MP for West End in 2012
Oct 28th
I must start by stating clearly that I, Jeffrey B. Butler, Sr., am a dedicated and loyal founding member of the Free National Movement. I serve at the pleasure of the Leader the Rt Hon Hubert A. Ingraham in any capacity that he and the party may see fit.
As a true son of West End, I offer for and ask for the parties support for the position of Member of Parliament for the constituency of West End and Bimini, I will attempt to outline my political ambitions and my campaign strategy.
Regardless of my offer to serve, I pledge to totally support the candidate chosen by the party to the best of my ability for the benefit of Grand Bahama and the Country.
The West End of Grand Bahama, being neglected by its Member of Parliament these past thirteen years, is in need of strong leadership and representation. I pledge to provide exactly that.
As one of our country’s leading entrepreneurs for the past 40 years, I have the knowledge, the experience and the desire to revitalize the area for investors, tourism and the people.
The Campaign: It is all about the people, “all” of the people. Holmes Rock area with their strong Turks & Caicos heritage down to my home town of West End. West End has traditionally been a PLP stronghold from the Pindling era. Many of the now generation have been brain washed and manipulated in believing that the PLP have their interest at heart, when in fact, the PLP only finance and cater to a few old guard friends of theirs in the West.
I grew up with this group of fine men and women, and it is my intent to campaign as a friend to all, PLP’s and FNM’s alike. There are many who oppose the FNM for historical reasons, there are few that oppose Jeff Butler, knowing that they know I am a man of integrity that treats all persons equally. I am out to serve the public, the community for the benefit of all, not just the individual. It must be clarified, I do not buy votes.
My promise is simple, once elected as the Member of Parliament , I will endeavor to represent the entire community, using all of my years as a successful business person and all my worldly friends to bring commerce to the area. Jobs, and jobs of substance are what is needed the most. Education and experience bring in well needed higher incomes.
Secondly I would repair the environment in which we live. The drainage system, the sea walls, the roads, the schools and the public services must all be brought up to standard. I have this year designed three concrete parks to be build on the water along the sea wall. These parks would be accessible by walking, biking, driving by car or by boat. These parks would house vendors and provide a venue for arts & crafts, food & beverage and entertainment for our local residents, visitors from Freeport and tourists alike. West End must be a high end, fun and exciting destination.
With this in place, all businesses along the way, from Eight Mile Rock, through Holmes Rock and Dead Mans Reef to West End would benefit. Gas stations, convenience stores, bars & restaurants and others would all benefit from the traffic to and from the West End of Grand Bahama. Remembering at all times that cleanliness is next to Godliness we must make the entire area pristine and keep it that way. We must plant trees along the way. Sapadilla, Mango, Guava, Canape, Sour Orange and Hog Plum. Fruit bearing trees that we all grew up with.
Bimini: While it is not yet known if Bimini and West End will remain in the same constituency, I will state clearly that I believe Bimini deserves a Biminite as their representative. The Island of Bimini has for many generations been the pearl of the Caribbean. Hemingway new it, we all know it now. If the wisdom of the party leadership decides to keep West End and Bimini together, then together we shall be. Bimini, in my opinion, is a simple task. Return her to her glory.
Bimini is a fishing Mecca some 48 miles off the coast of Florida. Special attention must be given to attract the small fishing boats, the medium size family and party boats, the SCUBA live-aboard boats and the mega yachts from Europe, Canada, USA and South & Central America. Services such as shopping, European exclusive goods and unique Bahamian goods, and activities can and should be increased to entertain the spouses, children and friends of those die-hard fisherman while they are at sea searching for that ever so elusive blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo and dolphin. I spent many good times in Bimini with my dear friend David Wallace. I got to know Duda and friends and I learned that the good people of Bimini are also in need of good honest leadership and representation. Their present Member of Parliament was for years the Minister of Tourism and did absolutely NOTHING for Bimini. I give my salemn promise to Bimini as I give it to West End, my promise to move forward in all areas of commerce for the betterment of the society in which we live.
As your Member of Parliament, I would be available by phone and email at all times. I would insist on regular and timely visits with scheduled town meetings. Your concerns are of the utmost importance as is your input into your own future and destiny.
Butler shares ‘Destination West End’ vision with residents
Jun 7th
["Butler shares 'Destination West End' vision with resident,"By BARBARA WALKIN, Senior FN Reporter (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)] West Enders turned out in droves Saturday afternoon to hear local businessman Jeff Butler Sr. plans and vision on reviving the economy of the once thriving settlement.
A native of West End, Butler hosted the first Jeffrey Butler Sr., Family Fun Day and a town meeting later in the evening, where he got the opportunity to speak to members of the community one-on-one.
In an interview with The Freeport News, Butler explained that the fun day was the kick-off for ‘Destination West End,’ which is a program he initiated to “bring West End back to its glory days.
“This is the capital of Grand Bahama, this is the only settlement with water on three sides and all of that beautiful ocean, history and view is owned by the people of West End,” he added, noting that the plan is to work with the residents and business owners.
“We are not here to take anything or to dictate, this will be a joint effort together with West Enders.”
Butler said that the first phase of the program is to get West End cleaned up.
“We are going to encourage the business people and owners to rejuvenate their own businesses by fixing up their restaurants, water sports, sport fishing and bone fishing areas,” he disclosed.
Butler also noted that there are plans to reopen the once popular bakery in the village and hire three or four bakers to facilitate the business.
“So there are quite a few plans on the agenda and we are looking forward to this exciting venture,” he added.
Butler noted that the entire community needs to be involved with this project. “What we are trying to do is get total community involvement. Everybody needs to take part and understand that this is not a one man show, and I am not coming down here to do nothing for them but to give them opportunities.
“It is as simple as that,” said Butler. “The old world politics and the way we used to do things in the past is just not right in my opinion. We are self-sufficient, we always have been and we can be again.”
Butler said that he is just the catalyst in the cause, but he will revitalize West End.
Activities at the Park got underway around 3:00 p.m. with live entertainment by ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright, there were food stalls, conch salad, a sweet treats stall and straw and shell products made by vendors in West End.
Butler noted that throughout the day he spoke with residents, who are excited about the plans and they are willing to get on-board to revive their community.
Addressing the concerns in the West End
May 11th
May 6th, 2010
To the Editor;
Dear Sir,
Please allow me the opportunity to respond to your article of Wednesday May 5th reference statements made by Obie Wilschcomb, MP for West End & Bimini.
My first reaction was , here we go again, grand standing for the sole purpose of being in the news. However, after further reflection I thought it prudent to respond because most of what I read, was utter nonsense.
To begin with, Mr. Wilschcomb has no portfolio for anything in the Government and as the Member of Parliament for West End & Bimini perhaps he should (for the first time) concentrate his efforts towards helping the good people of West End & Bimini.
There are a great many people unemployed in both towns unable to pay rent, mortgage, power, phone and even groceries so why is Mr. Wilschcomb attacking the Government for an incident that happened in Freeport. He needs to redirect his energies and focus on what is important for his constituency, something he apparently has never done.
On the subject of the incident in Freeport, I would add that what happened to our three good Bahamian men was a tragic loss of life and my prayers then and now go out to the family and friends of the three we lost. The Government has done what it had to do on behalf of all of us. That is to commission an independent source, recommended by the world’s best independent consultants. While their findings may not be what the families or especially the opposition want to hear, the Government has the responsibility to have the matter investigated. To the credit of the Government, they chose to have an independent world renowned body locate and put forward an individual whom they felt was the most qualified to provide the Government with the best possible unbiased information and data related to the accident and the circumstances leading up to the horrific accident.
I would remind the readers that this is no small undertaking, not to mention very expensive. I would point out that as a pilot flying my plane in and out of Grand Bahama for over thirty years I have not once seen a tornado near my Island. We have always been very concerned with hurricanes but not tornados.
If Mr. Wilschcomb feels the need to be in the news, fine, let him do so by joining me in rebuilding West End thereby endorse and support my initiative called “Destination West End”.
We have a large group of West End businesses and business people, PLP’s and FNM’s and non voters alike fully involved in this restructuring effort. I could go on and on about what we are accomplishing but that is for another time. My point is that Obie needs to pay attention to those who voted for him and let Mr. Ingraham and his worthy Cabinet do the job that we elected them and pay them to do. A Member of Parliament’s first job is to support the constituents that elected him and quite frankly there is little evidence that any effort has been spent or even focused in any way on West End or Bimini.
Thank you Mr. Editor for allowing me the privilege of commenting on this article and I welcome the views of my fellow Bahamians. May the souls of our brothers lost to the tornado, rest in peace.
Jeffrey B. Butler, Sr
For a better West End