PRESS STATEMENT
The Opposition Demands an Answer on No-Bid Contracts
Last week, the Bahamian press reported a no-bid contract for roadwork in Grand Bahama for some $183 million. We have heard nothing at all from Prime Minister Davis to explain what possible set of circumstances allowed them to consider and approve—what is among the largest single public infrastructure projects in the country—without the prudent and legally required competitive bidding.
While the Prime Minister is explaining that breach of the law, he should also explain why his published procurement reports from December 2023 to January 2025 reveal some 631 direct award/single-sourced projects totaling $396,790,382.79. Note in particular that this $397 million sum includes 33 contracts totaling $386.9 million, which is over the $100,000 threshold and thus would not typically be eligible for a direct award no-bid contract.
The fact that almost $400 million in Bahamian tax dollars could be doled out for no-bid is egregious and absolutely unacceptable! This Davis Administration demonstrates every day that they have never been about creating fair and transparent opportunities for all Bahamian businesses. Only a selected group need apply.
Of course, none of the 14 reports published to date by the Procurement Department include any contracts from the Ministry of Tourism. Our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism clearly feels that he has no obligation to follow the law and report the procurement activities of his Ministry.
These reports do not include the procurement activities of many of our State-owned Enterprises, which according to Section 5 of the Public Procurement Act, are required to publish their major contracts on their websites. Imagine what these entities are hiding in their ongoing breach of the procurement laws.
Finally, these reports do not list the privatization of the public assets belonging to BPL, which also did not go through any sort of competitive bidding. This privatization of BPL is valued in the hundreds of millions, and the Bahamian people have been kept in the dark on the details.
Hon. Michael C. Pintard
Leader of the Free National Movement