NASSAU, BAHAMAS- FNM Leader Michael Pintard blasted the PLP government for its “neck-deep” involvement in scandals, criticizing their refusal to address a failed BPL deal and controversial LNG contracts, accusing them of prioritizing secrecy over transparency and accountability.
“Despite losing $7 million in a failed BPL land deal under its watch, the PLP refuses to hold a public inquiry. The facts are clear—this deal collapsed under the PLP. Instead of misleading Parliament and spinning on the street, they should be standing before the people explaining their incompetence,” Pintard stated.
On Wednesday, Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis informed Parliament that Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) lost $7 million in a land deal, placing the blame on the Free National Movement (FNM) administration. However, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard clarified that the deal actually ended under the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration, accusing the minister of misleading the public. Coleby-Davis had claimed that the Minnis administration entered into a $14 million deal for the land as part of an energy reform plan, resulting in a loss of $7 million with no land acquired. Pintard, however, stated that the deal was still active when the FNM lost power in September 2021.
Pintard went on to state, “And it gets worse. They handed out multi-million dollar LNG contracts to Shell and FOCOL without any competitive bidding. No transparency. No accountability. Just backroom deals for their cronies while ordinary Bahamians are left out in the cold. What’s fair about that?” Pintard, who has repeatedly warned that this PLP government is addicted to secrecy and allergic to good governance, says the FNM is not backing down. “This is a government of smoke and mirrors—public relations over the serious, hard work of governance. They operate like they’re above the law, but we will not let this go.
“The FNM is calling for full public inquiries into both the BPL and LNG scandals. The Bahamian people deserve to know where their money went—and who’s benefitting from these backdoor deals. “People are sick and tired of seeing one rule for the PLP and another for the rest of us.”
