Bahamas Blog International

The Cost of Living in The Bahamas

2026-10-06T15:34:08.720-04:00

The Impact of the Cost of Living on Businesses and Households in The Bahamas

Reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on Fuel to Provide Financial Relief to Businesses and Households in The Bahamas

By The Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis

The Government speaks about the surplus, strong tourism numbers and a growing economy. But the question is: are Bahamian families feeling it?

The cost of living continues to put pressure on households. Families are dealing with higher electricity and fuel costs, living paycheck to paycheck, and power outages that can mean spoiled food and damaged appliances.

Government must show compassion and provide meaningful relief.

I am proposing:

• Remove VAT from diesel to provide relief to our fishing, construction and manufacturing industries.

• Reduce VAT on fuel to 5%.

• Reduce VAT on electricity to 5% for businesses and 0% for residential customers.

• Encourage employees who can work from home to do so one or two days per week, helping families reduce transportation and fuel costs.

These are practical measures that can help soften the impact of high fuel and electricity costs.

A strong economy must ultimately translate into relief for the Bahamian people.

Source / Comment

The Bahamas: What happened to the National Investment Fund (NIF) Money

2026-09-20T19:29:42.108-04:00

Bahamian Politics - The Bahamas: $1,000,000,000.00 - One Billion Dollars demand a full audit

No full accounting and accountability of $1,000,000,000.00 - One Billion Dollars of the National Investment Fund (NIF) of The Bahamas

By Lynden Nairn

Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas

Sadly, the Bahamian people are being forced to dig for answers to basic questions about their own money. Little has been provided. But this is what we know:

1. In 2025, Parliament authorized the Government to borrow up to $300 million and deposit the proceeds into the National Investment Fund (NIF).

2. In 2026, the Government told the Bahamian people that a further $700 million in excess borrowing proceeds had been transferred to the NIF.

That puts $1 BILLION (not just $700 million) at the centre of the NIF discussion.

3. When finally pressed to explain what happened to NIF money, the Government said that $310.9 million had been spent to date.

So what does that mean?

First: The Government has still not provided a clear reconciliation explaining what happened to the remaining $689.1 million of the $1 billion it said was destined for or transferred to the NIF.

Second: Even for the $310.9 million it says was spent, the Government has not provided the Bahamian people with a full, transaction-by-transaction accounting showing precisely where the money went, when it was spent, who received it, who authorized it, and under what authority each expenditure was made.

The Bahamian people must NOT accept a two-sentence description of the expenditure of $310.9 million as a sufficient accounting.

This is public money.

Therefore, as far as I am concerned, the Government of The Bahamas has a very simple obligation:

FULLY RECONCILE THE $1 BILLION.

Tell the Bahamian people:

- Where did the money go?

- Who received it?

- When was it spent or transferred?

- Who authorized it?

- And under what legal and parliamentary authority was it done?

Those are not complicated questions.

$1 BILLION demands a full accounting.

Source / Comment

The National Investment Fund (NIF) and Young Bahamians Lack of Trust in The Bahamas Political System and Bahamian Politics

2026-09-18T15:32:31.023-04:00

The National Investment Fund (NIF) and Recklessly Careless Politicans in The Bahamas

By Tevin R. Bannister

This National Investment Fund issue clearly demonstrates why so many young Bahamians have no more faith in our political system nor its leaders.

Halkitis, in his budget communication in May 2026 said that the government borrowed $2.5 billion and said they used $1.8 billion on debt repayment, and the balance ($700 million) sent to the National Investment Fund (NIF).

OPM Comms Director, Latrae Rahming comes on National television and tells the Bahamian public that the $700 million figure "conflates" the issue and "muddys" the water. But this is the EXACT figure that the Minister of Finance stood up in parliament and told the public.

Even more insulting is the fact that Halkitis said that the government acted on the advice of the Attorney General and they acted on the basis of another piece of legislation, when the National Investment Fund is governed by its OWN legislation (National Investment Funds Act 2022) so why have legislation/regulations and dont use them??

International financial agencies have already said its "mind boggling" the way we manage our finances in The Bahamas. Putting politics aside, we must be very careful to safeguard our International financial reputation.

The minister and the comms director are clearly out of step on this issue, and it raises the question, did the Minister lie to Parliament (the people) ?

Source / Comment

What is Best for The Bahamas?

2026-09-03T22:17:59.547-04:00

Focus Bahamians - Focus Bahamas!

Attention Bahamians - Attention Bahamas!

WE ARE EASILY DISTRACTED LIKE INSIPID CHILDREN!

By Professor Gilbert Morris

Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas

I’m a part of 11 chat groups in about 10 countries worldwide. But we seem the worst amongst them in our wasteful shrill partisan vapidity…never seeming able to focus on what’s serious, credible or real.

We seem a people easily distracted into insipidity. With all this country faces we seem enchanted by the same nebula, repeated every three months in the same subject cycle… and yet never do we seem concerned to address issues systematically that would rescue and reform the country we claim to Love.

There is an engineer in a Bahamas chat who has a solution which I have read for our energy crisis, but if he were to post it, I doubt it would get 10% of the responses of a posting that asks was Cecil Wallace Whitfield taller than Pindling. That distraction would be followed with people posting photographs and talking about how you measure distinctions in height by using photographs then running off on a tangent talking about Napoleonic complexes: how height determines leadership and other forms of absolutely feckless drivel by which our mental spaces seem to be entertained endlessly.

Then others chime in saying “oh I was there with Pindling or Cecil Wallace Whitfield when he did a thing”. But they never ask themselves, who was there with you when you did a thing?

It is a form of necrophiliactic dementia how we lurch to dragging up the first majority rule generation…because we’ve done nothing comparable to them…and merely use them constantly to draw relevance from proximity.

Then there are all the constant aggrandising celebratory hosanna’s for absolutely nothing that moves this country towards its potential.

In the film, “No Country for Old Men”, the psychopath asks Woody Harrelson‘s character the most important question in self assessment:

If the rules that you followed brought you to this position, of what use was the rule?

If all that we’ve done for 53 years, brought us to this condition - poor eduction performance, energy crisis, filth on our streets, amongst the murder capitols of the world, slow, inefficient confusing government services, debt and incoming climate crisis - of what use is claiming it as a triumph when others starting later than us with fewer resources surpassed us by others of magnitude?

Some think stupidly and childishly when one speaks in this manner all they hear is we aren’t smart or we are useless. But when a team plays it heart out and loses year after year…the changes that are imposed are not a statement that the players are useless: they played in a system that couldn’t win!

We’ve played in a system that can’t win…because here we are!

When one refers to other states that have done well…we never seem to see it as instructive for us. Some people immediate responses show they don’t understand the logic of comparison. They retort without forethought, saying things like “every country is different”…as if that’s as obvious as a white elephant doing the bachata in a tea cup!

We drag up every mind maiming excuse: they are Asian, they are a dictatorship, they eat velvety bananas, anything to avoid assessing ourself as the country collapses around our feet. But that psychosis is aimed at defending the rules, practises and policies which got us to where we are now…defended psychotically by those who benefited disproportionately…without a reflective or corrective sense.

Every three to four months, as the subject cycle goes around again… someone may post that Singapore’s governing troika is:

Efficiency

Merit

Transparency

The very way in which it’s expressed shows a gargantuan error in conceptualisation. One must always ask what values are operating behind the mantra? When Malaysia broke the Singapore-Malaysia Federation it was because Lee Kuan Yew demanded:

1. No ethnic parties

2. All citizens must share in prosperity

3. The only way to ensure these two is anti-corruption and transparency

These are the values behind the mantra. Lee Kuan Yew and Dr. Goh Keng Swee taught another principle that came before the mantra: “uncertainty”. A scale always has a value you can’t see, a watch is always off time to a degree that you can’t see…what does this mean for political values?

You are never efficient, you’re always becoming efficient; you’re never a meritocracy, you’re always becoming a meritocracy; you’re never transparent, you’re always becoming transparent. Think about what that means…unlike us constantly celebrating pulling wings off roaches…Singapore would launch a programme that dominates the world and their response is…it’s becoming better…but there’s lots of work to do.

Lee Kuan Yew and Dr. Goh used kindergarten and the military service to drill this value into every Singaporean.

That population was not docile…there were riots, strikes, ethnic unrest. It took 10 years to convince Singaporeans to make English the official language. It to 15 years to teach them how to live in social housing. But the educational and military systems did their jobs. So by the time one gets to governance on efficiency, merit and transparency…these are not just terms. They have a deep cultural value proposition that drives them.

Efficiency is systems, methods, rules enforcement; merit is more important than family or political cronies, transparency means exposing even friends…and it means enforcement: behind each of these are governance systems tied to values. Therefore merely listing them does not get at the root of how they are established and function in Singapore. The same is true for Japan, Iceland, Norway and New Zealand.

Singapore’s ranking in the world does not reveal its profound inner workings:

1. 25% of what the citizen pays in taxes is not a tax at all, but an investment for which the citizens receives dividends

2. Singapore airlines is best in the world

3. Singapore’s financial services is based on $100 trillion in FOREX trading that make it one of four money centres in the world

4. People leave UAE have decamped to Singapore: using a similar plan to that which one proposed during COVID’s height, Singapore has created a gold plated retirement programme, yet there isn’t one inch of Singapore that is as naturally beautiful as the worst beach in The Bahamas

5. Singapore’s education is the best in the world, yet they don’t try to fix weakness…they build on strengths

6. Every Singapore child gets $70,000 dollars between birth and 18 toward its growth and development, eliminating the cost to parents for raising children.

Of all the Singapore initiatives that shows its application of “uncertainty”, and the notion of always “becoming better”, nothing compares to its water issues.

One of the reasons the break in the Singapore Malaysian Federation was so devastating was Singapore had no water. In 1960 they launched a plan that would take 90 years to 2050. It generated education and engineering around its problems…is mapped out a strategy and executed: Singapore cleaned up its rivers or natural water bodies, it built the most advanced reverse osmosis, it launched technologies to draw water from humidity and now with 24 years to go, it’s achieved 89% water independence from Malaysia.

As a nation it knows how to get things done. What is more, its citizens believe its government knows how to get things done. It is a country, where problems never get politicised…they get solutions because Singapore is driven by the idea that every Singaporean must be protected from depravation; a principle in the Preamble of our constitution, which no sane person can say we’ve executed.

Our constant frivolity suggests that we lack the cogency required to do hard things…to break out of our partisan mold and to execute on that which is best for the country. Unlike Singapore - and this is critical for comparative logic - we have no guiding ethic or principles and no forum where it could be taught…we chose not to cultivate it and we chose to live to the point that our country stands where it does!

Source / Comment

Hello Mr. Michael Halkitis: What's The Bahamas Government One Tax Bahamas Initiative?

2026-08-25T21:45:59.181-04:00

Paging Michael Halkitis, The Bahamas Minister of Finance: Give Us The Full Story On ‘One Tax!’

By Michael C. Pintard
FNM Leader

The Government’s One Tax Bahamas initiative is being presented as a routine modernization exercise. It is nothing of the sort.

This is a sweeping and unprecedented expansion of the Government’s tax administration apparatus that will ultimately require every Bahamian taxpayer to obtain a unique government-issued tax identification number as a condition of accessing tax services. That is a major public policy change, not an administrative update.

The first question is simple: Where is the Minister of Finance?

When a government fundamentally changes how citizens are identified and tracked in the tax system, the elected Minister responsible should announce and defend the change. Instead, Bahamians are being asked to accept a transformative policy with virtually no explanation from the Government’s political leadership. Public servants should not be left to answer questions that only ministers can answer.

The second concern is the reckless implementation timetable. Bahamians are being told that this system will be introduced with barely enough time for citizens and businesses to understand its implications, test its functionality, train their staff, and adapt their operations. A project of this magnitude should be preceded by extensive consultation, public education, pilot testing, and parliamentary scrutiny. Instead, the Government appears determined to force it through at breakneck speed.

Third, the Government is demanding trust without providing transparency.

This new system will centralize sensitive personal and business information, yet there has been no satisfactory explanation of who will have access to that information, what agencies will be able to share it, what safeguards exist to prevent abuse, what cybersecurity protections are in place, or what remedies citizens will have if their information is compromised. In an era of growing data breaches and cybercrime, that silence is unacceptable.

Fourth, where was the consultation?

Who tested this system?

Which business groups were consulted?

Which taxpayers reviewed the registration process?

Which privacy experts assessed the risks?

Which small businesses were asked whether the platform is practical and user-friendly?

Government should be designing systems with the public, not imposing systems on the public.

Most troubling of all is the mindset behind this initiative. The Government appears to believe that digitization automatically equals progress. It does not. A centralized database, a new identification number, and a slick website are not substitutes for accountability, consultation, privacy protections, or public trust.

The Opposition rejects the Government’s approach entirely.

The rollout should be paused. The Minister of Finance should come before the Bahamian people and explain why this universal tax identification system is necessary, what laws govern its use, how privacy will be protected, who will have access to taxpayer information, what consultations were undertaken, and why such a profound change is being rushed forward with so little notice.

The burden is on the Government to justify this initiative. So far, it has failed to do so.

Source / Comment

Illegal Immigration Threatens Bahamian Sovereignty and The Bahamas

2026-08-13T11:20:53.035-04:00

THE PLAGUE: A CALL TO DEFEND BAHAMIAN SOVEREIGNTY

Illegal migration into The Bahamas has reached a point that can no longer be dismissed, ignored, or politically sanitized. This is not a problem we can continue to postpone. It is a national crisis—and crises demand action.

Bahamians need to stop, look around, and ask a simple question:

What happens to a nation that refuses to enforce its own borders and laws?

Walk through places such as the Fish Fry and observe the changing landscape. Listen to the languages being spoken. Look at who is operating businesses and who is competing for opportunities. These changes should force us to confront a difficult reality: our national identity, economic opportunities, and institutions cannot be protected by complacency.

But we must also be honest about who created the conditions that allowed this situation to grow.

The problem is not simply the presence of migrants. The deeper problem is the corruption, greed, political cowardice, and exploitation that have allowed illegal migration to flourish. Employers who deliberately seek cheap, exploitable labour are part of the problem. Officials who compromise the integrity of immigration and citizenship processes are part of the problem. Anyone who profits while ordinary Bahamians struggle is part of the problem.

For too long, we have tolerated a system in which enforcement can be weakened by money, connections, political interests, and personal gain.

That must end.

THE CURE: NATIONAL COURAGE

The cure begins with us. We cannot demand national sovereignty while simultaneously selling pieces of it for profit. We cannot condemn illegal migration while rewarding employers who exploit undocumented workers. We cannot demand integrity from government while tolerating corruption when it benefits us personally.

The Bahamas belongs to Bahamians — not because we hate anyone else, but because every sovereign nation has the right and responsibility to control its borders, enforce its laws, protect its resources, and determine who is permitted to live and work within

its territory.

- That means strong borders.

- It means serious enforcement.

It means transparent immigration and citizenship procedures.

- It means holding corrupt officials accountable.

- It means prosecuting employers who knowingly exploit illegal labour.

- It means protecting Bahamian workers and businesses from unfair competition.

And it means refusing to allow political parties, wealthy interests, or compromised officials to place personal gain above national interest.

We have been passive for too long.

Now is the time for Bahamians to demand accountability — not violence, not hatred, and not vigilantism, but lawful, relentless, uncompromising action.

Our national identity is not something we should surrender through neglect.

- Our borders matter.

- Our laws matter.

- Our citizenship matters.

- Our sovereignty matters.

- And Bahamians matter.

The time for excuses is over.

Enforce the law. Defend the nation. End the corruption. Put The Bahamas first.

Source / Comment

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is Dead!

2026-08-12T22:07:19.375-04:00

The Dead Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

By Professor Gilbert Morris
Nassau, The Bahamas

Who cares whether they have confidence?

This is the problem: public trust means the public must have faith in the courts. Caribbean leaders have this delusional concept of the power of empty talk. A poorly organised court that emerged from confusion and now showing its rotting bones and they think they can save their friends on the court by talking about how they have confidence in them. What was ever made legitimate by their confidence?

The court has failed and we must at last be honest enough to admit we got it wrong: 15 courts no one respects can’t create a respected regional court. There must be a transparent process which highlights a CARICOM judicial philosophy which the citizens of CARICOM adhere to…and by which they see themselves bound.

Our young people are not prepared to accept the dribbling mumblings of those who seem clueless about the world we are in…who think private endorsements generate public legitimacy.

The court is dead.

Establish a proper court!

PS: it should be the CARICOM Court of Justice. It does not and can’t represent the entire Caribbean. It doesn’t even represent all of CARICOM.

Source / Comment

Aviation Safety in The Bahamas

2026-07-15T15:37:56.842-04:00

Why I continue to speak about aviation safety in The Bahamas

WHY I CANNOT “MOVE ON”

Over the past few days, several pilots have called or messaged me asking why I continue to speak about aviation safety. Some have even suggested that I should simply move on with my life.

I respectfully cannot.

This is my life’s work.

For more than 40 years I have served as a pilot, Civil Aviation Safety Inspector, aircraft accident investigator, airline executive, and aviation safety consultant. I have stood at accident sites, participated in investigations, and witnessed the devastating impact these tragedies have on families and communities.

As someone born and raised in North Andros, this is deeply personal. Some of those lost over the years were relatives, lifelong friends, neighbours, or people I had known for decades.

The first Piper Aztec accident claimed six lives.

The second Piper Aztec accident claimed two lives.

The recent Cessna 402 accident has now claimed ten lives, according to the AAIA.

That is 18 lives lost in three major accidents connected with North Andros. Behind every number is a family whose life has been changed forever.

One of the most heartbreaking experiences is watching families gather at an airport or accident site, desperately trying to determine whether their loved one was on board because there was no confirmed passenger manifest. No family should ever have to endure that uncertainty.

The official AAIA investigations into the two Aztec accidents identified significant safety issues and made recommendations intended to reduce the likelihood of future tragedies.

That is why I continue to ask:

* What changed?

* How did it change?

* Were the safety recommendations implemented?

* Have those changes measurably strengthened aviation safety and State safety oversight?

These are not questions about the cause of the current accident. Those answers must come from the independent AAIA investigation.

They are questions about whether we have learned from previous tragedies.

The Bahamas is an archipelago where air transportation is essential. Every day, Bahamians depend on aircraft to reach medical care, employment, education, government services, banking, and family. Every passenger has the right to expect that the aircraft they board is operated safely, legally, and under effective regulatory oversight.

If asking these questions contributes to preventing even one future accident, then I believe they are questions worth asking.

We owe that to the 18 lives already lost, to their families, and to every passenger who will board an aircraft tomorrow.

— Capt. Randy L. Butler

Former Civil Aviation Safety Inspector

Former Aircraft Accident Investigator

Former CEO, SkyBahamas Airlines

Principal Consultant, Aviation Safety & Security Consultants Ltd.

Source / Comment

About Flamingo Air in The Bahamas

2026-07-13T10:36:38.255-04:00

About Flamingo Air and Aircraft Safety in The Bahamas

Dr. Andre Rollins - Member of Parliament (MP) for Long Island on the Question of Aviation Safety in The Bahamas

"We must operate our industry on one fundamental premise: that a Bahamian licensed aircraft is a safe aircraft."

"We join all Bahamians in awaiting what we expect to be an impartial and thorough report by the Air Accident Investigation Authority regarding the fatal plane crash that occurred on Friday, July, 10.

Without engaging in any speculation, what we do know is that in the wake of the crash, the Government suspended Flamingo Air's Air Operator’s Certificat (AOC). Therefore, concerns about aircraft safety are already presumed to be a part of the question surrounding what led to this aviation accident. The public has a right to know whether the Government will fully and transparently provide the answer.

We have been asked to grieve, and our country is grieving. However, a nation honours its dead by protecting its living, and that duty begins today, not whenever an air accident report is published.

That duty also includes standing beside the victims’ families in the days and months ahead. They should not be left to navigate grief, insurance claims, compensation, funeral expenses, legal requirements and government agencies on their own.

The Government should immediately appoint a single, independent family-assistance team to help each affected family understand what support is available, what documents are required, who is responsible for payment and how claims will be processed. It should also confirm whether emergency financial assistance, counseling, and legal or administrative support are being provided. Compassion cannot consist solely of condolences. It must also mean practical help, clear answers, and a process that does not force grieving families to fight through bureaucracy alone.

Some questions need no investigation, because the answers already sit in files at the Civil Aviation Authority (the “Authority”) and can be answered this week:

1) Who was operating the doomed C6–FLX aircraft? Was it Flamingo Air or someone to whom the aircraft was leased?

2) If it was leased, was the lease filed with the Authority and whose AOC was Friday's flight flying under?

3) Was the aircraft still on Flamingo Air's approved operations specifications?

4) Was the insurance valid that day, and did it cover paying passengers?

5) Is there a manifest of all the people that were onboard the aircraft for that flight?

6) When did the Authority last inspect this aircraft and operator, and after eight accidents and incidents involving this operator since 2012, what exactly was the Authority watching before Friday?

These are matters of paperwork that do not rely on an investigation of the wreckage. We must be honest with ourselves. Because our weather is calm and our flights are short, we have come to believe that flying is without risk. It is not. The most dangerous minutes of any flight are takeoff and landing, and a ten-minute hop compresses the two highest risk moments into a very small window of time.

For too long, gear collapses and close calls have been treated as stories to tell instead of warnings to act on. Luck is not a safety system, and a culture like that does not fix itself or protect those who rely on safe air transportation between our islands. It is fixed by a regulator focused on safety, industry engagement, and the education and protection of licensees and the traveling public.

Aviation is the lifeline of our islands. We must restore the pride, diligence and immense level of responsibility required to safely transport our people and our tourists throughout our archipelago.

We must operate our industry on one fundamental premise: that a Bahamian licensed aircraft is a safe aircraft."

Source / Comment

The Huns brutal style of property theft has been legally preserved in The Bahamas by the Quieting Titles Act 1959 and by the post 2021, Power of Sale, Section 25, provisions of the Real Property Tax Act (As amended)

2026-06-28T20:11:07.090-04:00

The Legal Preservation of Property Theft in The Bahamas

Seeds of Anarchy - A Cape Coast Castle philosophy – The doors of death and no return

Public Statement

By Hon. D Halson Moultrie

Dated 28th June, 2026

In the days of Attila, King of the Huns from AD 434 until AD 453 he died in Hungary, “the scourge of God” as he called himself was visited upon Central and Eastern Europe.

The Huns are now extinct nomadic people but their brutal style of property theft has been legally preserved in The Bahamas by the Quieting Titles Act 1959 and by the post 2021, Power of Sale, Section 25, provisions of the Real Property Tax Act (As amended).

Despite world efforts to end land and minerals seizures by conquest, legal and psychological warfare has become the modern day modus operandi in forced takeovers and swift surrenders.

In Hunnic style, Attila the Hun, the most feared enemies of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires invaded nations and plundered weaker territories.

In similar fashion to fraudsters conspiring to use the statute laws of The Bahamas as instruments of fraud, by collusion with other sympathizers in his mixed confederated empire, through barbaric force and violence, deceit, recklessness and King’s edicts, Attila scoped out vulnerable countries and pillage territories, seizing land, personal properties and other assets.

The fraudsters of the Quieting Titles Act and Section 25, Power of Sale, provisions of the Real Property Tax Act are no different.

Nobody was safe from Attila’s evil and wicked wrath and today, in The Bahamas only the protected few benefit from and escape this corrupted environment.

Nowadays, legal and psychological warfare suggests that if someone wrongs you, it’s a done deal, the wrong has been executed; you have been notified, vacate what used to be your property and yield your rights to the wrong doer.

Take out an action to recover your property and/or rights from the wrongdoer in the same court that upheld the unlawful act that dispossessed you, and that refused to examine the legitimacy of the process or legality of the wrong doing.

In your ruined and dispossessed circumstance, return to that same court to for a decision to have your constitutional right not to be unlawfully dispossessed reinstated and for an order of repossession as the legitimate owner.

King Leopold ll of Belgium exploitation and extraction of the Congo’s minerals and assets in conjunction with his resultant mutilation of the Congolese people who accepted that false hope strongly advises that such an offer should be soundly rejected as preposterous and absurd.

Even under the threat of committal, historical experience demands a prudence to be an environmental thermostat; maintain the status quo and fight your ownership battles while in possession of your land rather than vacating your land and thereby accept the fraud by relying on the favourable discretion or decision of a corrupted environment and culture that established the mechanisms to dispossessed you.

This is especially so with the expectation and knowledge that the action to reinstate your possession will naturally be resisted by the corrupted system’s newly imposed possessor as the coconspirator takes and benefits from the spoils.

Like the Cape Coast Castle dark slavery illusion of Ghana, the beneficiaries of these fraudulent schemes build the mirage of a castle, present themselves draped in costumes ruler ship and honour as they function above dungeons of doom and death.

The acceptance of such a proposal only leads to the “door of death” and “door of no return”!!

Source / Comment

The Bahamas Prime Minister, Philip 'Brave' Davis and the Challenging Modern Day Mandate of 'Camelot' - Sanctioned by the Bahamian Electorate

2026-06-16T23:07:33.815-04:00

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis enters a modern-day 'Camelot' in The Bahamas - ordained by The Bahamian People

By Dr Kevin Alcena

"Camelot"

The legendary kingdom of King Arthur, immortalized in history and literature as a symbol of justice, nobility, wisdom, and enlightened leadership. At the heart of Camelot stood the Round Table, a revolutionary institution where every knight sat as an equal, regardless of rank, wealth, or social standing. The Round Table embodied the principles of equality, consultation, accountability, and service to the common good. Its mandate was simple yet profound: to ensure that leadership was exercised not for personal gain but for the advancement and welfare of the people.

In many respects, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis enters a modern-day Camelot. His administration has articulated a vision for national progress, economic empowerment, and social development that seeks to improve the lives of Bahamians. Yet, as he embarks upon this new chapter, he must recognize that the highest calling of leadership is not merely to govern but to empower. He must become a People’s Prime Minister—one whose policies, decisions, and aspirations are firmly rooted in the interests of the common man and woman.

Leadership has always been measured by service. As Martin Luther King Jr. wisely observed, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” The essence of public office is not privilege but responsibility. It is the solemn duty of a leader to uplift the lives of those whom he serves.

The Bahamian people now look to their Prime Minister to advance a bold and transformative national agenda. Economic development must remain a central pillar of this vision. The government must cultivate an environment in which entrepreneurship flourishes and innovation thrives. Excessive taxation and unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles should not stifle ambition or discourage investment.

Instead, strategic tax exemptions and incentives should be implemented to encourage entrepreneurs, small business owners, and investors to create enterprises that generate employment, wealth, and economic opportunity throughout the nation.

A modern Camelot must also embrace the transformative power of technology. Artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and technological innovation possess the potential to revolutionize education, healthcare, governance, and commerce.

The digitalization of The Bahamas should not become an additional burden upon citizens and businesses; rather, it should serve as a catalyst for productivity, efficiency, and national competitiveness. Technology must be harnessed to empower Bahamians, simplify government services, and unlock new avenues of prosperity for future generations.

The philosopher Voltaire understood the weight of leadership and responsibility. As he famously stated, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Leadership demands wisdom, restraint, and an unwavering commitment to the public good. Likewise, Marcus Garvey declared, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” As The Bahamas advances into a rapidly changing world, it must preserve its cultural heritage and national identity while simultaneously embracing modernization and progress.

Prime Minister Davis would do well to draw inspiration from King Arthur himself. Arthur’s greatness did not arise solely from his authority as king but from his capacity to unite diverse individuals around a common purpose. He valued counsel, encouraged participation, and recognized that leadership was strengthened—not diminished—when others were given a voice. Through the Round Table, he institutionalized consultation, fairness, and shared responsibility. These timeless principles remain essential to effective governance today.

The significance of the Round Table extends beyond mythology. It symbolizes the idea that every citizen deserves a seat at the table of national development. It reminds leaders that wisdom is not monopolized by the powerful and that the most durable governments are those that listen to their people. The transition from a good leader to a great leader occurs when leadership evolves from the exercise of power into the empowerment of others.

It is equally imperative to acknowledge the profound historical significance of Prime Minister Brave Davis’s electoral accomplishment. In securing victory in two consecutive general elections, he achieved a feat that had not been witnessed within the Bahamian political landscape for twenty-four years.

Such an achievement is not merely an electoral triumph; it is a powerful affirmation of public confidence, political legitimacy, and national trust. The Bahamian electorate has once again vested in him the authority and responsibility to guide the nation through an increasingly complex global environment.

This renewed confidence constitutes what may aptly be described as a contemporary Mandate of Camelot—a covenant between the government and the governed founded upon the principles of prosperity, justice, opportunity, and national advancement.

The electorate has entrusted Prime Minister Davis with the stewardship of the Commonwealth, expecting not only competent administration but visionary leadership capable of transforming challenges into opportunities.

Yet history teaches that great mandates are accompanied by even greater obligations. Electoral success must transcend political celebration and evolve into meaningful action.

The true measure of statesmanship is not found in the magnitude of victory but in the magnitude of service rendered to the people. Therefore, this mandate must be utilized to cultivate economic dynamism, stimulate entrepreneurial innovation, accelerate technological modernization, strengthen educational opportunities, and expand pathways to prosperity for all Bahamians.

The legendary King Arthur, whose authority was strengthened by the wisdom of the Round Table rather than the power of the throne alone, Prime Minister Davis must continue to govern through consultation, inclusion, and consensus-building. He must remain attentive to the aspirations of ordinary Bahamians, ensuring that national development is not concentrated among a privileged few but distributed equitably throughout society.

If Camelot represented the dream of a just and prosperous kingdom, then the modern Bahamas can aspire to become its own Camelot—a nation where opportunity is abundant, leadership is accountable, entrepreneurship is encouraged, technology serves the people, and every citizen has a meaningful stake in the country’s future.

The Bahamian people have bestowed upon Prime Minister Davis a historic mandate. The challenge before him is to transform that mandate into a legacy. By embracing the principles of Camelot—justice, equality, consultation, innovation, and service—he can elevate his premiership from one of political success to one of enduring historical significance. In doing so, he will not simply govern the nation; he will help shape a more prosperous, equitable, and resilient Bahamas for generations to come.

As King Arthur demonstrated centuries ago, true greatness is not measured by authority alone but by the ability to inspire, unite, and empower a people toward a common purpose. The people have spoken. The mandate has been granted. The question now is whether this modern Camelot can fulfill its promise for every Bahamian citizen.

As Prime Minister Davis embarks upon this historic chapter, he would do well to remember the timeless words attributed to King Arthur: “The strength of the kingdom lies not in the crown, but in the people who wear its burdens and share its dreams.”

If he governs with wisdom, courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the common man, then his administration may be remembered not merely as a government that won elections, but as one that transformed a nation, expanded opportunity, strengthened democracy, and elevated the aspirations of an entire people.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish; but where leadership is guided by justice, wisdom, and service, a nation prospers and its people flourish.” May this Mandate of Camelot be remembered not as a moment of political triumph, but as the beginning of a golden era of national renewal, economic empowerment, and enduring prosperity for all Bahamians.

Source / Comment

Michael Pintard is the Free National Movement (FNM) Problem!

2026-05-31T18:41:49.304-04:00

The FNM Has a Michael Pintard Problem!!!!

By James Julmis

The Free National Movement has many problems, but one sits at the centre of them all: Michael Pintard.

After another national rejection, the FNM can no longer pretend that its problem is messaging, timing, money, or machinery. Those things matter in politics, but leadership sits above all of them. A party can recover from bad strategy. A party can recover from poor campaign planning. A party can recover from division. What it cannot easily recover from is a leader the public has already decided against.

That is the political burden Michael Pintard now carries.

The Bahamian people have listened to him. They have watched him. They have measured him. They have seen him in Parliament, on the campaign trail, in press conferences, and in moments when serious leadership was required. Their answer has been clear. They have declined to follow him.

That is the hard truth the FNM must now face.

Pintard has struggled to connect with ordinary Bahamians because he often sounds like a man speaking at people rather than with them. His politics feels rehearsed, distant, and overly calculated. He talks about the people, but he has failed to make the people feel that he truly knows their daily lives, their pressures, their fears, and their hopes.

Politics is about trust. It is about whether people can look at a leader and say, “That person understands me.” With Pintard, too many Bahamians see performance without connection. They see volume without warmth. They see criticism without comfort. They see ambition without a clear reason to believe.

This is why the FNM has a Pintard problem.

The party may want to blame the PLP. It may want to blame the timing of the election. It may want to blame the media, the voters, or the national mood. But none of that changes the result. The public looked at the choice placed before them and decided that Michael Pintard was unready to lead the country.

That judgment cannot be brushed aside.

The FNM must ask itself a serious question: if Michael Pintard could not persuade the country after years in opposition, after repeated opportunities to define himself, and after a campaign built around removing the government, what evidence is there that the public will suddenly see him differently?

There comes a point when a party must stop protecting a leader from political reality.

Pintard’s weakness is deeper than one election cycle. It is about temperament, image, connection, and credibility. He has never found a language that reaches beyond the FNM base. He has never fully settled the question of who he is as a national leader. He has never made Bahamians feel that he carries the emotional weight of the country.

That is why he remains limited.

The Bahamian people may disagree with the government on issues. They may complain about the cost of living, crime, bureaucracy, and the pressure of daily life. But disagreement with the government does automatically become support for the opposition. The FNM assumed public frustration would be enough. It was wrong.

People may want better. That does not mean they want Pintard.

This is the central failure of his leadership. He has been unable to turn public concern into public confidence. He has been unable to turn criticism of the government into belief in himself. He has been unable to make the FNM feel like a government-in-waiting.

That is a personal political failure.

The FNM must now decide whether it wants to keep managing Pintard’s image or begin rebuilding the party. It cannot do both. A party serious about renewal must be honest about why the public pulled away. It must listen to what the country has already said.

Bahamians have made their judgment.

They do not see Michael Pintard as the answer.

And until the FNM accepts that, it will continue to confuse movement with progress, noise with leadership, and opposition with readiness.

The FNM has a Michael Pintard problem.

The longer it denies it, the longer it will remain exactly where the Bahamian people have placed it: in opposition.

Source / Comment

Dr. Andre Rollins for FNM leader

2026-05-18T08:02:16.061-04:00

The Free National Movement (FNM) needs New Leadership!

Rolling with Rollins for FNM Leader

By Dennis A. Dames

The blessed smoke of the 2026 general election in The Bahamas has officially cleared, and a lot about it is being heard quietly and vociferously here, there and everywhere.

The opposition Free National Movement (FNM) has some bold and popular adjustments to make - no doubt. The main one concerns the party’s leadership moving forward to the next general election. In my view, the entire present leadership of the FNM has got to go.

I have been intensely contemplating the question about the next leader of the FNM - the one whom I feel is the most fit and qualified among the elected members of the party.

I must testify that the good Lord moves in mysterious ways, as I wondered how Dr. Andre Rollins got that Long Island FNM nomination. Now I have the gut feeling that Dr. Rollins is best fit for the new leader of the FNM.

Dr. Andre Rollins should be crowned FNM leader as soon as possible; and the official campaign for the next general election should immediately follow.

Indeed, search for and welcome more Lincoln Deal and Michaela Barnett-Ellis in the FNM front-line fold - and dump the dead weights without mercy and delay.

The Timing Question of The Bahamas 2026 General Election

2026-04-12T20:07:00.002-04:00

THE BAHAMAS GENERAL ELECTION 2026 - CONSTITUTIONAL TIMING & POLITICAL REALITY: WHY NOW?

By Craig F. Butler

Let’s deal with this clearly and honestly.

If the House of Assembly first sat on 6 October 2021, then the constitutional position is straightforward:

• Five-year life of Parliament: ends around 5 October 2026

• Election window after that: up to 90 days

• Absolute constitutional outer limit: early January 2027

So let’s kill the noise:

- There is no requirement to call an election now.

- The Prime Minister had time well into late 2026, and even beyond into the constitutional window.

So why call it now?

This is where politics meets timing. The national budget cycle is the real driver.

• Budget must be presented before July 1

• That means budget debate occupies June

• And budget debate is not light work—it is a full exposure of:

– Government spending

– Overruns

– Travel expenditure

– Consultant usage

– Programme delivery vs promises

In short:

A budget debate forces the government to account for everything.

The Strategic Calculation

If you:

• claim hundreds of promises delivered, and

• have areas of pressure (cost of living, crime, healthcare), and

• carry visible overruns (travel, operational spending, etc.),

then the last thing you want is a full month of structured parliamentary scrutiny immediately before an election.

Because that debate would not be campaign rhetoric.

It would be:

- numbers

- line-by-line exposure

- hard questioning on delivery vs claims

So the timing makes sense. Calling the election before the budget cycle does three things:

• Avoids a prolonged public dissection of government finances

• Prevents the opposition from weaponizing budget details

• Keeps the campaign on narrative, not forensic accounting

Bottom Line

This is not about constitutional necessity. This is about political timing.

The Constitution allowed more time. The calendar created pressure. The budget would have created exposure.

So the election is called before the numbers take center stage.

Understand the Constitution. Understand the calendar. Then understand the decision.

Sunday April 12 2026

Time 12:01 AM EST

Source / Comments

Voting Rights in The Bahamas

2026-04-08T20:23:00.000-04:00

VOTING IN THE BAHAMAS: THERE IS NO ENGLISH-LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT TO VOTE

By Craig Butler, Esq.

Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas

There appears to be continued public confusion, and in some quarters active political misstatement, concerning whether a person must be able to speak English in order to vote in The Bahamas.

Let this be stated plainly:

There is no provision in the Constitution of The Bahamas requiring a voter to speak English in order to vote. Voting rights in this jurisdiction are tied to legal eligibility, not language proficiency.

Under the constitutional and statutory framework, the relevant qualifications concern citizenship, age, and proper registration on the electoral roll. A qualified voter must be a citizen of The Bahamas, at least eighteen years of age, and duly registered in accordance with the electoral law. There is no separate constitutional or statutory condition imposing English-language ability as a prerequisite to the franchise.

That distinction is important.

The right to vote is not made dependent upon eloquence, accent, literacy style, or spoken fluency in English. Any suggestion to the contrary is not a statement of Bahamian law. It is political rhetoric masquerading as legal rule.

The Constitution does not condition citizenship-based franchise rights on language ability. Nor does the Parliamentary Elections framework create such a bar. The legal question is eligibility. It is not linguistic preference.

Accordingly, any public claim that a Bahamian citizen must speak English in order to vote should be recognized for what it is: misinformation, political spin, or constitutional illiteracy.

This matter should not be clouded by emotion or opportunistic nationalism. If there is to be public debate about changing the law, let that debate be honest and explicit. But until such a change is lawfully made, the law remains what it is.

And what it is, is this:

Voting in The Bahamas is not language-based. It is citizenship-based, age-based, and registration-based.

That is the legal position. That remains the constitutional position. And the public deserves clarity, not confusion.

Key Points for the Public

• There is no English-speaking requirement for voting in The Bahamas.

• Voting rights are tied to citizenship, age, and voter registration.

• Claims that English proficiency is legally required are false.

• Political opinion is not constitutional law.

Tuesday, 7 April 2026

10:18 PM

Source / Comment

The Corrupt Nature of Bahamian Politics in The Bahamas

2026-04-03T05:19:00.001-04:00

Election Politics in The Bahamas: Who gets to eat - and who doesn't

By Craig Butler:

Bahamian elections are too often not about governance. They are about access.

Access to contracts. Access to appointments. Access to the Treasury. That is the sickness.

The winning party does not merely win office. It gains control over how roughly $1 billion in public contracts is distributed.

And too often the real contest is not over policy; it is over who gets fed.

That is not nation-building. That is budget politics dressed up as democracy.

Source / Comment

More Haitians in The Bahamas Arrested for Possession of Fraudulent Bahamian Passports, National Insurance Board Cards, and Voters Cards in 2026

2026-03-04T17:41:00.001-05:00

TWO MORE HAITIAN NATIONALS ARRESTED WITH FRAUDULENT BAHAMIAN PASSPORTS AND VOTERS CARD.

Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas: An 18-year-old Haitian man accused of fraudulently obtaining a Bahamian passport and voter’s card was remanded to prison yesterday after prosecutors said they used the documents at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Max Veve Pierre and Gersey Pierre, 59, are accused of agreeing on December 23, 2024, to fraudulently obtain a Bahamian passport.

Prosecutors allege the pair secured a passport in Max’s name from the Passport Office on February 3, 2025.

Authorities further allege that Max uttered the fraudulent passport at the Parliamentary Registry on January 23 to obtain a Bahamian voter’s card. He is also accused of presenting the same passport to immigration officers at LPIA on February 24, where the alleged scheme unravelled.

Max was charged with three counts of possession of a false document, two counts of uttering a false document and fraud by false pretences.

Both men face additional charges of fraud by false pretences and conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences.

The accused, both construction workers, pleaded not guilty before Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs.

They were remanded to The Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until their trial begins on May 21.

Inspector Timothy Bain was the prosecutor.

This brings the total to 23 Haitian nationals arrested and charged in The Bahamas with possession of fraudulent passports, NIB cards and voters card so far for the year 2026.

Source / Comment

Marvin Dames is Still Standing Strong and Smiling

2026-02-24T20:10:00.000-05:00

Marvin Dames' Still standing... Still smiling

I am deeply grateful to those who continue to stand with me, trust me, and believe me, while believing in me. I am filled with emotion and sincere appreciation for the group of people I sit before today. Though they represent just a microcosm of our beautiful Mt. Moriah community, they have become family. They have stood beside me through every single season.

Most importantly, they have loved me and cared for me from the very beginning of my political journey, and for that, I owe them more than words can express.

With that said, we will not be deterred. We will not be distracted. We have a country to fix, and we will remain steadfast in that mission.

I love you. I love you. I love you, Mt. Moriah. ❤️

Source / Comment

Serious Concerns about Election Readiness in The Bahamas

2026-02-17T18:29:00.000-05:00

Dr. Duane Sands, Chairman of the Free National Movement: New Boundary Register Flaws Deepen Concerns Over Election Readiness

After reviewing the updated voters list issued after recent boundary changes, the Free National Movement (FNM) has identified serious new problems that raise fresh concerns about election readiness. These findings add to issues previously raised that have yet to be addressed. The FNM has formally written to the Parliamentary Registration Department outlining these discrepancies, which are not minor clerical errors but significant flaws requiring urgent correction.

In its review, the FNM found polling divisions with no voters assigned, including Killarney Polling Division 3, Southern Shores Polling Division 4, and Tall Pines Polling Division 4. It is not normal for polling divisions to be skipped in this manner.

The party also identified what appear to be residual or improperly transferred records following the Constituency Unit Transfer process. These issues affect Central and South Eleuthera, MICAL, North Eleuthera, Free Town, North Abaco, Tall Pines, and Golden Isles. The discrepancies suggest incomplete or flawed data migration after the boundary adjustments.

Additionally, the FNM documented cases where first-time voters were improperly turned away despite presenting valid Bahamian passports. Voters who registered or transferred months ago do not appear on the electronic register. Duplicate entries across constituencies and deceased individuals remaining on the National Register were also observed, along with inconsistent application of registration rules.

To date, these issues have not been addressed, and additional irregularities continue to emerge.

A credible general election depends on a registration system that is orderly, accurate, transparent, and consistently applied. The voters register is the foundation of electoral integrity. If that foundation is unstable, the entire system is called into question.

For that reason, the FNM is calling for:

• A full audit and reconciliation of the revised register following the Boundary Commission changes

• Immediate correction of polling divisions with missing assignments

• A comprehensive review of the Constituency Unit Transfer process

• Public clarification on all previously identified irregularities

Protecting the vote is not a partisan issue; it is a constitutional responsibility owed to every Bahamian citizen.

The FNM has requested an urgent response from the Parliamentary Registration Department and stands ready to meet without delay to resolve these matters.

The integrity of the voters register must be beyond question.

Jeffrey Epstein Expressed Interest in Long Island Science Centre, The Bahamas

2026-02-06T12:02:00.000-05:00

Epstein Expressed Interest in Long Island Science Centre, Emails Reveal

By The Long Island Runner News

Newly released U.S. Justice Department documents show that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein once expressed interest in funding a proposed physics research centre on Long Island, The Bahamas, near the Stella Maris Resort.

The emails, part of millions of Epstein-related documents released last week, reveal that in 2015, approximately seven years after serving jail time for crimes involving underage girls, Epstein was approached about helping finance The Bahamas Centre for High Energy Physics, Astrophysics, Gravitation and Cosmology. The centre was intended to bring advanced scientific research and graduate-level physics education to The Bahamas for the first time.

The initiative came from Professor Eduardo Guendelman of Israel’s Ben-Gurion University, in collaboration with Professor Thomas Curtright of the University of Miami. Both scientists have maintained strong ties to Long Island, where they allegedly continue to host annual academic events at the Stella Maris Resort under The Bahamas Advanced Study Institute and Conferences (BASIC) banner.

In one February 2015 email, Professor Guendelman described the vision for the Long Island centre: a permanent staff of five senior researchers, ten post-graduate students, and ten doctoral students, offering high-level research opportunities and drawing international attention to the island.

Guendelman also suggested that the centre could boost tourism and local economic activity by hosting scientific conferences.

Epstein responded positively within days, writing simply: “Yes, I would be interested.” Guendelman quickly suggested the centre could be officially linked to the University of Miami, thanks to Professor Curtright’s involvement.

The emails detail ongoing discussions, including possible video calls with Epstein, interest from physicists worldwide, and potential funding from organizations such as the Lyford Cay Foundation. A local developer, Richard Keyworth, reportedly offered discounted land near Stella Maris and assistance in securing government support.

The project faced setbacks, including Hurricane Joaquin, which damaged parts of northern Long Island in late 2015. Guendelman argued that the hurricane could strengthen the case for government support, presenting the centre as both a scientific initiative and a way to boost the island’s economy.

Despite Epstein’s initial interest, the Long Island physics centre was never built. The Stella Maris Resort, which was mentioned in alleged discussions as a potential site, remains for sale today. However, Professors Guendelman and Curtright allegedly continue to bring international attention to Long Island through their annual BASIC conferences, which attract academics and researchers to the island.

The documents highlight Epstein’s attempts to engage with high-profile scientific projects even after his criminal convictions, and shine a light on Long Island’s potential as a hub for education, research, and international collaboration.

Long Island is not just a tourist destination, but also has the allure to attract and host world-class academic initiatives.

Source / Comment

Corruption in Bahamas Immigration?

2026-01-19T07:34:00.000-05:00

Immigration Corruption in The Bahamas?

By James Julmis

Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas

It has been brought to public attention, including via a circulated voice note, that an Immigration Officer allegedly attempted to extort the sum of $500 from a Haitian national. According to the allegations, the individual was only able to provide $150, after which the officer allegedly issued threats to conduct raids on the homes of other Haitian nationals in the area should the remaining amount not be paid. Even more concerning, the voice note allegedly contains statements in which the officer boasts about “protecting” Haitian nationals in exchange for monetary payment.

If substantiated, these actions would amount to gross misconduct, corruption, abuse of public office, intimidation, and possible criminal extortion, all of which severely undermine public trust in law enforcement and immigration institutions.

Given the gravity of these allegations, I respectfully but firmly request the following:

1. An immediate and impartial investigation by the relevant authorities, including the Immigration Department and THE RBPF.

2. Identification and suspension (pending investigation) of the individual heard on the voice note, should the authenticity be confirmed.

3. Protection for the alleged victim(s) and witnesses, particularly members of the Haitian community who may fear retaliation.

4. A formal update to the public or relevant stakeholders on the status and outcome of the investigation, in the interest of transparency and accountability.

5. That, if the allegations are proven, the individual responsible be held fully accountable under the law, including disciplinary and criminal proceedings where appropriate.

No public officer should be permitted to exploit vulnerable individuals or use the authority of the State as a tool for personal enrichment or intimidation. Failure to address such conduct decisively risks normalizing corruption and eroding confidence in national security and immigration enforcement.

Source / Comment

Police Corruption Live and in Color in The Bahamas

2026-01-14T07:17:00.000-05:00

Corruption in The Bahamas

By Franklyn Robinson

What makes that video so damaging is not only what was said, but what it signaled: the ease, the confidence, and the procedural choreography of a roadside stop being turned into a private “arrangement” — “can’t be too obvious,” “too much people around,” “go out of the view.” That is not the language of lawful enforcement; it is the language of a shakedown. And the public outrage is justified because the scene described in the reports was not a lone officer acting in isolation — it was a staffed roadblock with multiple officers stopping multiple vehicles near St Matthew’s Anglican Church off Shirley Street.

If the Royal Bahamas Police Force wants the public to believe this is “not reflective of standards,” then the response cannot be generic. The Force has already confirmed it is investigating the matter after reviewing the circulating video.

Now the burden is transparency, not slogans. The public should be shown the written operational order that authorised that specific roadblock: who ordered it, what lawful purpose it served, the time window, the command structure on scene, and the enforcement output (warnings/tickets issued, vehicles seized, arrests made). Because without that, the reasonable conclusion in the public mind is exactly what the video communicates: an organised environment where leverage is created in public and monetised in private.

And it gets worse when you widen the lens. The tourist in the footage said he rented a scooter near the cruise port and produced a contract, while the officer raised concerns about the scooter being damaged.

That is not a minor side issue — it is a second corruption channel sitting beside the first: unsafe or improperly regulated rentals being put onto Bahamian roads, and then tourists (and Bahamians) being trapped between defective equipment and discretionary enforcement. If a vehicle is unroadworthy, then the system’s priority should be safety and compliance — not extracting money to “make it go away.”

If a rental operation is legitimate, it should be licensed, traceable, insured, and operating vehicles that are demonstrably fit for the road. The Road Traffic (Vehicle Inspection) Regulations are explicit that vehicles must have a valid certificate of inspection, owners must present the vehicle for further inspection before expiry, and inspection certificates are not to be transferred between vehicles.

In addition, the Road Traffic Department’s own published guidance for public service vehicles states inspections are conducted twice per year (May and October). A tourist rental scooter being on the street in questionable condition, tied to an informal rental source near the cruise port, is a flashing sign that regulation and enforcement are not being applied consistently.

This is why the “bad apple” framing fails. A roadblock is not a private one-on-one interaction; it is an operation.

The moment an officer can tell someone to step out of view and “work something out,” the question becomes systemic: what supervision was present, what culture is tolerated, what discipline is actually enforced, and why so many Bahamians recognise the script immediately. The Tribune report itself notes the clip triggered widespread condemnation, precisely because the public read it as brazen, familiar misconduct — not as an unimaginable anomaly.

The political dimension cannot be ducked either. When this kind of conduct becomes normalised, it is not only a policing problem; it is governance decay.

It seeps into licensing, inspection, enforcement discretion, and the quiet tolerance of “small corruption” as if it is harmless. It is not harmless. It is reputationally catastrophic for a tourism economy, corrosive to public trust, and financially predatory to ordinary Bahamians who cannot afford to buy their way out of inconvenience. And every time leadership responds with vague statements rather than hard disclosures, it reads like protection of the institution over protection of the country.

So, yes: the encounter is shameful — not merely because it embarrasses The Bahamas internationally, but because it reflects an out-of-control culture where too many people believe government-facing systems can be navigated by side-payments, favours, and quiet arrangements. If the country is serious about cleaning it up, the standard must be simple and public: publish the roadblock authorisation trail, disclose the command accountability, identify the rental operator pathway that put that scooter on the road, and show enforcement outcomes that match the gravity of what the public saw and heard — not “investigation” as a holding pattern, but consequences that make the next officer think twice before trying to turn a public duty into a private hustle.

Source / Comment

Brittany Harris writes the Canadian Prime Minister on the Appointment of Mr. Clayton Fernander; The Bahamas Consul General to Canada

2026-01-09T10:03:00.000-05:00

I wrote the Mark Carney Prime Minister of Canada 🇨🇦and the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing as a concerned member of the public to respectfully request that the Government of Canada undertake an appropriate review and investigation into the appointment and presence in Canada of Mr. Clayton Fernander, former Commissioner of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, who is currently serving as Consul General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in Canada.

This request is made in the interest of transparency, public confidence, and the integrity of Canada’s diplomatic and national security standards.

Mr. Fernander resigned from his position as Commissioner of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in December 2024. His resignation followed significant public controversy surrounding serious criminal matters that arose under his leadership and are now before the courts.

During Mr. Fernander’s tenure as Commissioner, the following documented and factual events occurred:

- United States federal indictments were issued against senior officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force for drug and firearms trafficking, with those officers arrested and prosecuted in New York. These matters are before the United States courts and occurred while Mr. Fernander was Commissioner.

- Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson, then head of the Criminal Investigations Unit, was removed from his position following the public release of voice recordings involving the bribery of a known criminal figure connected to a million-dollar armoured truck robbery. This matter is also before the courts.

- The killing of Mr. Azario Major, an unarmed Bahamian man who was shot and killed by police officers. This incident has been the subject of public inquiry, judicial proceedings, and documentary examination, and has significantly impacted public trust in law enforcement leadership during that period.

In addition to the above, I wish to clearly distinguish the following as allegations, which I respectfully ask Canadian authorities to independently assess:

- There have long been allegations within Bahamian and Canadian law-enforcement and community circles regarding a close relationship between Mr. Fernander and Daran Neely, also known as “Monster,” an alleged gang leader associated with the so-called “Dirty South Gang.”

- This gang has been linked to violent criminal activity, including a serious robbery-murder in Windsor, Ontario, involving Bahamian nationals.

- It has been alleged that Mr. Neely benefited from protection during Mr. Fernander’s tenure as Commissioner. Following Mr. Fernander’s resignation, that protection allegedly ceased, and Mr. Neely was later killed. These points are presented strictly as allegations for the purpose of requesting independent review.

It is also a matter of public record that Mr. Fernander maintains a close personal relationship with the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Right Honourable Philip Edward Davis. Despite Mr. Fernander’s resignation amid public outcry and ongoing court matters involving senior officers under his leadership, he was subsequently appointed to a senior diplomatic post in Canada.

In light of the seriousness of these facts and concerns, I respectfully request:

1. A review of the vetting and acceptance process that led to Mr. Fernander’s appointment as Consul General in Canada.

2. An assessment by appropriate Canadian authorities of whether his presence and role are consistent with Canada’s standards for diplomatic engagement, public safety, and the rule of law.

3. That relevant national security, law-enforcement, and foreign-affairs agencies be permitted to independently examine the court records, indictments, and public materials related to the above matters.

This letter does not seek to assert guilt, but rather to request due diligence, accountability, and transparency. Canada’s reputation for upholding democratic values and the rule of law makes such a review both reasonable and necessary.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I trust this matter will receive the seriousness it warrants.

Respectfully,

Brittany Harris

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Source / Comment

It's Every Bahamian Duty to Keep The Bahamas Safe

2026-01-04T15:36:00.000-05:00

Bahamians Demand and Deserve a Safer Bahamas

Dr. Duane Sands, Chairman of The Free National Movement: The Duty to Keep Bahamians Safe Endures

Last year’s reduction in murders is welcome news in a country that has felt the heavy toll of violent crime. Any reduction in murder matters, and every life saved matters. But no Bahamian believes that a single statistic means the work is done.

We can acknowledge progress and still be clear-eyed about reality. Bahamians want to feel safe walking home, sending their children to school, and going about their daily lives without fear. That remains the standard by which success must be measured.

A decline in murders, while important, does not on its own mean we have a safer society. Crime trends can shift quickly if the underlying system remains weak.

Even the Minister of National Security has acknowledged the need to study where crimes occur, when they occur, and who is affected. That analysis must lead to action because public safety is built on execution, not explanations.

What Bahamians are asking for now is clarity and follow-through: clear priorities, clear timelines, and clear results. Too often, crime plans are announced but not fully delivered, leaving communities frustrated and victims underserved.

That is why the Free National Movement has put forward a comprehensive 10-point plan to address crime. Our plan is not a slogan and not a copy.

It is a correction, and focuses on tougher, smarter policing, faster justice, and a public health approach that works to prevent violence before it spreads. It calls for stronger enforcement against gangs and illegal firearms, improved intelligence-led policing, modern forensic capacity, and real accountability across the justice system.

Any serious crime strategy must also confront sexual violence head-on. Reported sexual offences continue to rise, disproportionately affecting women and children. Protecting them must be central to national security.

Laws alone are not enough. Survivors must be supported, believed, and protected, and cases must move quickly through the system. The continued absence of a national forensic lab, leaving victims waiting months for DNA testing, is unacceptable.

Public confidence also depends on capacity. Visible policing, adequate manpower, modern tools, and an efficient court system are essential if gains are to be sustained. Without them, progress risks being temporary.

Bahamians do not want a victory lap. They want solutions. If murders are trending down, that is a positive step. But safety cannot be seasonal, and it cannot depend on short-term measures. The duty to keep Bahamians safe endures, and it demands serious leadership, real investment, and decisive action.

A National Agenda for The Bahamas

2025-12-20T21:13:00.000-05:00

Deo Adjuvante, Non Timendum

“With God as My Helper, I Have Nothing to Fear”

By Dr. Kevin Turnquest-Alcena

Nassau, The Bahamas

“The price of greatness is responsibility.” — Winston Churchill

The Bahamian drums are beating, the cowbells are ringing into 2026. The year 2026 represents more than another election cycle; it is a national crossroads.

As Bahamians often say, when “the fat lady sings and gives you the price of the fish,” the debate ends, and reality begins—someone must govern. The true challenge is not only who wins, but what agenda will guide the nation forward. While elections bring speeches and promises, words alone do not deliver progress. The country now requires a people-centered agenda rooted in discipline, accountability, and long-term development.

Reducing the national debt must be a top priority. High debt limits investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social services.

As Warren Buffett once said, “Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.” The government must commit to transparent budgeting, responsible borrowing, and improved tax collection.

Auditing government programs, prioritizing high-impact projects, and leveraging public-private partnerships are essential steps toward fiscal sustainability and ensuring every dollar borrowed produces measurable value for the nation.

Crime remains one of the most urgent challenges facing The Bahamas. It threatens public safety, tourism, investment, and social confidence.

Addressing it requires a comprehensive approach including intelligence-led policing, strengthened border security, judicial reform to reduce court backlogs, community policing, youth intervention programs, and rehabilitation services. As Marcus Tullius Cicero said, “The safety of the people shall be the highest law.” Treating crime as both a social and security issue ensures safer communities and stronger national cohesion.

A National Service Programme could further strengthen the nation by promoting discipline, civic responsibility, and workforce readiness among young Bahamians. Participants could serve in disaster response, healthcare, environmental protection, agriculture, technical trades, and community safety. Mahatma Gandhi wisely noted, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Beyond providing skills, the program would reduce youth unemployment, foster civic pride, and build social unity.

Education reform is central to national development. Priorities include early childhood education, teacher training, curriculum updates, and accountability measures. Nelson Mandela emphasized, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” A literate, skilled population drives productivity, innovation, and economic competitiveness, laying the foundation for sustained national growth.

Preparing Bahamians for the digital economy is equally vital. Integrating coding, robotics, AI, and digital entrepreneurship into schools equips students for modern careers and entrepreneurship. Bill Gates observed, “The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don’t really even notice it.” Partnering with tech firms, universities, and online platforms can provide mentorship and access to advanced resources, ensuring long-term competitiveness.

Public health and wellness must also be prioritized. The Bahamas faces challenges such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Preventive healthcare, nutrition education, community fitness initiatives, and mental health services are critical. Gandhi reminded us, “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” A healthier population reduces healthcare costs, improves productivity, and enhances quality of life.

Economic empowerment requires land reform and effective land management. Clear land titles, efficient approvals, and transparent administration encourage investment, reduce disputes, and support sustainable development, particularly in the Family Islands. Aristotle once said, “Land is the basis of all wealth.”

An efficient and accountable public sector is essential. Digitization, performance-based management, retraining programs, and rationalizing structures improve service delivery. As Peter Drucker stated, “Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.” These reforms ensure taxpayers receive value while government operations remain sustainable.

Raising the minimum wage addresses rising living costs and improves social equity. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s principle, “A fair wage for a fair day’s work,” reflects the importance of fair pay in improving living standards, stimulating domestic consumption, and reducing inequality.

Supporting Bahamian investors and entrepreneurs strengthens local ownership and economic resilience. Simplifying investor registration, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, offering tax incentives, and providing mentorship foster innovation and job creation. As Peter Drucker said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” A thriving business sector reduces dependence on foreign investment and drives national prosperity.

Economic diversification is critical to reduce vulnerability. While tourism remains important, expansion into financial services, captive insurance, renewable energy, agriculture, digital services, and the creative economy is necessary. Miguel de Cervantes’ wisdom, “Do not put all your eggs in one basket,” highlights the need for multiple growth sectors to ensure stability and opportunity.

Affordable housing and cost-of-living relief remain urgent. Government-subsidized programs, construction incentives, and policy reforms ensure working families can afford safe homes. As an unknown author noted, “A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”

Modern infrastructure drives national development. Roads, bridges, ports, airports, inter-island transportation, and broadband connectivity enhance trade, mobility, and quality of life. Lily Tomlin’s observation, “The road to success is always under construction,” underscores the ongoing need for investment in infrastructure.

Climate resilience and disaster preparedness are essential. As a small island nation, The Bahamas is highly vulnerable to climate change. Coastal protection, flood mitigation, resilient infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and community awareness safeguard lives and property. The Native American proverb reminds us, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

Finally, good governance and anti-corruption measures underpin national success. Transparency, accountability, and strong institutions ensure public trust. Kofi Annan stated, “Good governance is less about structure and more about behavior.” Ethical leadership and citizen oversight are critical for maintaining confidence and ensuring fair use of national resources.

Countries such as Singapore demonstrate that discipline, efficiency, education, and long-term planning can transform a nation. While The Bahamas cannot replicate another nation entirely, adopting these principles can guide national development and sustainable growth.

As 2026 approaches, the national agenda must move beyond promises and focus on execution, accountability, and measurable results. Addressing crime, debt, education, health, wages, investment, and national service is essential to securing the future of The Bahamas.

A Christmas Message to the Bahamian People: As the year ends, warm wishes go out to the people of The Bahamas. May this season bring peace, reflection, and renewed hope. Merry Christmas, and may the coming year bring unity, progress, and national renewal.

December 20, 2025

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