The Honourable Marvin Dames, and The Deceitful Progressive Liberal Party - PLP

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.

Source / Comment

Leslie Miller Little Young Girl

The Political Little Young Girl of Leslie Miller

Leslie Miller and His 'Little Young Girl'

Leslie Miller and His 'little young girl' Politics

Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis responds: Former PLP Cabinet Minister Leslie Miller has chosen to describe me as a “little young girl.”  Let me say this directly: I am a 43-year-old woman.  I have practiced law for nearly two decades, called to the Bar of The Bahamas and the Bar of England & Wales in 2007.  I am a Senator of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, a mother, and a public servant.

For a former Cabinet Minister to belittle me in this way is not only disrespectful to me, it is disrespectful to every Bahamian woman who has worked hard, earned her place, and stepped forward to serve.  This is misogyny, plain and simple.  And it is exactly this type of tired, small-minded thinking that has held The Bahamas back for far too long.

The FNM has made a deliberate choice to bring forward a new generation of leaders.  A younger, fresher, and more diverse slate that includes more women than ever before.  We are stepping forward to represent every Bahamian, to bring new ideas, and to build a future that is not trapped by the prejudices of the past.

The PLP wants you to believe that women cannot lead.  I wonder if they would use this same language about their own women Members of Parliament.  If not, then why do they believe it is acceptable when speaking about me?

Bahamian women are not “little girls.”  We are leaders, professionals, mothers, and nation-builders.  We will not be dismissed with a phrase or pushed aside by men who believe they alone should decide the course of this country.

To every woman and every girl watching this, know this: your contributions matter, your voice matters, and your leadership matters.  This moment is proof of why the fight for respect and equality in politics must continue.  And this is exactly why I am running to represent Killarney.

The Bahamas deserves better than this backward rhetoric.  We deserve leadership that debates ideas on merit, not on gender.  That is the standard I will uphold, and that is the change I will fight for.

Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis

Carlos Lehder says He Ran a Cocaine Empire from a Private Island in The Bahamas

Carlos Lehder says he paid former Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Sir Lynden Pindling 150,000.00 monthly via his agent, Everette Bannister

Brought to you by: Michael Franzese Wines

Carlos Lehder, a former associate of Pablo Escobar and one of the original co-founders of the Medellín cartel, sits down with Michael Franzese to talk about how he built and ran a cocaine empire from Norman’s Cay — a private island in The Bahamas. In this rare interview, Lehder breaks down the myths of the Medellín cartel, shares how he pioneered new smuggling routes into the U.S., and explains why the idea of a unified cartel is more Hollywood than reality.

0:00 – Carlos Lehder and his rise to the top 0:47 – Day in the life of a c*caine smuggler 1:30 – The truth about the Medellín Cartel’s structure 4:38 – Why Carlos bought a private island in the Bahamas 5:00 – Norman’s Cay and smuggling routes to the U.S. 6:00 – The Bahamas government transition and its impact 6:55 – How Lehder viewed the U.S. as his empire's

Nassau, The Bahamas - The Governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) PRESS STATEMENT on Carlos Lehder Interview

www.yourplp.org

Statement From the Progressive Liberal Party on Headline About Money Paid to Sir Lynden

For Immediate Release

The headline of 1 September 2025 on the front page of The Tribune, I PAID PINDLING 150K PER MONTH", is incorrect and misleading. It is also salacious and defamatory. However, because the law does not recognize defamation of the deceased, that outrageous allegation can be printed without legal consequences.

If one reads the story, a convicted drug trafficker, Carlos Lehder, who served time in prison for running cocaine into the United States, claims that he paid $150,000 a month to an intermediary whom he alleged was an agent for the late Prime Minister.

At no point does the story say that the drug trafficker ever paid anything to Sir Lynden. It is all after-the-fact, third-party hearsay nothing more than "he said, she said."

The larger point is that the source of the information is manifestly unreliable. The accusations cannot be tested because all the individuals against whom the allegations are made are deceased.

They cannot defend themselves. Sir Lynden is dead. Everett Bannister is dead. Gorman

Bannister is dead. These allegations, therefore, reflect cowardice, not truth-telling.

In The Bahamas, we often say, "Mouth can say anything." Around the world, it is said that paper will stand still for anything to be written on it. Convicted criminals often make self-serving statements. Newspapers, in turn, often print whatever will sell.

These allegations belong exactly where all other untested claims belong - in the garbage bin of history.

1 September, 2025

Wayne Munroe Lives in a Different Bahamas!

Where in Hell does Wayne Munroe Dwell?

MUNROE LIVES IN A DIFFERENT BAHAMAS

It is deeply disappointing that the Minister of National Security continues to demonstrate just how out of touch he is with the day-to-day realities facing Bahamians and our brave first responders.

For the Minister to suggest there is “no indication” that the Fire Services lack resources is simply not supported by facts or by the lived experience of those on the front lines.

Just last week, we witnessed a fire devastate parts of Bay Street, one of our most important commercial corridors, while firefighters were forced to scramble without proper support.  The airport had to shut down to redirect equipment to the scene.  And across this country, we are relying on just five fire trucks to serve an entire country of more than 400,000 people spread across multiple islands.  That is unacceptable.

Let me be clear: this is not a reflection of our firefighters, who continue to serve with courage, professionalism, and self-sacrifice.  These are dedicated Bahamians doing the best they can with what little they’ve been given.  They deserve more than praise; they deserve resources, investment, and respect.

This should be a moment for reflection and action, not dismissive comments that ignore the seriousness of the situation.  Bahamians know what they saw.  Businesses lost property.  Residents feared for their safety.  And our emergency teams were pushed to the edge.

If the Minister of National Security refuses to see the problem, he certainly cannot be part of the solution.

Supporting our first responders must be a top priority.  The people of this country expect better, and they deserve a government that takes public safety seriously, not one that minimizes real concerns and leaves communities vulnerable.”

Shanendon Cartwright, MP
Deputy Leader of the Free National Movement

Hubert Minnis is A Persona Non Grata in Bahamian Politics

Analysis: Hubert Minnis Has Fallen on His Own Sword

Hubert Minnis Final Act of Political Folly

By THE GATE KEEPER

Nassau, The Bahamas

Hubert Minnis has fallen on his own sword, a stark and brutal end to a political journey marked by both triumph and turbulence. In a recent leadership vote within the Free National Movement (FNM), Minnis suffered not just a defeat but a resounding rejection, receiving a mere 163 votes against Michael Pintard’s commanding 486.

This outcome raises a fundamental question: why would Minnis, once decisively rejected by the electorate in 2021, willingly submit himself to such public and profound humiliation? The answer may lie in a tragic blend of political hubris and strategic miscalculation.

This debacle is not merely a reflection of a leader out of step with his party; it is an emblem of a political career that has veered into the realm of self-sabotage. Minnis’s attempt to reclaim authority within the FNM was less a battle for leadership and more a misjudged skirmish that ended in his complete and utter capitulation.

His decision to run in the face of such obvious party sentiment was less an act of courage and more a misfire of epic proportions, illustrating a profound disconnect from the political realities of his diminished stature.

By thrusting himself into this leadership contest, Minnis has not only obliterated his political influence but has also inadvertently amplified Pintard’s stature, cementing his role as the party’s new cornerstone. Each vote for Pintard echoed as a resounding repudiation of Minnis, effectively banishing him from the political arena he once dominated.

The implications of this political suicide are far-reaching. Minnis’s fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of clinging to power beyond one’s expiry date.

It underscores a bitter truth in politics: that the refusal to recognize one’s waning influence can lead to ruinous consequences, transforming leaders into relics of their former selves.

In the aftermath of this debacle, the FNM finds itself at a crossroads, now rallying behind Pintard’s vision of renewal and distancing itself from the Minnis era—a period that will likely be remembered more for its ignominious end than its achievements. As for Minnis, his legacy will be marred by this final act of political folly, a sad denouement for a figure who once held the nation’s highest office.

This stark transformation within the FNM should serve as a critical warning to the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP): stay alert and take nothing for granted, as political landscapes can shift dramatically and unexpectedly.

As this chapter closes on Minnis’s career, the lesson is clear: political power is as much about knowing when to hold on as it is about knowing when to let go. Unfortunately for Minnis, his grasp extended far beyond his reach, leaving him not just defeated but disgraced.

Source / Comment

The PLP and FNM are Two Peas in a Pod

The Progressive Liberal Party, PLP and the Free National Movement, FNM are Proving to be Two Peas in a Pot

The silent majority in The Bahamas is never impressed by the old same PLP and FNM!

By Dennis Dames

I always find it sadly amusing that the overtly and shamelessly blind, and arrogant supporters of the PLP and FNM on social media would always defend the serious wrongdoings of their respective party and high ranking members by pointing out an egregious error of  the present or past by the other party or a dear member thereof.

Their arguments are always unwittingly based on: We are essentially two peas in a pod.  The silent majority is never impressed by this petty, dirty and corrupt brand of politics that we engage in – in The Bahamas.

It is the primary reason why we have not had a two term government in our beloved nation for more than a generation – in my opinion.  The unimpressive political gangsterism and corruption stinks, and the voters obviously don’t like it!

So keep on defending blatant nonscense and the lack of accountability in government – senseless PLPs and FNMs.  Your respective parties will soon be out of favor in the hearts and souls of the Bahamian people for good!

FTX’s Burst Bubble Is Very Bad News For The Ruling Progressive Liberal Party - PLP in The Bahamas

Actually, FTX is already becoming the daily topic of discussion of national focus in The Bahamas – and we have at least three solid years to go before the next general election.  It looks like a rough ride ahead on the FTX wave with ‘Brave’ – in my humble estimation. Like the song goes: Oh Sam – oh Sam, by damn – by damn. 

By Dennis Dames
Nassau, NP, The Bahamas

The full financial, social and political impact of FTX’s collapse is far from being known – in my view.  One thing is certain, and that is a multitude of ordinary hardworking folks throughout the world have lost their whole life savings – or a significant portion of it as a result of FTX’s burst bubble.

It’s the worst case of betrayal of public trust that I have seen in my lifetime.  Many of the clients concerned – are expressing their frank and honest emotions in social media circuits as the FTX saga plays out in bankruptcy court; and their sentiments are far from nice and pleasant. 

All of this is happening while the former loose cannon CEO of FTX continues to add fuel to the fire in the press and on social media platforms.  He simply cannot keep his friggin trap shut!

There are already reported cases of suicides and assassinations relating to the demise of FTX in countries around the world, and the situation is looking grimmer by the minute.  The complete fallout from FTX’s failure is unknown, but one thing if for sure, and that is many politicians – especially in the USA have a lot of questions to answer for the general voting public in regards to FTX failed crypto exchange.  

It will have a great influence on the next Presidential election in the United States and the next round of midterm congressional elections – in my opinion.  Trump is going to have the time of his life – I can imagine.  Wow wow we waa!

Politicians in The Bahamas will also have a lot of voters questions to answer, and FTX could be the main subject of concern moving in to the next general election season in The Bahamas.  This is totally bad and unwanted news for the ‘New day’ administration – no doubt.

Actually, FTX is already becoming the daily topic of discussion of national focus in The Bahamas – and we have at least three solid years to go before the next general election.  It looks like a rough ride ahead on the FTX wave with ‘Brave’ – in my humble estimation. Like the song goes: Oh Sam – oh Sam, by damn – by damn.  

FTX will adversely affect a good number of governments in our universe – as more and more horrific details of its internal operations are publicly revealed. It’s a budding international scandal of monumental proportions.  Let’s face it, as it’s not going anywhere soon.

The PLP Lucky Day - September 16, 2021

The PLP simply lucked out on General Election Day - 2021

By Dennis Dames

I heard the now-Prime Minister, Philip Brave Davis repeat the false accusation that former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis suppressed voters by calling an early general election – and hence not allowing new voters to register, and existing voters who moved into other constituencies over six months to transfer accordingly.

This is the same Mr. Davis who was calling frantically and at every turn for Minnis to ring the bell, from early 2020!

When Minnis prorogued the House of Assembly and and subsequently dissolved it sometime in August 2021, the only prevailing question on my mind was: did the PLP do its homework in terms of adding new potential party supporters to the national voters register?

This is why I took a conscious break from writing during the 2021 campaign, Mr. Davis. I was waiting on the results of the general election to give me the answer to that burning question in my mind.

Lo and behold, the question was answered; only about 65% of the registered voters participated.  It is perhaps the lowest voter turnout ever - in the history of Bahamian general elections.

Brave Davis and the PLP failed to mount an energetic national voter registration and transfer campaign leading up to the general election.

That’s why Mr. Davis, now PM Davis, is still crying about his fake claim of voter suppression in The Bahamas by Minnis.

Prime Minister Davis and the PLP simply lucked out or dodged the bullet on Election Day 2021, and won without trying, in my humble opinion.

COVID-19 demagogues

 The PLP is all about being the shameless demagogues of the COVID-19 war in The Bahamas

By Dennis Dames

I have read and taken note of the PLP’s press release of July 28, 2021 – addressing their official opposition position on COVID-19 in The Bahamas.

The party leader, the Hon. Philip Brave Davis outlined about nine points to forward us out of this emergency. I want to talk about item number five which reads: “Fifth, we need a dramatic expansion of testing and contact tracing. Positivity rates consistently over 20 percent are evidence we are not testing enough. When Family Islands with relatively small populations like Cat Island and Andros have cases, let’s test our way out of the outbreak, instead of locking everyone down. That has proven too damaging to our families and businesses.”

What’s the point of more testing if no plan is in place to effectively quarantine the resulting positive cases? We live in a country where the majority of us reside in modest dwellings with other people, and in a lot of situations we dwell with an extensive extended family. So, where do we go to isolate until we get the all-clear to enter society again? Most of us don’t have the means to effectually quarantine, so who is going to pick up the tab?

Additionally, scientists have told us that COVID-19 – like the flu, is here to stay. So, why does the PLP believe that we can test our way out of this global pandemic? The dramatic expansion of COVID-19 testing and contact tracing is like expanding a wild goose chase in an arena where the majority of people are unvaccinated.

Yes, the vaccinated and unvaccinated are catching COVID-19. It’s unstoppable just now. The only difference is, that the unvaccinated are feeling the brunt of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. So, to propose more testing and contact tracing, does not address the big issue at hand, which is increasing hospitalizations and deaths, especially among the unvaccinated.

The PLP has accepted that most COVID transmissions happen indoors. They stated the following in their release: “Beyond vaccines, there are ways to reduce the risk of contracting COVID, and we need to share, in detail, these risk mitigation strategies with Bahamians. For example, this is largely an airborne virus, and most transmission happens indoors. We’d like to see a public-private initiative to provide guidance and support for improving ventilation and air quality in workplaces, churches, homes and schools.”

The only way to reduce the risk of catching COVID is to stay exclusively to one’s self, in my view. That’s almost impossible with the typical Bahamian, or human generally.

We have to live with COVID-19, but we don’t necessarily have to die from it. Vaccination is our most important partner and tool in the COVID-19 fight right now.

The PLP hasn’t accepted that fact and reality as yet because it doesn’t fit in to their election campaign plans, in my humble viewpoint.

For the PLP, it’s all about being the shameless demagogues of the COVID-19 war in The Bahamas.

July 28, 2021

Can't win like that, PLP

By Dennis Dames

The PLP’s decision to not seriously and aggressively help to promote and encourage CoViD-19 vaccination nationally in The Bahamas, is a very poor reflection on its leadership ability in crisis time

I have read the leader of the official opposition - the Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis’ latest press release today – captioned:  Guidance to PLP Candidates.  It’s good to know that PLP candidates and campaigners were informed that they cannot be on the campaign trail if they are not vaccinated.  This is in adherence with the latest CoViD-19 emergency orders.  In the meantime, he said that the PLP is examining avenues for legal recourse.  Apparently, the PLP doesn’t agree with the new emergency orders – restricting campaigning to vaccinated personnel only.

Mr. Davis went on further to say -that: “The “Competent” Authority permits many activities which pose a much greater risk of transmission of COVID”.  Again, Mr. Davis and the PLP don’t get it.  If you, and the PLP were in power under the present circumstances, and announced your CoViD emergency orders – some folks will feel shortchanged also.  It goes with the territory of having to make difficult decisions in a very trying time – in the national interest, Mr. Davis.

We cannot have it every way, Mr. Davis and the PLP.  It has been stated by competent medical authorities everywhere – that vaccination is the only way out of the global CoViD-19 crisis.  Some highly vaccinated nations are already experiencing the health benefits of a majority CoViD19 vaccinated population.  Cases might be up, but hospitalization and death rates are falling significantly – Mr. Davis and the PLP.

Yes, people have the right to not vaccinate against CoViD19; and the vaccinated have equal rights under the law – Mr. Davis and the PLP.  But, in The Bahamas – where the majority of the adult population is still unvaccinated, that spells bad news for the national economy, Mr. Davis and the PLP.  It’s national economic suicide in real time, Mr. Davis and the PLP.

So, you and the PLP are now looking for legal avenues to fight for the majority of adult Bahamians to remain unvaccinated  - if they so choose.  What utter madness is this, Mr. Davis and the PLP?  You want to be prime minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas – with an agenda of political recklessness, death and suffering?

Mr. Davis went on with his evil plot and said this:  “The government has failed badly to prepare the country for the Delta variant. We are facing a serious health crisis, one that is already overwhelming the public health system and is likely to seriously worsen”.  What a hypocrite!  The Delta variant has not been confirmed in The Bahamas to date, but this is the pet variant of which Mr. Davis can’t wait for - to get here.  He knows that every PLP government to date in The Bahamas, is aware of a brewing healthcare crisis for decades.  Mr. Davis has been an Executive in a few of them; so he has first hand experience in poor political leadership and incompetence – across the board.

Yes Mr. Davis, when the Delta variant arrives – I hope that you, your party, and your unvaccinated clients are ready for it; because everyone knows that that variant ain’t playing with no one.  Don’t blame the monster of your dreams, Minnis and his FNM government for the decision of the unvaccinated majority, Mr Davis and the PLP.  They are being greatly impacted now by sickness and death, and the Delta variant will take things to new heights of national disaster and misery – when it arrives, Mr. Davis and the PLP.

The PLP’s decision to not seriously and aggressively help to promote and encourage vaccination nationally, is a very poor reflection on its leadership ability in crisis time – in my most gracious opinion.  The Bahamas’ economy will not survive if the vast majority of its adult people remain unvaccinated in a fluid and raging CoVID-19 environment, Mr. Davis and the PLP.  So, carry on with your wicked demagoguery on CoViD19 vaccination efforts in The Bahamas Mr. Davis and the PLP.  You can’t win with that – bro.

26 July 2021

PLP Demagoguery on CoViD-19 Vaccination in The Bahamas

 The Official Opposition PLP is ready and prepared to win by hook or crook

By Dennis Dames

The leader of the PLP, the Hon. Philip Brave, stated the following among other crazy things in a recent PLP press release: “The PLP’s COVID Task Force continues to promote constructive policy solutions, including a dramatic expansion of testing, more effective masks, a real public education campaign, and close consultation with local medical professionals.”

What about the promotion of national unity and resolve in the COVID-19 war, Mr. Davis? What is the PLP’s COVID Task Force relationship like with the present regime, and other community stake holders?

Where is the PLP’s “get vaccinated” campaign and leadership when the nation really needs them, Mr. Davis? Where is the vital unified political partnership and guidance in The Bahamas when we truly could use them right now, Mr. Davis?

According to Mr. Davis and his PLP: The governing FNM is stupid and inept and the PLP has all the right answers to deal with the onslaught of COVID-19 in our society.

The PLP leader stated further that: “The new Emergency Orders restricting campaigning infringe fundamental free speech rights of Bahamians and are further evidence that the government does not believe it can win a fair fight.”

Mr. Davis’ primary focus and concern seems to be on the next general election. They are ready and prepared to win by hook or crook. Rocking the unvaccinated boat doesn’t fit into their strategy and plan – in my humble opinion.

Do not hide behind, “…close consultation with local medical professionals”, Mr. Davis. Ultimately, the political decisions will prevail in our COVID-19 environment and economy. You and the PLP don’t seem to be up to the challenge of leadership in The Bahamas in this perilous COVID 19 battle.

As long as we are mixing and mingling, COVID-19 will spread more, Mr. Davis. So long as we welcome visitors to our shores, COVID-19 will remain alive and well among us, Mr. Davis.

If we encourage our campaign workers to be careless about vaccination and the COVID protocols, and more concerned about campaigning, COVID-19 would continue to rage on in our communities, Mr. Davis and the PLP.

If the majority of us remain unvaccinated in the face of a very fluid and deadly virus, we could really end up on some painfully undesired tracks, Mr. Davis. Not even you and your party will want to preside over such a failed state. So, let’s therefore promote together: Get vaccinated, Mr. Davis and the PLP.

Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, who must be the monster in your dreams, has already said over and over again that vaccination is the only way out of our COVID-19 crisis in The Bahamas and the wider world.

If you agree with that, I invite you to show some genuine leadership and join Minnis and his FNM government in getting those wise and prudent words out. Anything short of that is considered pure demagoguery, in my opinion, Mr. Davis.

Show some true leadership, Mr. Davis, and implement a PLP policy – which requires every PLP campaigner and poll worker to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the interest of the health and wellbeing of our country, The Bahamas.

I’m going to use my fundamental free speech rights to say: Keep your unvaccinated PLP agents to yourself and your PLP party.

It really looks like Brave Davis and the PLP feel that they could win the next government via a campaign by and for the unvaccinated using fundamental free speech rights as a front. The devil is a liar.

The losers of the next general election in The Bahamas

By Dennis Dames

Who’s going to lose the next general election in our beloved country – The Bahamas? We, the Bahamian people, as usual.

There is no political party out there that’s up to the challenge of moving our nation out of the grips of omnipresent poverty, widespread illiteracy, rampant crime, the pervasive underground economy, and economic stagnation.

The PLP and FNM have demonstrated over and over again in government – that they are simply executive taxers, borrowers and spenders. They only want to get control of the cookie jar once more, so that they can continue their regular lovers, family and friends feast – while many more of us join the unemployed and underemployed band, the hunger line, the default payment society, and the – may God help us prayer.

FNM and PLP leaders have shown us their wicked colours a long time ago, but we still look forward with great enthusiasm – to screwing ourselves all over again at the next polls. It’s like stupidity on steroids. We love punishment and the shit end of the stick; and the politicians are always delighted to swing us again – one more time.

I have noticed the misguided passions of the yobbish PLP and FNM fans – and cheerleaders on social media. We are stupidly blind and politically careless about our future. We don’t know Brave Davis yet, or Fred Mitchell, Glenys Hanna Martin, Obie Wilchcombe, Dr Hubert Minnis, Carl Bethel, Dion Foulkes, et al?

What could those political dead weights do for The Bahamas and Bahamian people at this juncture of our existence as a free nation and people? They grew up in the corrupt PLP and FNM. They have already executively served in the various corrupt PLP and FNM regimes over the past few decades, and all we got from their respective governments are more public debt, more crime, more unemployment, more hunger and suffering, a broken education system, a failing health care infrastructure, and an absolutely corrupt status quo.

So, who will lose the next general election in The Bahamas again? We, the Bahamian people will – if we don’t collectively resolve to hold the next Bahamian government’s feet to the fire – for the benefit of a truly better, prosperous and more competitive Bahamas and Bahamian people in the 21st century.

The History of Majority Rule in The Bahamas

 THE ROAD TO MAJORITY RULE (1942 –1967) 

This singular event in Bahamian history played a significant role in shaping the modern Bahamas we experience today. The significant events leading up and emanating from Majority Rule must become permanently etched in the Bahamian historical landscape as these events define us as a people, reveal what we believe in as Bahamians, and serve as a constant reminder of our vision and values. 

Following is a cursory account of the significant events surrounding and leading up to Majority Rule, the meaning of Majority Rule, and homage will be duly paid to the freedom fighters that fought this epic battle in the name of freedom and justice. 

The Burma Road Riots 

Many local political historians believe that June 1, 1942 marked the beginning of the modern political history of the Bahamas. The events of the Burma Road Riots came as a result of the agitation by labourers for equal pay for equal work, regardless of colour or nationality. 

As you know, a satellite airfield was being constructed in western New Providence for use by the American armed forces. A labour dispute ensued over equal pay and this dispute took on a life of its own and became intimately interwoven with the overall movement for freedom and social justice. Today that site is the Lynden Pindling International Airport. 

So it is clear that from the first stirrings of political activity in the country, labour has been an integral part of the struggle. 

The Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas 

The Movement really started with a conversation between Mrs. Mary Ingraham and her husband following his defeat in the 1949 general elections. The defeated candidate opined that his political fortunes could have been very different had women voted in that election. Other significant national events that fueled the Suffrage Movement were the Burma Road Riots of 1942, the General Strike of 1958, and the Labour Movement of the 1950s. The civil rights movement in the United States with Dr. Martin Luther King was an international event that also fanned the flames that burned for social justice and equality in The Bahamas. 

Mary Ingraham formed alliances with kindred spirits from across the political divide as Bahamian women and men worked tirelessly together to fight racial, political and economic injustice in The Bahamas. This alliance included freedom fighters such as Georgiana Symonette, Eugenia Lockhart, Althea Mortimer, Albertha M. Isaacs, Doris Johnson, Grace Wilson, Mildred Moxey, Ethel Kemp, Gladys Bailey, Una Prosper Heastie, Veronica Lotmore, Nora Hannah and Madge Brown. 

Mary Ingraham was elected as President of the Suffrage Movement in 1957. Georgiana Symonette was the Vice-president and Eugenia Lockhart was the Treasurer. In 1958, Dr. Doris Johnson returned home from studying abroad and joined the Suffrage Movement. 

During the years 1959 and 1960, the Movement gained considerable ground advancing petitions and demonstrating publicly for the right to vote. In November 1960, Eugenia Lockhart and Dr. Doris Johnson accompanied Henry M. Taylor, Chairman of the PLP, to London to present a Petition to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. In January 1961 a Select Committee of the House of Assembly gave a Report in favour of the right to vote for women but with effect from January 1963. The PLP and the Independents in the House of Assembly opposed the report. An appeal was made to the House of Commons in England again. On February 23, 1961 a Bill to enable women to vote was enacted with effect from June 30, 1962. Bahamian women voted for the first time on November 26, 1962. 

The Birth of the PLP 

The PLP was born out of a movement that embodied the hopes, aspirations, and feelings of a generation of Bahamians who were demanding equal work, majority rule, and freedom to pursue any hopes and wishes they dared conceive. The man who generally credited with conceiving the Progressive Liberal Party was William Cartwright, a publisher, real estate broker, and Member of the House of Assembly for Cat Island. In August of 1953, Mr. Cartwright reportedly invited to the first meeting on Bay and Frederick Streets, the following men: The Hon. Charles Rodriquez, Mr. Henry Milton Taylor, Mr. Cyril Saint John Stevenson, Mr. Samuel Carey, Mr. Holly Brown, Mr. Clement Pinder, Mr. F.W. Russell and others. 

Many black businessmen and lawyers were invited to join, but for reasons of their own, decided not to be identified with the new movement. But the party’s course was clear from the beginning; the PLP was designed to represent all that was opposed to unfair privilege and the wealth and power this afforded the Bay Street Boys. 

General Strike of 1958 

In support of 1957’s protests, a 16-day General Strike brought Nassau to a screeching halt. Unionized or not, just about every worker participated, and the strike was quite peaceful. The result was the Trade Union and Industrial Conciliation Act and the setting up of a Labor Department. The General Strike took place in January 1958. 

Later that year in June, Allan Lennox Boyd, Secretary of State for the Colonies ordered that the first constitutional steps be taken toward Majority Rule. The voting franchise was extended to all males whether they were land owners or not; the once ubiquitous unlimited plural vote was ordered to be reduced to two and the abolition of the company vote was ordered. 

Women’s Right To Vote 

In November of 1960 Sir Henry Taylor led a delegation to London to champion the right of women to vote in The Bahamas. Accompanying Sir Henry were notables like Dame Doris Johnson and Eugenia Lockhart. Shortly after their return, women received their right to vote and exercised those rights during the November 26, 1962 general elections. 

This new women’s right brought a force and element into the history of The Bahamas that affected the country’s social, economic and political development. To this day, the effect of women exercising their right to vote has impacted all aspects of national life as women from all sides of the political divide have, and continue to make their contribution to the country, holding key positions in many offices throughout our country. 

Black Tuesday 

On this day, the governing United Bahamian Party sought the approval for a Boundaries Draft Order, which established the boundaries for the various constituencies of New Providence and the Family Islands, under the provisions of the 1964 Constitution. During a sitting of the House of Assembly, the PLP proposed two amendments to the revision of the Boundaries Draft Order which the UBP had presented. The amendments were designed to get a fairer idea of the number of voters and their distribution, but both proposed amendments were rejected. 

It was at that point that Sir Lynden walked over to the Speakers’ table and lifted the 165-year-old mace, the symbol of the Speaker’s authority, and said, "This is the symbol of authority, and authority on this island belongs to the people and the people are outside." 

With that he raised the mace and hurled it through the open window of the House of Assembly. 

The Progressive Liberal Party describes this event as "an act of deviance in the pursuit of liberty and fairness." So Tuesday 27, April 1965 was destined to go down in Bahamian history as Black Tuesday. 

Majority Rule Day 

Some have argued that the great significance of Majority Rule was that after years of struggle by many freedom and justice loving people, the back of the old oligarchy was finally broken. More importantly, Majority Rule presented the opportunity for real democracy to come to The Bahamas, underpinned by equality, tolerance, economic justice, social justice, all important elements in the creation of a free, modern, democratic state. 

All Bahamians benefited, in one way or another, from the historic event that took place on January 10, 1967, a day that now wears the rather inelegant appellation of Majority Rule Day. 

Majority Rule ushered in the opportunity for all Bahamians to have constitutional, political, social, cultural and economic rights. Where these rights were not readily accessible, the Government of the day created laws and implemented policies to enable these entitlements. 

January 10th is a day in the national calendar that belongs to all Bahamians – not just PLP’s but to all Bahamians, black and white, rich and poor, young and old, city dweller and Family Islander, and, yes, PLP and FNM alike. January 10th needs to be commemorated and celebrated by all of us because it represents one of the truly great and defining moments in our evolution as a people. 

With the exception of Emancipation from Slavery in 1834 and the attainment of Independence in 1973, there is no event of more consequence and historical importance than the attainment of Majority Rule on January 10th, 1967. January 10th, 1967 represents the transition from the old Bahamas to a New Bahamas; the point of transition from minority government to Majority Rule; the point of transition to a modern democracy. 

It also represents, however, one of the highest pinnacles in the historic – and still ongoing – struggle of the Bahamian people for economic empowerment, for equality of opportunity, and for social justice. 

January 10th, 1967, to be sure, was neither an end nor even a beginning. Instead, it was an important milestone in a journey that was begun centuries ago when some anonymous slave struck a blow for freedom for the first time. We pause to pay homage to the personalities and players in this epic struggle. In a hard fought and competitive election in 1967, the PLP delivered the following 18 members to a 38-member House of Assembly. They were: Lynden Pindling, Preston Albury, Clarence Bain, Milo Butler, Clifford Darling, Elwood Donaldson, Arthur Foulkes, Carlton Francis, Arthur Hanna, Warren Levarity, Curtis MacMillan, Uriah McPhee, Maurice Moore, Edmund Moxey, Jimmy Shepherd, George Thompson, Jeffrey Thompson and Cecil Wallace Whitfield. Randol Fawkes who successfully ran as Labour in 1962 and 1967 with the support of the PLP threw his support behind the PLP and became a member of the first Majority Rule cabinet. He figured prominently in the movement toward Majority Rule. 

Successful Independent candidate Sir Alvin Braynen threw in his lot with the PLP and accepted the post of Speaker of the House. 

These two warriors for justice and freedom tipped the proverbial scale in favor of the PLP and the first Majority Rule cabinet was formed: This distinguished group consisted of Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, Milo Butler, Arthur Hanna, Clarence Bain, Jeffrey Thompson, Carlton Francis, Randol Fawkes, Warren Levarity, Curtis McMillan, Clement T. Maynard and Lynden Pindling. 

In this 40th year of nationhood, we come together as one people to mark a critically important milestone in our progress as a people – and to re-commit ourselves to a struggle that never ends. 

As The Bahamas looks to the future, it must be that the average man, making the average salary, with children to educate to university level; that they see not a glass ceiling but opportunities that give rise to hope as we work to build the best little country in the world.

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