Torchbearers President Jamaal Moss told the Bahama Journal recently that the Torchbearers will play an integral part of the party’s convention and the further development of the FNM.
"The Torchbearers are going to play an important role in this upcoming convention. I want to say thank you to the party leader Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and [former] FNM Chairman Johnley Ferguson for deeming the first night as youth night. This is a first for any political party and once again the FNM has led the way," Mr. Moss said.
"I think it is very important for us to have this youth night for our young leaders and those young at heart. We will be speaking of a message concerning national issues including crime, immigration and social ills and we will offer possible solutions."
Mr. Moss also took a shot at the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) youth arm, the Progressive Young Liberals (PYL), claiming the group is "off course and visionless."
Mr. Moss said it is the young liberals’ distant approach that sets the two organizations miles apart.
"I say to the Young Liberals with no offense that they are lost. The Young Liberals do not address the national issue. All they do is follow their PLP mandate and that is attack, attack, attack. They come with no possible solutions. I cry shame," he said.
"The facts are if you are going to criticize someone, do so but also come with a possible solution.
Young Liberals cannot tell me to this date from their birth in 1973 that they have produced a young liberal who is now serving in cabinet or in parliament, but I can actually name seven or more."
The Torchbearers president named a number of parliamentarians who rose through the ranks of the Torchbearer’s organization including National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes, Kwasi Thompson and Kendall Wright.
Mr. Moss said unlike the PLP, the voice of the youth is valued and often included in policy making.
"We have four members of our organization who sit on the FNM council. I can proudly say that Torchbearers are a part of the decision making process when it comes to the issues that affect young people. Torchbearers give their views and [those views] have always been respected and acted upon," Mr. Moss said.
