“The Fiscal Responsibility Council’s latest report makes it plain: this PLP administration is not
just careless with the public’s money, it is non-compliant with the very rules meant to protect it.
Time and again, this Government has refused to be transparent, ignored its legal obligations, and
misled the Bahamian people.”
“The Council confirmed what we in the Opposition have been saying for months. Earlier this
year, the Prime Minister proudly projected the Government achieved a $135 million surplus for
the month of April. Yet the Ministry of Finance’s own reports later revealed a $2 million deficit.
When pressed in Parliament, the Prime Minister denied he ever made the claim, despite it being
recorded on video and reported in the press. Instead of answers, Bahamians got deflection and
confusion.”
The Council also found that the Government failed to comply with two critical requirements:
oversight of public enterprises and transparency around public-private partnerships.
“Not compliant on oversight of Public Enterprises and Government Business Enterprises.”
“In the Council’s own words: Neither annual plans for the listed 18 public entities nor statements
of corporate intent for the 19 Government Business Enterprises were provided.”
“This is a serious failure. The Government refused to provide annual plans and corporate intent
statements for state-owned enterprises like BPL and Water & Sewerage. These agencies handle
core national services and receive large sums of public money. They should be closely
monitored, yet this administration has offered no plans, no performance benchmarks, and no
explanation for how that money is being used.”
“Worse still, the Government secretly funneled $10 million to the Carmichael Village Project
Development Company Ltd., which is classifies as a Government Business Enterprise. No
announcement. No details. No accountability. It was only discovered because it appeared deep in
the pages of a Ministry debt bulletin. This is not an isolated case. The Government has also
failed to provide a credible plan for the Grand Lucayan project, leaving taxpayers in the dark
while millions remain at risk.”
“The Council also noted that the Government has not disclosed the framework it uses to approve
public-private partnerships, despite the fact that PPPs can leave taxpayers on the hook for
hundreds of millions of dollars. These projects are being approved without public vetting,
without parliamentary oversight, and without clear rules about how risks are assessed and
managed.”
“This is not responsible governance. It is a deliberate pattern of hiding information, avoiding
scrutiny, and treating the Bahamian people as an afterthought.”
“At a time when families are being asked to do more with less, they deserve to know how their
money is being spent. Instead, they are left with half-truths, incomplete data, and vague
commitments. We cannot build a strong economy on secrecy. We cannot fix our public finances
without trust.”
“This report should be a wake-up call. The path we are on is unsustainable. It is time for real
transparency, real accountability, and a government that treats public money with respect.”
“The Opposition will continue to demand answers and advocate for the kind of fiscal
responsibility the Bahamian people deserve.”
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