek re-election in the upcoming General Election.
I leave you with the THE PRAYER by Saint Ignatus of Loyola:
“Teach us, good Lord,
to serve You as You deserve
to give and not to count the cost
to fight and not to heed the wounds
to toil and not to seek for rest
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do Your Will.
Amen.
But only to do the Father’s Will.
And for me the Will of the Father was improving the lives of the Bahamian people.
May God bless the wonderful people of Central Grand Bahama, may God bless the FNM, and may God continue to Bless the Bahamas.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
