Dr.Rufus Ewing invited the media to share his interest for the leadership of the Progressive National Party (PNP).
This is a copy of Dr.Ewing’s speech sent to RTC News:
The representatives of the Media here present, party delegates, supporters and well wishers present and my people across the length and breadth of Turks and Caicos, I bid you good morning. I come before you this morning to declare my intention to contest the Leadership of the Progressive National Party at the next National Convention to be held in the month of May.
My decision to enter politics and to contest the Leadership did not come easily. Though this decision may have been expected by many, it was one that was given much thought and I stand before you today under the guidance of God Almighty and with the support of my family, as I have heeded the call service to my country and have placed this above self.
As one looks at the state of affairs in The Turks and Caicos today, it should be difficult for any Turks and Caicos Islander who is capable and able to ignore the call to duty, to offer their services selflessly to the benefit of our people. This beloved country of ours needs all good men and women to take up the reigns of Leadership and public service to deliver our people from the bondage and oppression of the British Agenda. We need good men and women on both sides of the political divide who will fight tirelessly for the rights and freedom of our people. We need good men and women who will unite in the House of Assembly and represent the interest of the masses of the People and not for selfish personal or political gain.
Yes we do need men and women of intellect and integrity to lead our people forward, but above all things we need individuals with a strong passion for the advancement and development of Turks and Caicos Islanders without fear or favour.
I stand before you here today to offer myself to you the people and to ask for your support if you deem me to be of such character and if you share in my vision of a better Turks and Caicos Islands. I also take this opportunity to invite any and all Turks and Caicos Islanders who believe that they have something offer this country, to stand up and be counted and to join the fight, regardless of your political affiliation. Whether you are PNP or PDM I am confident that we share a common goal for a better Turks and Caicos.
My Turks and Caicos Islanders , it is not my intention to belabor the past, but what I will do is to take you through what my goals are for this PNP Party and this my beloved Turks and Caicos if given the opportunity to serve you.
My Turks and Caicos Islanders we have indeed come a long way, from the days of non representative Government and British Grant and Aid. We have come a long way from the days when our families took to the salt pans and the fields and our men took to the sea for days fishing and trading as the sole means of feeding their families. We have come a long way from the days when the only means of travel between the islands and afar was by boat. We are here now at this point in our development as a result of the hard work, fight and determination of our former politicians and activists such as the Honorable JAGS McCartney. Yes! we have been fending for ourselves and surviving for quite sometime now, and we need to continue to fight to ensure the empowerment of our people and the attainment of an independent Turks and Caicos that is God fearing and enjoys economic, social and political stability.
It is my intention to ensure that we as Turks and Caicos Islanders are mentally, socially, economically and politically prepared for independence as this is my goal.
I would make it a priority to foster unity within this PNP Party, to organize this party into an effective institution of change for the betterment of our people and to ensure that this party is looked upon with credible eyes as an institution of good governance, integrity and progress and an institution of the people.
I would make it my priority to ensure that the economy of this country is revived and our people are put to work again, through the attraction of inward investment through extensive marketing, good incentives and sensible development policies.
I would make it my priority to ensure that our people attain their true potential in life and are well educated, by expanding the early Childhood Education Programme, maintaining our no child left behind policy, expanding and improving our High School vocational training Programme with its extension into the Community College. Thus ensuring that every Turks and Caicos Islander has access to higher education
I would make it my priority to ensure that our economy is diversified through the expansion of existing sectors such as tourism, agriculture and fishing and the introduction of new sectors such as light manufacturing, processing and international trade and commerce. That our bread baskets are expanded by ensuring that every island has enough development to drive its micro economy without an adverse impact on the environment.
I would make it my priority to ensure reduction in the cost of living through the introduction of an environmentally friendly energy policy, reduction in taxation and the production of more goods locally for consumption.
I would make it my priority to ensure that business is conducted efficienly through the introduction of E-Government and that the learning of our children is maximized through the development of a free wireless TCI.
I would make it my priority to ensure that we have a public service that is efficient and effective through the introduction of a School of Government and Management Studies at the Community College where the skills of our Civil Servants are retrained and upgraded to more effectively perform and serve the public and the efforts of our civil servants are appropriately remunerated.
I would make it my priority to ensure that Primary Health Care is expanded and improved to reduce the disease burden of our population and that cost-effective secondary health care is provided in a manner that is acceptable to the people and the health of our people, especially the young, elderly and impoverished are protected through a refined social health insurance programme.
I would make it my priority to ensure that our culture and heritage is magnified in the face of the cultural diversification of our population, to the extent where national pride takes root in our schools, work places and institutions as our people are mentally and socially prepared for an independent Turks and Caicos
I would make it a priority to ensure that our population growth is well controlled, through the introduction of a robust population policy that is tailored to our immigration and development policy.
I would make it a priority to ensure that as a government and a country, integrity, transparency and good governance provides the foundation upon which we serve you the people of Turks and Caicos.
My brothers and sisters these are but a few of my areas of priority. These initiatives will take men and women with vision, dedication, determination, passion and above all an undying love for our country The Turks and Caicos Islands. I present myself to you as one such individual.
To get to know more about Rufus Ewing and his plans for this PNP Party and the Turks and Caicos log on and continue to monitor the information available on www.rufusewing.com. I invite you to support my campaign for Leader of this great Party and by extension Premier of our beloved Turks and Caicos Islands.
