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Copyright © 2025 The Conch Critic

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Legal Disclaimer

This book contains analysis, commentary, and opinions about public figures and political events in The Bahamas. All information presented is based on publicly available sources, official government documents, press releases, and media reports available as of August 2025. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy and verify facts through multiple sources.

The views and opinions expressed in this book are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any political party, government agency, or organization mentioned. Where critical analysis or interpretation is offered, it represents fair comment on matters of public interest and is protected under principles of free speech and democratic discourse.

Living public figures are discussed solely in their capacity as public servants and political actors. No defamatory statements are intended, and all commentary falls within the bounds of legitimate political criticism and analysis in a democratic society.

The author acknowledges that political analysis involves interpretation of events and that reasonable people may reach different conclusions from the same facts.

First Edition: 2025

Dedication

To the people of The Bahamas—from Cat Island to Grand Bahama, from Over-the-Hill to Cable Beach—whose voices, votes, and daily struggles shape the story of this nation. Your resilience in the face of hurricanes, pandemics, and political promises reminds us that democracy belongs not to the politicians, but to the people.

And to the journalists, civil servants, and citizens who document, serve, and question—your commitment to truth and accountability keeps our democracy alive.

Contents

Author's Note

This book was written during a remarkable period in Bahamian political history. As I put pen to paper in August 2025, the Progressive Liberal Party government of Prime Minister Philip "Brave" Davis stands at the halfway point of what may be its only term in office—a victim of the peculiar Bahamian political cycle that has seen every government since 1997 relegated to a single term.

The story you're about to read unfolds in real time. Unlike historical analysis written with the luxury of hindsight, this narrative captures a government still governing, still making decisions that will determine whether the PLP's 2021 promise of a "New Day" proves to be genuine dawn or merely false light before another long political night.

I have endeavored to be fair but not neutral. There is a difference. Fairness demands that all sides receive accurate representation and that facts be verified through multiple sources. Neutrality, however, would be a disservice to readers who deserve honest analysis about the performance of their elected officials. Where the government has succeeded, I have noted those achievements. Where it has failed, I have documented those failures. The reader will judge which column carries more weight.

Every fact in this book has been cross-referenced with official government sources, parliamentary debates, budget documents, international reports, and credible media coverage. Where speculation occurs, it is clearly labeled as such. Where criticism is offered, it is based on documented evidence and supported by specific examples.

The Bahamas is a small country where everyone knows everyone, and politics is intensely personal. Many of the figures in this book are not just political actors but neighbors, colleagues, and members of a close-knit Caribbean community. This intimacy makes the analysis both easier—because motivations and relationships are often transparent—and harder—because the human cost of political decisions is always visible.

This book does not endorse any political party or candidate. It seeks only to provide Bahamian voters with the information they need to make informed decisions about their country's future. In a democracy, that may be the most patriotic act of all.

Nassau, Bahamas
August 2025

Acknowledgments

This book would not have been possible without the contributions of many individuals who shared their insights, experiences, and expertise during its creation.

First, I must thank the countless civil servants, political staffers, and government officials who spoke on and off the record to provide context for the policies and decisions analyzed in these pages. The Bahamian public service, despite facing significant challenges, continues to demonstrate professionalism and commitment to serving the people.

To the journalists and editors at The Tribune, Nassau Guardian, Bahamas Chronicle, ZNS, and other media outlets who have documented this government's tenure with diligence and integrity—your work forms the backbone of democratic accountability and provided essential source material for this analysis.

The Parliamentary Registration Department and the various government ministries that maintain public records deserve recognition for their transparency in making budget documents, parliamentary proceedings, and official statements available to researchers and citizens.

Special appreciation goes to the political scientists, economists, and constitutional experts both within The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean who provided valuable perspective on the regional context of Bahamian politics and governance.

I am grateful to the residents of the Family Islands who shared their experiences with government programs and infrastructure projects, offering ground-level insights that statistics alone cannot capture. From Long Island to Eleuthera, from Abaco to Andros, their voices are essential to understanding how policy translates into lived experience.

While AI tools assisted in identifying potential sources, all fact-checking and verification was conducted manually to ensure accuracy throughout this project. This approach allowed for both efficiency and thorough scholarly rigor.

Finally, I acknowledge that this work stands on the foundation built by previous chroniclers of Bahamian politics, from Sir Arthur Foulkes' memoirs to Dr. Gail Saunders' historical works, to the daily reporting of generations of Bahamian journalists. Their commitment to documenting our democratic story makes works like this possible.

Any errors that remain are mine alone.

List of Abbreviations and Terms

BPL - Bahamas Power and Light (the national electricity utility)

BTVI - Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute

CARICOM - Caribbean Community

COVID-19 - The coronavirus pandemic that began in 2020

FNM - Free National Movement (opposition political party)

GDP - Gross Domestic Product

IMF - International Monetary Fund

MP - Member of Parliament

OAS - Organisation of American States

PLP - Progressive Liberal Party (governing political party)

PM - Prime Minister

QC/KC - Queen's Counsel/King's Counsel (senior lawyer designation)

RBDF - Royal Bahamas Defence Force

RISE Programme - Government social assistance program

VAT - Value Added Tax

ZNBC - ZNS (Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas)

Political Terms:

• Safe Seat - A constituency likely to remain with the same party
• Marginal Seat - A constituency that could change parties based on small vote swings
• Wave Election - An election where one party wins an unusually high number of seats
• Open Loop - A narrative technique that poses questions to be answered later
• Over-the-Hill - Historic Nassau neighborhoods, traditional PLP strongholds

Now, let's begin our journey into the heart of Bahamian democracy—a story of ambition, achievement, controversy, and the eternal question that faces every government: Have we delivered on our promises?