NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Free National Movement is sounding the alarm over the Davis Administration’s recent announcement of a $250 million investment in national security, warning Bahamians not to be swayed by what the Opposition calls “big promises with no follow-through.”
Deputy Leader of the FNM and St. Barnabas MP, Shanendon Cartwright, issued a sharp critique of the Progressive Liberal Party’s record on national security, arguing that the latest multimillion-dollar pledge risks becoming yet another unfulfilled commitment.
“National security must be a top priority,” Cartwright said in a statement. “But that doesn’t mean giving the government a blank cheque with no results to show.”
Prime Minister Philip Davis announced the $250 million plan earlier this week, touting it as a significant step toward modernizing law enforcement infrastructure and improving public safety. The proposed projects reportedly include facility upgrades, technological advancements, and strategic initiatives to combat crime.
However, Cartwright urged the public to look beyond the headlines, citing a series of previously announced security projects that remain incomplete under the PLP’s tenure.
“After nearly four years in office, this PLP government has failed to deliver on key security projects they themselves announced,” he said. “The $90 million Fox Hill prison rebuild is still unbuilt. The National Intelligence Agency is still not operational, despite promises since 2012 and again in 2021. The Sexual Offenders Registry has seen no public launch, despite repeated commitments. And the Five-Pillar National Security Plan from 2024? Murder rates remain high, and measurable results remain absent.”
Cartwright stressed that real security reform requires more than new buildings or large budget allocations, arguing that crime prevention must start at the community level.
“Building a new prison is not a crime strategy. You cannot incarcerate your way out of a crisis. True national security starts long before a crime is committed,” he said.
He also highlighted troubling social indicators, pointing to recent findings from the Ministry of Health’s Global School Health Survey. The survey revealed that one in five Bahamian teens has attempted suicide, while one in four has seriously contemplated it — a stark sign, Cartwright said, of a youth population in crisis.
“Under this administration, youth unemployment stands at 19%. That’s nearly one in five young people who can’t find work, can’t afford to build a future, and are left vulnerable to the same conditions that fuel crime and social unrest,” he said.
Cartwright outlined the FNM’s vision for a more balanced national security approach — one that goes beyond enforcement and infrastructure spending to include investment in mental health services, youth development, job training, and community intervention.
“If we are serious about reducing crime, we must be serious about investing in our people,” he said.
“That includes mental health services in schools and clinics, job training and entrepreneurship programs, safe spaces for youth, and early intervention for at-risk communities.”
While the FNM acknowledges the importance of security investment, Cartwright insisted that any new spending must be paired with transparency and measurable results.
“Bahamians are right to ask: What happened to the last set of promises?” he said. “If the $90 million prison, the alert systems, and the intelligence agency didn’t materialize, why should we believe that $250 million more will?”
As the country inches closer to the next general election cycle, national security and public safety remain key issues for both major political parties vying to convince Bahamians they can keep communities safe while delivering on broader social and economic development.
