BY LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE House of Assembly chaplain warned parliamentarians yesterday not to “sell dreams just for votes” as the by-election in West Grand Bahama and Bimini nears.

Bishop Valentino Williams urged them to remember people have real issues that require real solutions.

“The truth of the matter is you can never make a promise if you know you can’t make good on it,” he said before the start of yesterday’s sitting, offering a rare comment on a national issue.

“George Chapman says, and I quote, ‘Promise is most given when the least is said.’ When you make a promise, you must do everything in your power to fulfil it. If you can’t fulfil a promise, the onus is on you to be a person of integrity and advise otherwise. As leaders, we must ensure integrity is embedded in our value system.”

After quoting Scripture on the importance of upholding integrity, Bishop Williams said making an unfulfilled promise is one of the easiest ways to cause public distrust.

He added: “As the by-election race heats up for the West Grand Bahama and Bimini seat, I want to encourage both political parties in this honourable house to do the honourable thing –– don’t give people false hope. People have real problems that need real solutions. Don’t sell dreams just for votes. If you give a promise, let your word be your bond.”

“I leave you with this thought: Don’t ever promise more than you can deliver, but always deliver more than you can promise.”

A date for the by-election to replace Obie Wilchcombe has not been announced. However, governing party officials say it will happen next month after the PLP’s convention, which will occur on November 9 and 10.

The election must be held by November 25.