‘A strong, united Progressive Labour Party is unstoppable’, David Burt tells PLP conference
David Burt used a rallying call to supporters to say his wife had endured “vicious and false stories” that had been targeted at attacking him.
The Premier appeared to brand the bid to oust him as “silly season” stuff as he called for unity in the Progressive Labour Party on the eve of delegates deciding between himself and Curtis Dickinson, the former finance minister, as party leader.
Speaking at the first night of the three-day PLP conference, Mr Burt praised his wife Kristin as a “strong Black woman”.
Addressing her directly from the stage, he said: “You had to go through a pandemic where you had to shoulder most of the burden of home schooling.
“You had to shoulder most of the burden of our household and you had to deal with the vicious and false stories that the enemies of the Progressive Labour Party have used to try to attack the leader of the PLP, who is so blessed to be your husband.”
Mr Burt added: “These last few weeks have not been easy for me. Nor have they been easy on Kristin and my immediate family.
“But, we must believe that this too shall pass, and we must hope that these attacks come from a small minority who want to see this party divided.
“A lot of it has been said, much of it negative, in an effort to pit one candidate again another and create division in this party.”
Mr Burt did not elaborate on what the “vicious and false stories” related to.
Mr Burt said the party was stronger united. He said: “We must continue to treat each other with respect recognising that a strong, united Progressive Labour Party is unstoppable.
“So, now when the campaign is over and we vote, I pray that all of the members of this great party can put this silly season behind us.”
Mr Burt insisted he was confident the $376 million deal with developers Gencom regarding the Fairmont Southampton refurbishment would complete.
At the leadership debate on Saturday, the Premier said: “The deal has been done. The deal has been signed.
“What we are doing is getting to the closing process, which takes 45 to 60 days.
“It was very difficult due to market conditions. They have had to put more money into the deal. But that deal has closed and it is ready to go.”
However, at the conference Mr Burt said: “Debates are difficult and sometimes you might say a word or two … but this Government sealed the deal to reopen the Fairmont Southampton.
“I said we signed the heads of terms, we are going through the closing documentation.”
Referring to a WhatsApp message, the Premier said: “The latest WhatsApp forward today is that people from Fairmont Southampton said the deal’s not signed.”
He added: “The heads of terms has been signed … there’s a whole lot of teams of lawyers working through that closing process. And I have complete confidence that that deal will close.”
Earlier, Jache Adams MP said that there were some present at the conference opening not out of love for the party, but because they wanted to see “mud slinging”.
He added that opponents of the PLP hoped to “divide and conquer”, and quoted former party leaders about the need to stand united.
“The fact still remains, we will never be as efficient as we need to be, we will never be as efficient as we need to be, and we certainly never be as progressive as we need to be when members put their own self interests and selfish ambitions before the party,” Mr Adams said.
He said he loved the PLP but it took discipline to present a united front and pledged to never publicly speak ill of a member of the party and support the leader and deputy leader of the party whoever they may be.
Lindsay Simmons, a government senator, celebrated those who laid the “brick and mortars” for the Progressive Labour Party.
She said that the PLP has continued to evolve in recent years and highlighted recent initiatives such as the mortgage guarantee scheme and the independent living transition programme, which would guide young people as they exit the foster care system.
“This is a piece that has been missing when our children age out of the foster care system,” she said. “As a foster parent, I know personally that many foster children will have the opportunity to transition into society with the added help of the independent co-ordinator.”
For more pictures from last night’s PLP conference, click here.
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