MAKING THE CASE: Prime Minister Philip Davis in Freeport on Monday evening, making the case against the Grand Bahama Port Authority and for change in Freeport. Our photo of the week taken at the Bahamas Union of Teachers Hall in Freeport. 9 March 2026
The scene of Michael Pintard on Monday 9 March 2026 speaking at the Town Hall Meeting in Freeport exposed the man full throated. He appeared at the meeting, that was called to invite the Prime Minister to speak but the meeting was in Mr. Pintard’s constituency so he showed up with his chief lieutenant Kwasi Thompson in tow. The idea was to face down the PLPs and the Prime Minister in a public meeting.
Mr. Pintard should have held his own meeting but given his arrogance he thought he could come and poke his nose in what was a PLP friendly meeting. He came to spout the talking points for the Rupert Hayward and St George families about the relevance of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.
It was not long after his appearance on that stage that the videos from his disastrous performance started circulating. He could hardly get a word out with people jeering and booing him. He was roundly condemned for such an unpatriotic performance,
The only thing is he thought he did a good job. He was unrepentant when he talked to the press and unreconstructed in his view that he is right about the relevance of the Grand Bahama Port Authority,
All of this is over a decision made by an arbitration tribunal that the Grand Bahama Port Authority is liable to the government for money spent in supporting the city. Mr. Pintard agrees with the families that control the Port that the Port owes nothing and that the status quo should remain. All of the rest of us say change must come.
All we can say at this point is what a long sad lost soul Michael Pintard is. He doesn’t get it. This man should never become our Prime Minister. He does not support the Bahamian patrimony.
Number of hits for the week ending Saturday 14 March 2026 up to midnight: 3;
Number of hits for the month of march up to Saturday 14 March 2026 up to midnight: 2,070,251;
Number of hits for the year 2026 up to Saturday 1 March 2026 up to midnight: 10,050,742;
The scion of the Hayward family that owns one quarter of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the owners of the city of Freeport, is one Rupert Hayward. He is the chief trash talker. He believes he is the equal of the Prime Minister Philip Davis and takes every opportunity to show it. The point is this, he cannot accept that he the grandson of a British knight with all the noblesse oblige that comes with that is being dictated to by a man from the bottom in Nassau, the great grandson of slaves. This must never be in the traditions of the old creed. So every time the Prime Minister makes a statement Rupert Hayward has to try to put the Prime Minister in his place. This is sad for a family that is simply living off reputation as the city that they claim to own deteriorates before our very eyes and depends on the goodwill of Prime Davis to keep going. Do you really think Rupert Hayward knows where he lives and what reality is?
It is always interesting what catches the attention of the Bahamian press. The Chairman of the PLP did an extensive commentary on two larger public issues last week in voice notes on 9 March and 11 March 2026. In the latter voice note, he spoke about Michael Pintard’s disastrous performance in Freeport and the public meeting. He also called for transparency by the FNM’s leader on Marvin Dames, their FNM candidate caught up in a narco-controversy. Then in the final seconds of the note, he mentioned that the country would be going to elections in a few weeks. Blind Bartemus could see that. What in God’s name does the press think that the parties are all nominating candidates for the election for? For their health? Yet both newspapers made this a lead story. Nothing about the remarks about Mr. Pintard or the condemned Mr. Dames but about elections coming in a few weeks. Duh! The Prime Minister was called about it. That was the point you know, to see if the Prime Minister would contradict the Chairman. The Prime Minister said this. Elections are coming soon. Bitch take blow!
The Grand Bahama Port Authority has reduced itself to a shadow of what it was. It is now only a licensing agency having sold off very worthwhile enterprise that provided cash flow. The result is they are unable to maintain the city to the standards that everyone has come to expect and for which they are legally obligated. You ride around the city and there is still junk that was left from Hurricane Dorian in 2019 that is uncollected. The roads themselves are in a state of disrepair. Nothing is more disgraceful than the inability to fix the tiny Taino Bridge in Freeport that would have cut off the people of Smith’s Point from the mainland of Grand Bahama, if they had not hurriedly filled in the canal and put what they called a temporary road there. Temporary our foot. That was their solution. We predict the little bridge will never be fixed. The families whose mouthpiece is Rupert Hayward wants the status quo to remain. It gives them great heft back in London to say they own a city back in the colonies. The fact is though what they are running today is p r stunt and everyone but Michael Pintard sees right through it.
World markets have been disrupted. The leader of another country that had no aggressive aims at the country that carried out the killing, was killed. The economy of the countries in the Middle East are off kilter and will need many moons to recover. Thousands of people have been killed or displaced and for what. It is all vanity and insensitivity. The actions are simply disproportionate and unnecessary.
Fred Mitchell, Foreign Minister of The Bahamas, spoke at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London on Wednesday 11 March 2026. He said this in part:
“I had to think long and hard before I came here to speak tonight about whether in the circumstances of today’s international politics, it would be a wise thing to come and anything at all. Would I be putting my citizens and colleagues at risk by my coming here and saying any word or phrase that could be extrapolated to mean something more than it is or was intended to be? That is a new experience for me.
This is an academic setting and theoretically one should be able to speak freely and posit the impossible but in this world where each word, phrase and sound is instantly analyzed and two and two become five instantly, discretion is very much the better part of valour. However, we have an obligation to speak because it is an attempt to build bridges with believers of the gospel of multilateralism. It is in fact the only practical way to conduct business across borders and further it carries with it the ethics of good behavior for all actors who stick by the rules.”
Congratulations to Ian Poitier and his students of the newly minted Creative and Performing Arts School (CAPAS). This is the newly minted institute for young artists, both creatives and performers. The House of Assembly dealt with that and he revamp of the Junkanoo governance infrastructure on Wednesday 11 March 2026.We know this would not have been possible without the support the Prime Minister Philip Davis and his wife Ann Marie.
It’s been weeks if not months now that the partner of Marvin Dames, the former National Security Minister and the FNM candidate for Mt Moriah, was arrested with 200 kilos of cocaine on the boat that is owned jointly and severally by Marvin Dames, his wife Stacy and Malcolm Goodman. Mr. Goodman first said he was guilty then changed his plea to not guilty. What is a common factor is that the Leader of the Opposition Michael Pintard who has something to say about everything has not had a word to say about this.
Tribune image
As reported in The Tribune by Leandra Rolle on 12 March 2026:
“I want you to know that being a playwright is a job,” he said. “I want you to know that writing poetry is a job. I want you to know that performing on theatre or in the square is a job. I want you to know that all those things you denigrate are, in fact, jobs.”
Mr Davis replied that he has never denigrated the arts. He pointed to his administration’s initiatives, including CAPAS and assistance to the Dundas Theatre, as evidence of support for the sector.
He told Mr Pintard that it was he who initiated the broader exchange when he questioned his role as a lawyer, a profession the prime minister said he is proud of. Mr Davis highlighted his contributions to legal education across the Caribbean and said his work is widely recognised throughout the region.
“Tell us what you did in your lifetime,” Mr Davis said. “You’re saying poetry is a job. Who said it wasn’t?”
#He also rejected Mr Pintard’s claim that he had said creatives are “disqualified” from holding the post of prime minister, insisting he never made such a statement.
#National Security Minister Wayne Munroe entered the debate, criticising how Mr Pintard describes himself on the FNM’s website.
“If he was proud to be a creative, the first thing would be, I am a poet. I am a writer, not I am a human resource consultant,” Mr Munroe said. “That’s what you claim. You didn’t claim the creative. This the Free National Movement website. Stop being disingenuous.”
A Vision Moving Forward
As election season approaches in The Bahamas, the political temperature rises and the mudslinging begins. Last week, during a town meeting in Freeport, I listened closely as criticisms flew from supporters of the FNM, including its leader. But beyond the political theater, one question continues to linger: what is the real vision for the country over the next five years?
It is always easier to criticize from the outside. Anyone can list what the government is doing wrong or promise sweeping change while not carrying the burden of leadership. Yet Bahamians who have watched this cycle repeat for decades—should be asking a deeper question: what is the long-term plan for our nation?
Campaign rhetoric should not drown out serious discussion about our future. Healthcare, for example, must become a national priority. Too many lives are being lost in public facilities due to shortages in resources, staffing, and proper compensation for medical professionals. Strengthening our healthcare system is not a political talking point; it is a national necessity.
At the same time, we must think beyond tourism. The Bahamas should be actively diversifying its economy, empowering young entrepreneurs, modernizing infrastructure, and expanding access to reliable public services. Our young people should be prepared for emerging industries—technology, artificial intelligence, and innovation—through the University of The Bahamas.
The real conversation this election season should not be about who can insult whom the best. It should be about who has the clearest, most credible plan to build a stronger, more competitive Bahamas where opportunity reaches every citizen.
-Abagail Cartwright
From Facebbook:
With my friends Loretta Butler Turner, Dr Reginald Eldon, Cecile Heastie with Brian and Kathy Seymour at the 90th birthday of Louis Hanchell and his niece Patrice Astwood at Regatta at Bahamar.
Fred Mitchell MP
Fox Hill
13 March 2026
From Facebook:
Greeting Andrew Young, former Mayor of Atlanta, former Ambassador and civil rights leader. He is celebrating his 94th birthday at Rosewood at Bahamar. Prime Minister Philip Davis was the special guest.
Fred Mitchell MP
Fox Hill
12 March 2026
From Facebook:
At the reception by King Charles at Clarence House in honour of the Caricom UK forum in London. Deputy High Commissioner Antonio Butler looks on.
Fred Mitchell MP
Fox Hill
10 March 2026
Today is the Ides of March, the date that history records was the assassination of the Julius Cesar by Roman Senators including his friend Brutus. That was 44 b c Each year there is an exchange on this day between Fred Mitchell, the Minister and Zendal Forbes. It is the exchange between the soothsayer and Caesar as he left for the Senate. The soothsayer had warned Caesar to beware of the Ides of March. Caesar as he was leaving for the Senate that morning said to the soothsayer: “the Ides of March have come.” The soothsayer responds: “aye but not yet gone.” Caesar was killed that day.