Statement by: Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party
Nassau:  11 January, 2012

This evening, the National General Council of the Progressive Liberal Party unanimously ratified the final five candidates to offer in the upcoming general elections.

They are Dr. Michael Perry Gomez for North Andros and the Berry Islands; Picewell Forbes for Mangrove Cay and South Andros; Gary Sawyer for Central and South Abaco; Damian Gomez for Central and South Eleuthera and Dion Smith for Nassau Village.

Dr. Gomez, a native of the Berry Islands graduated from the University of the West Indies with a medical degree and specialized in Internal Medicine and infectious diseases from Wayne State University. During his illustrious career as a public servant, Dr. Gomez served as the National Director of The Bahamas’ HIV/AIDS programme and is a pioneer in the fight against HIV/AIDS locally and internationally. He also served as head of the Blue Ribbon Commission on National Health Insurance under the last PLP administration.

Mr. Picewell Forbes was born in Smith’s Hill, South Andros. An alumnus of the College of the Bahamas, Mr. Forbes went on to complete studies at the University of the West Indes (Bachelor’s) and Nova Southeastern University (Master’s).

Mr. Forbes has been a member of the broadcasting community for a number of years and has served in various capacities including Announcer, Deputy Director, Radio Programming & Production, Acting Assistant General Manager, Radio and as Deputy General Manager, Radio Programming & Production. He is presently the Member of Parliament for South Andros.

Mr. Gary Sawyer is a native of Cherokee Sound, Abaco and the Principal of Abaco Petroleum. He attended the All-Age School in Man-O-War Cay and took a number of business courses. He is an accomplished businessman with considerable business interests in Abaco and Eleuthera. A former standard bearer for the party in South Abaco, Mr. Sawyer is ready to assume his place on the team and to become the next Member of Parliament for Central and South Abaco.

Attorney Damien Gomez is a graduate of the University of Bristol with a degree in law. He is head of litigation at Chilcott Chambers and has served as a PLP Senator and ran for the North Eleuthera constituency during the 2002 general elections.

First time candidate Dion Smith, a young attorney, was previously ratified for the constituency of Kennedy, which under the new boundaries no longer exists. He has now been ratified as the candidate for the Nassau Village constituency. He is the Managing Partner of Dion D. Smith and Company.

These new candidates join what is already an extraordinary slate, the best ever put forward by any political party in The Bahamas. They stand ready to implement the PLP's serious and innovative plans to reduce violence and create jobs. The Progressive Liberal Party is ready to invest in people, ready to put Bahamians first.

I am pleased to officially announce those candidates ratified by the Progressive Liberal Party for the upcoming elections:

New Providence

Bain Town and Grants Town - Dr. Bernard Nottage
Bamboo Town - Renward Wells
Carmichael - Dr. Daniel Johnson
Centreville - Perry G. Christie
Elizabeth - Ryan Pinder
Englerston - Glenys Hanna Martin
Fort Charlotte - Dr. Andre Rollins
Fox Hill - Fred Mitchell
Garden Hills - Dr. Kendal Major
Golden Gates - D. Shane Gibson
Golden Isles - Michael Halkitis
Killarney - Jerome Gomez
Marathon - Jerome Fitzgerald
Montague - Frank Smith
Mt. Moriah - Arnold Forbes
Nassau Village - Dion Smith
Pinewood Gardens - Khaalis Rolle
Sea Breeze - Hope Strachan
South Beach - Cleola Hamilton
Southern Shores - Kenred Dorsett
St. Anne’s - Gregory Burrows
Tall Pines - Leslie Miller
Yamacraw - Melanie Griffin

Grand Bahama

Central Grand Bahama - Julian Russell
East Grand Bahama - Tanisha Tynes
Marco City - Gregory Moss
Pine Ridge - Dr. Michael Darville
West Grand Bahama and Bimini - Obie Wilchcombe

Family Islands

North Abaco - Renardo Curry
Central and South Abaco - Gary Sawyer
North Andros and the Berry Islands - Dr. M. Perry Gomez
Mangrove Cay and South Andros - Picewell Forbes
North Eleuthera - Clay Sweeting
Central and South Eleuthera - Damien Gomez
Cat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador - Philip ‘Brave” Davis
The Exumas and Ragged Island - Anthony Moss
Long Island - Alex Storr
MICAL - Hon. V. Alfred Gray

The ratification of these candidates now completes the PLP slate of candidates who will run in the 2012 General Elections.

WE BELIEVE IN THE BAHAMAS. WE BELIEVE IN BAHAMIANS.