The Hon. Marvin Dames, and The Prudent Drone Contract Honoured by The Ruling Philip 'Brave' Davis Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Administration
Marvin Dames' Righteous Vision for A Secured Bahamian Nation - The Bahamas
Recent claims about the drone contract under former Minister Marvin Dames are misleading. For over three decades, he has served with integrity and distinction in global law enforcement, yet political narratives now attempt to tarnish his reputation.
Misleading statements and outright lies have become a common tactic of the Progressive Liberal Party. For more than three decades, Marvin Dames has served at the highest levels of law enforcement, both in our country and internationally. He has built a reputation that has earned him the utmost respect from the global law enforcement community, a reputation that continues to be upheld today.
However, his political adversaries, in their attempts to tarnish his character, resort to using surrogates to spread a lie. Unlike many of his critics, Mr. Dames has a reputation that precedes him. He has established relationships based on professionalism, honor, respect, and integrity.
Let’s unpack the falsehoods propagated by the PLP through their surrogates:
1. No Corruption. No Scandal.
The official audit of the drone contract (2021–2022), a public document by the Auditor General, found no wrongdoing.
• No suspicious payments
• No side deals
• No missing money
The audit speaks for itself.
2. More Than Drones: A Vision for National Security
This was never just about purchasing drones. The plan included establishing a Centre of Excellence and a training academy to build skills and capacity in drone technology.
The purpose of the academy is to train the next generation of drone pilots in The Bahamas and across the Caribbean region. Key areas of focus include law enforcement, with partnerships involving the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Immigration, Lands and Surveys, the Disaster Risk Management Authority, and others. Training opportunities have also been extended internationally.
The former Minister and the FNM were forward-thinking in this regard.
It is also important to highlight that Marvin Dames built an impeccable reputation in global law enforcement circles over three decades. He has led some of the most critical divisions of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, including the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), the Central Detective Unit (CDU), and the Central Intelligence Unit (CIU).
He earned respect worldwide for his knowledge, experience, spotless character, and integrity, qualities often missing in political life today. Why would anyone attempt to discredit a man whose leadership helped dismantle international criminal networks and whose reputation still stands firm today?
3. Who Chose the Vendor? Not the Minister.
A committee of senior government officials; NOT the Minister, handled the bidding process. Multiple local and international firms submitted proposals.
The committee carefully reviewed all bids and recommended the company that was most suitable, realistic, and cost-effective at the time. The winning bid was not only capable and aligned with government policy but also well under budget, compared to competing bids exceeding $30 million.
For clarity:
• The Minister did not choose the company.
• Payments were processed strictly through the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury.
4. COVID Changed the Timeline, But the Plan Continued.
When the pandemic struck, budgets shifted. Out of the $17 million contract, only a small portion was paid by the FNM government before the 2021 election. The vast majority of payments were left to be honored by the present administration.
Importantly, the vendor adjusted with no penalties, and the program continued under the PLP.
So why insist on playing political games, using surrogates to tarnish the good name of one of our most respected citizens, when the very same company is still being engaged by the current administration?
Even the former Commodore, in his farewell speech at the inauguration of Commodore Floyd Moxey, commended the Drone Academy for its work.
If the accusations are real, then let those making them come forward and show their faces. Stop hiding behind surrogates. The Bahamian people deserve honesty and accountability, not shadows and whispers.
5. Results You Can See.
The drone program was part of a broader modernization strategy championed by Marvin Dames, which also introduced:
• ShotSpotter technology to detect gunfire
• Body cameras for officers
• A Real Time Crime Center (RTCC)
• Revitalized national CCTV coverage, which was nonfunctional before he took office
The PLP often claims that the FNM had no crime plan. But the truth is, their own crime plan was simply to continue the very initiatives launched by the FNM and Marvin Dames. Instead of acknowledging this, they go to great lengths to discredit him.
6. The Real Question: Why Hide the Success?
Why downplay a program that continues to protect our borders and support law enforcement operations daily?
They use surrogates to spread falsehoods about an alleged $17 million “misappropriation,” knowing full well that the FNM government disbursed only a fraction of that amount. The majority of the $17 million remains under the present administration’s responsibility as the contract continues to be fulfilled.
If this was a corrupt deal, why is the current government still paying the same vendor and operating the same program?
7. The Facts Are Clear.
To clarify:
• The Ministry of Finance alone is responsible for disbursing payments to vendors.
• The Minister did not choose the company awarded the bid. A committee of senior government officials, spanning RBPF, RBDF, Corrections, Finance, and others, led the process. The Minister had no interactions with the company or its executives.
• The Minister did not benefit from the bid.
• Less than $1 million was disbursed under the FNM administration.
• This was a Cabinet-backed policy decision, validated by an independent audit and implemented by independent officials.
