NASSAU, BAHAMAS: More than $663,000 in no-bid building material voucher contracts awarded by the Davis administration just weeks before the May 12 general election are facing deeper scrutiny, with Public Accounts Committee Chairman Michael Pintard revealing that senior government officials are next in line for questioning as the committee traces the procurement and distribution of the vouchers.
Pintard, the Opposition Leader, provided a public update Tuesday on the PAC’s ongoing proceedings, making clear that the statement was not the committee’s final report. The PAC’s completed report will ultimately be tabled in the House of Assembly.
At the centre of the probe are two no-bid contracts totaling $663,436.99 for building material vouchers, which appeared in the government’s public procurement report for April 2026 — less than a month before Bahamians went to the polls.
“The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) met again today as part of our ongoing review of the government’s role in financing an eye-popping number of pre-election vouchers,” Pintard said.
“For context: the public procurement report for April 2026 shows that just under a month before the May 12 general election, the Davis administration awarded two no-bid contracts totaling a combined $663,436.99 in building material vouchers. That’s the backdrop for the Committee’s questions.”
The timing and procurement of the vouchers have become the focus of the PAC’s examination as it seeks evidence from businesses, government officials and others involved in the programme.
Pintard said the committee heard testimony last week and again Tuesday from representatives of Premier Importers and Contractors’ Direct, two companies connected to the voucher programme. Contractors’ Direct operates several entities, including the Do it Centre in Grand Bahama.
“We heard testimony last week and today from representatives of two companies connected to the program: Premier Importers and Contractors’ Direct, the latter of which operates several entities including the Do it Centre in Grand Bahama,” Pintard said.
“Contractors’ Direct has already submitted much of the documentation the committee requested. The committee has requested Premier Importers’ submission, which will help round out the full picture.”
The PAC has also received evidence from government consultant John Nixon, who Pintard said was responsible for procuring the vouchers. However, he declined to disclose the substance of that evidence while the committee’s work remains underway.
“The Committee has also received evidence from John Nixon, the government consultant who was responsible for procuring the vouchers. We’re not in a position to discuss those details publicly at this stage,” Pintard said.
The probe is now set to reach further into the government’s financial and procurement apparatus.
Pintard said Chief Procurement Officer Carl Oliver will be brought back before the committee for additional questioning, while Financial Secretary Simon Wilson and another senior government official who received vouchers are next on the PAC’s schedule.
“Looking ahead, the Committee intends to bring back the Chief Procurement Officer, Mr. Carl Oliver, for further questioning. Next on the schedule is testimony from the Financial Secretary, Simon Wilson, and another senior government official who received the vouchers,” Pintard said.
Pintard said the PAC would continue working through the evidence before presenting its findings to Parliament.
“The Committee will keep working methodically through the evidence with the ultimate goal of providing a comprehensive report for public consumption.”
The PAC’s final findings have not yet been issued. Once its investigation is completed, the committee’s report is expected to be formally tabled in the House of Assembly.
