In a striking directive to fellow Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) members, Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister and PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell has publicly advised politicians against feeling obligated to engage with press inquiries. The recommendation came through a vocal message distributed yesterday, wherein Minister Mitchell emphasized that no constitutional or legal requirement compels officials to respond to reporter calls or provide media statements.
Mitchell articulated concerns that unplanned media interactions often lead to ‘unforced errors,’ which political opponents then exploit through distorted interpretations. ‘Our opponents are reading the tea leaves and are too busy trying to make two plus two equal five,’ he stated, adding emphatically, ‘Folks, two plus two today still equal four, not five.’ This guidance emerges as Bahamian media outlets intensify outreach to prospective candidates and emerging political figures ahead of the approaching general election.
Positioning himself as ‘an observant student of politics,’ Mitchell further counseled against self-imposed deadlines and public declarations beyond constitutional mandates, warning that such commitments may later prove problematic.
Meanwhile, Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis launched a critique of Minister Mitchell in a Tribune op-ed published today, specifically targeting his recent official travel to London. She characterized his international meetings—including one conducted virtually via Zoom—as misaligned with national priorities during a period of strained public healthcare resources. Barnett-Ellis questioned the judicious use of public funds for such travels, cautioning that these decisions risk diminishing public trust and reinforcing perceptions of a governing administration increasingly detached from the pressing realities facing citizens.