The Bahamian government finds itself embroiled in a significant transparency dispute regarding the controversial Pike energy agreement, with conflicting statements emerging from top officials. Energy Minister Mrs. Coleby-Davis has acknowledged that the finalized contract remains unpublished online and has never been formally presented to Parliament, contradicting Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis’s previous assertions.
During an appearance on Guardian Radio’s Morning Blend program, Minister Coleby-Davis confirmed that while the agreement received approval from the Attorney General’s Office and the Prime Minister had issued directives for its public release, the ministry had yet to upload the documents to the Energy Reform website. She could not provide a specific timeline for publication.
This disclosure directly contradicts Prime Minister Davis’s recent claims that all energy transformation contracts had been made publicly available and formally laid in Parliament. The Prime Minister had previously suggested critics seeking disclosure were ‘lazy’ and desired to be ‘spoon-fed’ information.
The minister explained that during negotiation phases, the government only released a legal summary prepared by the Attorney General’s Office. She stated, ‘Following the end of negotiations, directives from the Prime Minister was to make sure that the concluded agreed documents were public for review.’
The Pike agreement represents a substantial restructuring of the nation’s energy infrastructure, transferring control of Bahamas Power and Light’s transmission and distribution network—including poles, substations, and power lines—to a new majority-private entity, Bahamas Grid Company. This arrangement grants private control over electricity delivery and a major share of system revenues for approximately 25 years.
Opposition Leader Michael Pintard of the Free National Movement accused the government of consistent pattern of opacity, stating, ‘Transparency is not optional when public assets are involved. Accountability is not a favour granted by government; it is a duty owed to the people.’ He emphasized that the agreement’s long-term implications would affect the nation for decades, demanding immediate disclosure and truthfulness from the administration.