Salutations
Mr. Speaker, the Nigerian Novelist Chimamanda Adichie in “the danger of a single story” warns that if we hear only a single story about a person, a country, or an event, we risk a critical misunderstanding, and it leads to the loss of important information and the loss of facts, and that it make one story become the only story.
Therefore Mr. Speaker I will present a different story, different from the story that was presented by the Minister of Finance about what the Budget estimates and the information in the appropriations committee report tell us.
And Mr. Speaker, even though I have the right to remain silent, I choose not to remain silent, I cannot remain silent when things are not right in our country.
Some of you will not agree with the statements that I make today, and that’s ok, it is your right not to. However, I would implore you to consider the facts or at least check for yourself the accuracy of the information presented by my telling of a different story, disproving the misleading statements and misinformation being delivered to the general public during this budget session by this PNP Administration.
Mr. Speaker, my statements will make some of you feel uneasy and may stir up emotions of anger in you, and if have that effect on you, then it means that I am doing my job correctly.
Mr. Speaker, as you all know, I take my job very seriously, and I am committed to diversity of thought, and committed to the accuracy of information, and committed to the truth.
I truly believe with all my heart that I represent the thoughts and emotions of all Turks & Caicos Islanders some of the time, and some Turks & Caicos Islanders all of the time.
I represent all our people who don’t have this platform, who for the most part that feel the way we do, who work tirelessly day in and day out, to put food on their table, who prioritize their family and their faith in God, and who appreciate all the freedoms in our country.
Mr. Speaker, in my presentation you will hear me saying “this PNP Administration”, and I am emphasizing “this” because none of the former administrations of the PNP party are on trial here today, they are not the ones presenting a Budget today. It is you, the now serving members who have to give an account, or lack thereof, for the people’s money going forward into this financial year 2022/2023.
Hon. Rufus Ewing Administration is not before us today, Hon. Michael Misick’s Administration is not before us today, and neither the Hon. Norman Saunders Administration is here before us today. Who is here today is the now Premier, Deputy Premier, their Cabinet, and their House members, all of who were elected into office, in the year 2021, with the historic result being a Big 1 to the smallest 14 you will ever see. Never before in our history Mr. Speaker we have seen 2 so harshly handle 19. We will continue fighting the good fight.
And Mr. Speaker, as all who know me know that I will never judge every member in a group because of the actions of a few. I know that most of the decisions and indecisions made came directly from the Hon. Premier and His Band of Ministers, the backbenchers do not sit in Cabinet, even though some of the members wheel greater influence on decision making than others.
Mr. Speaker, we are now seeing PNP government is in a state of fright, the magnitude of the work has finally set in. Their ideologies are unpopular, and their policies on crime, inflation, economy, and Immigration are all disasters. Mr. Speake, many voters are saying that the Premier is not performing up to expectations and that most times he seems only interested in the views of certain members of the business community. And the voters are saying that we have a deputy Premier that listens to nobody and thinks the only way is his way.
Mr. Speaker, the voters are also saying what will it take to get this Government to talk about the many issues facing our country? They won’t talk to the general public about crime, they won’t talk about the high food prices, they won’t talk about the high gas prices, and they won’t talk about illegal entry into the country.
Yet, Mr. Speaker, they want to be here talking about people living their best lives, that the economy is booming, and how much money our country is making. But what about the real issues our people are facing daily.
Mr. Speaker, I know of many people throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands who are saying that they are not living their best life. How many people in the gallery are living their best life, and how many listening on the radio or on the internet are living their best lives?
We can’t make this up Mr. Speaker, either someone is living their best life or they are not. The facts are the facts.
Mr. Speaker, A country is more than the success of a hand-filled people. The people called Turks and Caicos Islanders are more than the Hon. Premier, his Minister of Finance, his Ministers, and his inner circle…. They may be the only ones living their best lives while most of us are struggling to get by.
Mr. Speaker, I know what it’s like to live from paycheck to paycheck,
I know the struggles of the single parents,
I know the struggles of trying to save a struggling business,
I know the struggles of seeing a very successful business being vandalized go up in flames,
I know the struggles of doing the rounds with the banks while trying the source financing,
I know what it’s like being an educated Turks and Caicos Islander trying to enter a market dominated by foreign owners, and dominated by local owners who are in bed with foreign owners,
I know the struggles of being overlooked for a job, simply because I was a Turks Islander and a beautiful black man.
I know Mr. Speaker… and I represent those people, I am them and they are me.
And your economy is not working for them, no matter how eloquently you say it.
Almost every day, Mr. Speaker, I have conversations with the young men and women at the gym and those in the back on the court, and they tell me how concerned they are about the problems that our country is facing. And they speak about the people who know about these problems and do nothing to solve those problems. I do my best to help, but there is only so much I can do in this current station, however, in my next station I will be able to do much more.
Some, Mr. Speaker is even afraid to talk about the problems of the country.
And while the Premier and his Cabinet are keeping silent, Mr. Speaker, many of our people are systemically getting left behind.
Mr. Speaker even the concept of the Turks and Caicos citizen is now disappearing. The privileges of being a citizen of our country are slowly being taken away under the umbrella of so call inclusion. Membership must have its privileges Mr. Speaker.
Last Budget debate the Premiere and the Ministers promised to transform the country and transform Government, and that we all will be living our best lives. They said that they would change the country more than any Government has ever done (Citizens Guide to Budget 2021/2022).
That did not happen Mr. Speaker. In fact, we were here re-appropriating some $15M that did not go into the life-changing programs they were budgeted for, instead more than half of it was used to buy land instead.
The Premier and his Cabinet chose to purchase land over helping people.
Mr. Speaker, we are seeing a shocking distribution of wealth here in the TCI, mostly among persons who do not look like you or me. However, there are only a small number of local companies making money, some are playing by the rules and making us proud, while others are getting a very unfair advantage from the Premier and his Government. You all in here know it, many others on the outside know it, the country knows it, but many are afraid to say it. Just ask who is making all the money in the country?And who is being giving an unfair advantage by this PNP administration?
If people do not believe me, then let me prove it. Mr. Speaker, you know I always can back up what I say. Just look at the last Post-Cabinet release- and you will see business getting a concession, a big tax break, and it’s not a local business, it’s not one of ours.
Shall I read it – Approve the exemption of import duties for the importation of all-terrain vehicles by the company for the provisions of excursion to the Cruise Ship passengers on Grand Turk.
How many of our business people got that tax break that you are given to a foreign company?
Many stay quiet because they know the modus operandi of this PNP administration, to financially crush any political opponent.
Mr. Speaker, in some countries literally kill you for exposing information, or being an opposition to the government, but here in the Turks and Caicos, This PNP administration has mastered the art of the “slow death”, and their signature move which is the “ Yellow Strangle Hole.
It has been said that this strangle hole that will squeeze all the economic life out of you and your business. Some also say that this administration would tell people not to do business with you, not to hire you. This is what they do Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I now turn directly to the story of the appropriations before us.
My presentation theme is Uncontrolled Crime, Inflation, Economy, Immigration
Crime
The Hon. Minister of Finance stated in his presentation “ We are creating a future that our children can look forward to and one that our young people can get excited about,”
Mr. Speaker Many of our young people are unable to bear what is happening in the country, some are now afraid to go out and enjoy their time. Some are afraid to go to the ballparks, some are now afraid to leave their homes at night while others do not feel safe in their homes at night. So, I cannot comprehend how he could be here talking about creating this future to look forward to, while they are afraid to talk about crime, let alone address it.
Many of our residents are worried sick about the safety of our families and the safety of our children? Is this the bright future that he is talking about? Take a look at what is happing in our country. Crime has never been like this in our country. I am living this part out of my written statement, as I do not want to do potential harm to our Tourist Brand, but I will say it…………
CCTV- need enhancement/Training- Not in this budget- There are more advanced cameras with sharper focus.
Where is this helping our people in living their best lives?
Law Enforcement
Mr. Speaker, what is the amount for law enforcement in this Budget? let’s look at page 5.4 of the Budget Book
Mobile Police station- I am glad that it is there, but truth be told you have never heard about this until the PDM’s Deputy Leader and myself mentioned it in an Interview…. But one is not enough for Provo, and One should have been in this budget for North and Middle Caicos.
Mr. Speaker, there is no raise in salary or benefits for the Police Officers, and this Government is expecting them to put their lives on the line every day and every night for a few dollars
Defense
The MOF says and I quote “our government is committed to bolstering our security and defenses- and what is their plan to achieve this? I will tell you, the Minister of Finance stated and I quote (pg13). Mr. Speaker the regiment is getting one boat and a few vehicles for Providenciales only. If you are serious about defense, why they are not getting a vehicle for each Island so that they can perform duties on any Island when needed. Why they are not getting a boat for patrolling South East of Salt Cay?
Border Crises
We have a dangerous crisis of national security going on through our porous borders Mr. Speaker. We are seeing daily videos of newly arrived illegals just running on our streets and through our properties, and those are the unlucky ones that cameras picked up. Imagine how many we do not see
Is this what you mean Mr. Minister of Finance by “building an economy that works for all people, opportunity, and prosperity”. Surely this is not working for us, and this occurrence is not helping our people live their best lives.
We had the national emergency of COVID-19, and the Government directed the majority of its funds and resources to deal with it. Money was cut from other areas in the Budgets in order to prepare for the battle with COVID. Now we have a crime and immigration crisis, why aren’t we seeing the same type of urgent, precise, and focused response being given by the Premier and His cabinet in dealing with crime and immigration.
We can do without a few million-dollar plots at the moment while we are addressing this illegal immigration and Border situation.
Send those millions to border patrol, send those millions to the police, send those millions to fisheries.
Mr. Speaker, just look at the high numbers of illegal entries, Illegal immigrants are coming here faster and easier, using speed boats. If the numbers alone aren’t stressing enough, take a look at who some of these people are – they are not just the people seeking a better life, there are now criminals, drug dealers, and gang members. The numbers are increasing and the Premier is not ready
Fisheries (DECR)
Mr. Speaker, the Hon. MOF spoke about environmental protection- but there is not one boat for Fisheries in DECR to do their patrols No boats for South Caicos, No boats for North and Middle Caicos, no boats for Grand Turk, no boats anywhere.
The Economy
Mr. Speaker the Minister of Finance had stated that this PNP administration had built a strong economy that works for all, “an economy that is centered around people, opportunity, and prosperity.” However, Mr. Speaker, many of our people are coming to the realization that we now live in an absolutely rigged economy, this economy in our country is being controlled by a handful of millionaires, which includes a few Belongers and some non-belongers, and the Premier and Minister of Finance knows all who I am referring to.
They do not care about you, me, nor our people, one bit. What they care about is their profits, and the way that most of them achieve those high-profit margins is by exploiting our working-class people and poor people, exploiting loopholes in our companies and business regulations, and exploiting loopholes in our labor laws in the country.
And Mr. Speaker, voters are questioning if they take a small bit of those profits, and through campaign donations, seduce and entice politicians to pass laws and policies to keep that system going. The voters say that this is demonstrated when politicians come here to this honorable house and take completely insane positions on a bill, and make a strong case for it, like the Beach and Coastal Vending Bill.
Mr. Speaker, This PNP administration is Strong and Wrong.
And the only way to beat Strong and Wrong, is to be truthful and right.
Mr. Speake this Government is trying to brainwash us to ignore the things that really matter. They want to turn our gaze to some border war in Ukraine as the main source of our problems, instead of focusing on the real issues facing our country. (pg 4)
Let’s look at what this PNP administration says about what they are doing to safeguard the economy against external shocks (pg.10 April 22). Mr. Speaker, the MOF stated “To mitigate the impact of these economic shocks on our people, our government has provided US$15Min direct assistance through reductions in the Fuel Tax and Customs Processing Fee.
“This is it Mr. Speaker, this is all a 14-1 government could come up with. And Mr. Speaker, none of that has been passed on to the people, who benefited.
Who saw their food bill decrease?
Who saw the gas bill decrease?
Who saw their power bill decrease?
Mr. Speaker, they were boasting about an economy that is working for all?
Mr. Speaker the Minister of Finance mentioned Import Duties -$153.6M, well that was from our people, no relief there, we are the ones paying all these import duties that he I boasting about.
Work Permit Fees- $32MThat is keeping our people out of work
Stamp Duty on Land Transactions- $80M- that shows the number of our people losing their homes and having to sell their properties.
Mr. Speaker the Hon. Minister talked about the boom in construction- who is getting those big jobs- they are not hiring our people- Its not our people being prosperous in the construction industry, the non-belongers hire non-belongers, and the Turks Islanders are now hiring non-belongers.
Mr. Speaker the Minister of Finance mentioned on page 8 of his presentation, Development agreements resulting in the creation of 293 permanent positions:
Why doesn’t he inform the public how many of those jobs are held by Turks and Caicos Islanders? They would cry shame of him
IMF Visit
Mr. Speaker, we know that the IMF is to promote international monetary cooperation; to facilitate the expansion of international trade, and thus contribute to high employment and real income growth; to promote exchange stability; to assist in the establishment of a multilateral system of current payments and in the elimination of foreign exchange restrictions; to give confidence to members by making resources temporarily available under adequate safeguards in order to minimize the disruption from an adjustment of balance of payments problems, and to help reduce the balance of payments disequilibria
What did you go to the IMF for? Everything this PNP government does is shredded in secrecy – remember the Carnival Contract a few months ago.
The Honorable Minister stated that “The people have the right to access timely efficient and accurate government information”
So Mr. Speaker, why are the reason for, and contents of this meeting being kept from our people? The people have a right to know. Did it have something to do with currency or borrowing? What is this PNP Administration getting the Turks and Caicos into?
Cost of Doing Business in the TCI
Mr. Speaker, this PNP administration has made it extremely difficult for local businesses to survive. Our people are being priced out of the market, and the processes are more complicated than ever.
Now our business people have to get approvals from about six different government offices before being issued a business license, and if you are a beach and coastal vender or a water sports operator, you need about 10 different approvals before being issued the license.
Additionally, if one wants to get a limited registered company, the agencies are charging an additional $300 on top of the $700 previously being charged.
And this administration believes that they have people living their best lives? No, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker this PNP administration promised in last year’s budget to have electric ID cards for everyone- where are our cards? Now he is promising it again, but he is here saying “it is our commitment to deliver on every pledge”
Mr. Speaker on page 15 of the Citizens guide to the Budget 2021/2022 Book – this Government states:
Inflation
When the MOF is here bragging about this budget, Turks & Caicos Islanders are getting poorer, and they feel it, there is no hiding it, many TCI cannot afford to live in their own country, why? In the last year meat, chicken, fish, fruits, and vegetables jumped almost 20 %, from my observations in the change of prices at the grocery store. Gas up 30%.
But this PNP administration barely acknowledges this. Their only solution, give the big business people a customs tax break and only benefited big business, not the consumers.
Why aren’t they giving us weekly inflation numbers? Yesterday was the first we herd them mentioned it. Did any of you received information before that the Turks and Caicos inflation rate was significantly above 6%. (pg. 5)
Why can’t we get information on the percentage increases in the cost of goods, materials, and supplies?
Mr. Speaker the voters are taking notice.
Countries moving to insulate their people from the Russia Ukraine crisis, and this government has no plans to put in place?
Everything has gone up Mr. Speaker, food, construction materials, gas – Imagine how bad it is for those in North, Middle South, and Salt Cay who normally pay higher than Grand Turk and Provo regularly. Food prices are extremely high for us, so again imagine how high it is in Salt Cay, South, Middle, and North Caicos. And what is this PNP administration doing about it – Absolutely Nothing.
Mr. Speaker the truth is that it does not matter what the MOF says, what I say, or what other members the speak after me say. You all can say whatever you want, but people still live here, and they still have eyes to see, and brains to think, If their lives are getting worse- they know that you are lying, and the beliefs you are selling are hollow- and there is no living their best lives.
With this PNP administration, We are seeing a performance failure and we are seeing a policy failure
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage has to go up, I don’t care about who gave the minimum wage years ago. We know the argument and the excuses that the PNP Government is putting forward, and what other opposers of minimum wage increase are putting forward- Elucidate- but policies must address this balancing
Health Care
Mr. Speaker, the MOF stated on page 4 of his presentation that “We increased investments in delivering first-class health care services. Mr. Speaker that should be the aim, but Mr. Speaker our Health Care System is not first-class, it is a work in progress but it is not there yet, so stop misleading the people. If it was the TCI would have not been spending millions of dollars every month on Treatment abroad, so cut out the misinformation.
What improvements are we getting in Health Care are enabling us to live our best lives, Mr. Speaker, I do not see that in this budget.
Special Needs School- Mr. Speaker last year we saw the removal of the purchase of the Special Needs School for Grand Turk. We were told that the building and location for the school, that the Special Needs Department selected were not suitable, according to them, and that a new state of the art school would be constructed- check the minutes of the House- Where is it Mr. Speaker- was that simply misinformation by the responsible Minister? Expand-
Mr. Speaker for the Upkeep of cemeteries has decreased, even our dearly departed can not live their best life resting in peace.
Education
The Minister of Finance says 37.5 M for education, 6.4 M in new projects, hence most of that is recurrent expenditure let’s look at how that 6.4 M will be spent. They say it’s for Human Capital Development – Pages 5.4-5.5 of the Budget Book green pages.
They are misleading you to think that 6.4 m is for this year… but it is 4M, some 2.4 M less, compare this amount to that of other years.
- MOF on pg. 10 “We are focused on the Creating modern schools that are accessible, equipped with the latest technological tools”
Where is the funding for this in the budget book? Misleading the people again?
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Training
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance spoke about developing Human Capital of the civil service and that $250k was budgeted, and in keeping in line with him misleading the Civil Servants and the public, what he did not tell them was that $150K of that money is already taken and that only $100k is left for all Civil Servants to compete for.
And all the Ministries are depending on it, as they all have very, and I mean very small training budget allocations.
And Mr. Speake, if their training takes them out of the jurisdiction they only get 1/3 of their salary, so how would they take care of their family, mortgages, and expenses here.
Tourism
Mr. Focus on signal over noise, I have learned from my successes and challenges in government that you have to focus on the things that make the product or service better
Mr. Speaker we have to ask ourselves, are these efforts resulting in a better product or service, if they are not, we have to stop those efforts. Don’t just follow the trend
In tourism, we are spending money on advertisements and promotions instead of trying to make our tourism as best and as safe as possible
Instead of spending this money on developing this new body, we should have been spending it on product enhancement. Don’t just follow the trend.
You have to figure out if something really makes sense, or it is just what everyone else is doing.
Is this the right move Mr. Speaker DMO-Page 6 (CGTB 2021/2022)
We are spending millions of dollars on developing this DMO, and Closing the TB(pg. 17) which is a proven champion, and the reigning number one Tourist Board in the region, and we have seen how successful tourism has been.
Now, Mr. Speaker, we have travel warnings- (exp)
Pensions and Gratuities
Mr. Speaker, this was PDM, all the work was completed in 2020, and the budget allocations were made for 2021, but elections happen before.
Mr. Speaker the MOF stated that 14.6 M will be spent on Pensions & Gratuities. He said and I quote “which will allow Civil Servants to live their best lives post-retirement.” Mr. Speaker, if most of them cannot live their best lives on their current salaries, how does the Minister expect them to live their best lives on a fraction of their post-retirement, especially with the yearly changes in the cost of living.
Mr. Speaker, Do you know what the arrangements for pensions were before? Let me tell you, the government paid the entire fund.
Is the 10% really an increase or an offset? 6%for Pension contribution, 2% for NIB contribution, and a minimum amount is left to take home.
Infrastructure
What improvements in infrastructure are we really getting that will allow us to live our best lives?
They say $21M is budgeted, but if you look at 5.4-5, only $12M of that is for this year.
We have more community roads that are too bad to drive on, and none is being paved?
Mr. Speaker, I will take it constituency by constituency
What is in the Budget for our Islands:
Grand Turk North- Royal Caribbean? pushing them to another island – You are getting the tank
Grand Turk South & Salt Cay- nothing on Regular flights, only finishing the canal bridge,
South Caicos- Regular Flights
North & Middle Caicos- Phase 2 of road works for NC- Phase 1?
Leeward & Long Bay-
The Bight & Juba Sound- Streetlights
Cheshire Hall, Kew Town, & Richmond Hill-
Blue Hills-
Five Cays, Chalk Sound, & South Dock- only Venders Marked Sapodilla Bay
Wheeland & West Caicos- The Dump, solid waste management, what is going on here.
- Which constituency in Provo is getting the roads- Road development phase 5 – Do this government of the PDM work phases 1,2,3, & 4
The Hiring of Human Resources
Mr. Speaker I have observed an occurrence in Government, to give these Ministers who they want- a particular Job they would shortlist the person they want and put them up against persons of inferior talent with the aim of guarantying the outcome.
Mr. Speaker sometimes the best-suited person for the job does not get a chance to be higher, they do not get that chance for that promotion.
I have seen the examples of this in government, I have seen the examples of this in the Police Force, and I have noticed it in the Private Sector.
The disparity of Salaries in TCIG
Health Workers’ salaries- pound for pound Health re some of the lowest in government/
Teachers and Principals’ Salaries- Their salaries, like health workers, are some of the lowest in government
Parliamentarians’ Salaries /other than Cabinet Members
Mr. Speaker, there are 110 job positions in Government that make more in salary than Regular Parliamentarians.
Most Deputy Directors /statutory Bodies make $5k more
Most Directors make 10K more than regular House members.
Deputy Secretaries make $12k more than regular House members.
Permanent Secretaries make $20 more than regular House members.
Five directors make $40 more than regular House members.
Four CEOs make $60k more than regular House members.
One CEO makes $70k more than regular House members.
Five CEOs make $90K more than regular House members.
One Change manager makes $100k more than regular House members.
Two CEOs make $110k more
POLICIES
- Sports Policy- That was me, and the PDM
- Treatment Abroad- That was me, and the PDM
- Agriculture Policy- That was me, and the PDM
- Transport Master Plan- that was the PDM, through CDB
- Solid Waste Management Study- That was the PDM, through CDB, but we took the position of moving forward- had sent out a tender for expressions of interest
- Sea Defense Study- That was PDM, through CDB
Wrapping Up
Mr. Speaker, in wrapping up, all can now see that this PNP government has demonstrated that they have no idea how to improve people’s lives, nor how to deal with the major problems of the country. They know that they cannot continue to control this country if our people have access to factual information, so the best they can do is misled you and demand that you believe it.
To do that they have to make sure their view is the only one you hear so that you will have no other choice than other than to blindly follow them. They want to hold on to power and they want to control what you think.
Our listeners would soon hear members banging on the desk for the slightest underfunded allocation listed here, that are far less than in other years. Mr. Speaker, Listeners, their role will be to strip all truths in my statement that challenges the Premier and this PNP administration. We must allow the facts to prevail over disinformation.
Mr. Speaker, you and all listeners will hear the army of presenters following me, attempting to discredit what I have said. You will again hear them talking about what I did and did not do when I was a Minister, and Mr. Speaker, whenever that comes up all me to place my record, which can be verified, on the desk in front of them.
However, Mr. Speaker, I can tell them with all confidence that I am not the same person I was 4 years ago, in loosing there are certain things you can figure out, things to improve on, a certain weakness that was exposed that needed strengthening. And Mr. Speaker, it’s always hard to face losing, that’s a really tough challenge, and one I welcome.
Every session of the House I am reminded of my past shortcomings hundreds of times by the many members opposite, and I am I expect to be reminded of my loss hundreds of times in this session. But as a Leader, the psychology is to get locked in and get into that mental space where none of the outside noise matters, becoming completely focused on what I am trying to accomplish for my people in this House.
The noise of the members does matter, the banging on the table doesn’t matter, all that matters is that I am the best version of myself, fulfilling my role and responsibilities to our people.
Mr. Speaker, I end by saying this- the facts show that the Premier, His Deputy the Minister of Finance, and their administration are out of touch. If they were truly in touch with people who are suffering, then they would not be here saying that our people are living their best lives.
If they were truly in touch with people who are on the verge of losing their job, they won’t be here saying this government had created opportunity and prosperity for all the people.
If they were truly in touch with some whose business is struggling and finding it hard to compete with all the large foreign players, you won’t be here saying that the economy is Booming.
If you were truly in touch with someone who has had their home burglarized or business robbed, you won’t be here saying that safety and security have been a priority for your Government
And if you were truly in touch with someone who has lost a family member to gun violence, you won’t be here saying that you have created a future that our people can look forward to.
Closing
My parting words to all under the sound of my voice is that we are all one people, on the same team, which is team TCI. I am committed to being the change that I want to see.
The Hon. Premiere and I are on the same team, but only different captains with different philosophies and different methods for achieving team success.
And our people should always be the ones deciding which capital will lead the team every four years, and they have the right to change the captain whenever they are dissatisfied, or to keep that captain on whenever they are satisfied. That is the beauty of democracy.
And Mr. Speaker, it might sound cliche, but love is always the answer, we should all be a little nicer to each other. We have to give more credit to our people and don’t assume that they are bad people unless it is actually proven that they are.
It’s easy to demonize people who are not on our team, and we are usually wrong about them, some people are much nicer than you think. If we start appreciating our people a little bit more, not just our friends, but also our competitors, and if we could just put a little more love in our hearts, then maybe, God will heal our land.
May the peace of God be with You.
Thank You.
