分类： politics

A growing political and accountability controversy has emerged in the Bahamas surrounding McKell Bonaby, chairman of the national Beaches and Parks Authority, who is facing intense public pressure over the agency’s persistent lack of transparent spending disclosures and a years-long absence of independent public audits. As the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for the Mount Moriah constituency ahead of upcoming political contests, Bonaby released a formal public statement pushing back against growing criticism, asserting that every cent of taxpayer funding allocated to the authority has been properly documented and accounted for. To date, however, no detailed spending breakdowns, project-level financial reports, or independent audit documents have been released to the general public to back up these claims.

In his defensive statement, Bonaby framed the authority’s spending as a direct investment in Bahamian livelihoods, noting that more than 1,200 local contractors receive work and compensation from the agency on an ongoing monthly basis. He argued that every expenditure translates directly to tangible jobs, economic opportunity, and critical support for communities spread across the country’s island chain. He also highlighted the agency’s expanding operational scope, pointing out that it now oversees more than 250 public parks nationwide — a major increase that has required expanded staffing, upgraded equipment, and new operational infrastructure, including a modernized fleet management system to maintain the authority’s assets.

Bonaby further claimed that robust internal financial controls are already in place to prevent mismanagement. He explained that all vendor payments are tied to formal, valid contracts, require active business licences and up-to-date tax compliance certificates, and are backed by full supporting documentation and photographic evidence to confirm contracted work was completed as agreed. Even with these assertions, the statement failed to include any concrete financial figures, specific project details, or verifiable documentation to substantiate the claims of proper oversight.

The call for public transparency comes after repeated instances in recent years where the Beaches and Parks Authority’s spending has exceeded official budgeted allocations, even as the poor upkeep and deteriorating condition of multiple public parks drew sharp criticism from residents and public officials. Bonaby countered that his administration has made unprecedented progress on accountability: he confirmed that audited financial statements covering all agency activity back to 2014 have now been completed for the first time since the authority was founded, framing this milestone as a major breakthrough for fiscal responsibility in the agency. He also sought to draw a clear political contrast with the previous Free National Movement (FNM) administration, alleging that under the previous leadership, the authority routinely approved payments without formal contracts, accepted incomplete work from contractors, and allowed vendors to operate without required business licences or tax compliance clearance.

When reached for comment on Bonaby’s allegations, Shanendon Cartwright — the FNM’s candidate for St James and the former head of the Beaches and Parks Authority — declined to issue any formal response to the claims. The controversy continues to simmer as observers and opposition figures press for the immediate release of the completed audits to allow for public verification of the authority’s spending practices.

As the Bahamas’ general election cycle heats up, the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) rallied supporters in Abaco this week, framing its first term as a period of transformative recovery and laying out an ambitious agenda for a second term if voters reaffirm their mandate. Party leaders, including Prime Minister Philip Davis, centered their pitch on the dramatic rebound of Abaco’s economy and infrastructure after the catastrophic damage of Hurricane Dorian, while painting the opposition Free National Movement (FNM) as a threat to the hard-won progress the island has made.

Prime Minister Davis opened his remarks by highlighting one of the PLP’s signature achievements: the revival of Abaco’s core tourism industry. Once brought to its knees by Dorian’s devastation, Davis said the island has reclaimed its position as one of the Caribbean’s top stopover destinations, with growing private investment and rising economic activity serving as clear markers of sustained recovery. Key major developments underway and on the drawing board, he argued, will lock in that growth for years to come. Among the most transformative is the full redevelopment of Treasure Cay, a project that will generate hundreds of construction jobs and long-term permanent positions for local residents while restoring access to critical basic services across North Abaco. Additional projects in the pipeline include a 300-unit new housing development, a major expansion of the Abaco Club, and a growing footprint of financial services operations in Marsh Harbour.

Beyond large-scale private development, Davis outlined the PLP’s investments in core public infrastructure and human capital. The government has advanced sweeping energy reforms, including a new hybrid power project designed to boost grid reliability for Abaco residents and cut long-term energy costs for households and businesses. In education and workforce development, the party has expanded the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI)’s presence on the island and rolled out national job training programs to equip local workers for in-demand industries. Davis also emphasized how expanded digital access is opening new doors for remote work, distance learning, and telehealth services across Abaco and other outer Family Islands.

Davis used his speech to draw a stark contrast between the PLP’s agenda and that of the FNM, which has campaigned on a national policy “reset.” He warned that an FNM victory would reverse the recovery initiatives launched over the past term, quoting what he claimed was a line from a book by the opposition leader: “Make sure you undo all the successful things your predecessor did.” Davis argued that a change in government would put critical programs for youth development, education, and Family Island investment at risk. He also addressed two contentious local issues, immigration enforcement and land use, noting that his administration has taken a far stricter approach than previous FNM governments, including carrying out the largest single wave of deportations in the country’s recent history and demolishing hundreds of illegal, unregulated structures across Abaco. Closing out his address, Davis positioned Abaco as a central priority in the PLP’s national development strategy, acknowledging that while significant progress has been made, “there’s a lot more to do” to fully restore and modernize the island.

Local PLP candidates echoed the Prime Minister’s narrative, focusing their remarks on the FNM’s failed response to Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Kirk Cornish, the PLP incumbent candidate for North Abaco, harshly criticized the FNM’s post-storm relief efforts, telling a crowd of supporters: “When Hurricane Dorian hit, we didn’t just lose homes—we lost dignity. Our loved ones were left in a trailer. That is their ‘compassion.’ Abaco ain’t forget.” Cornish argued that under the PLP, steady post-storm recovery has transformed the island, but asked voters for a second term to finish unfinished work. “I’ll be honest—there is still more to do. That’s why I’m asking for a second chance to finish what we started,” he said.

Outlining his own priorities for a second term, Cornish pointed to investments across key local sectors: sports, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. For Abaco’s young athletes, the PLP will build a new eight-lane running track and modern sports facilities to expand recreational and competitive opportunities. In education, the government has prioritized staffing and equipping local schools, with a new focus on supporting students with special needs, including hiring more trained specialists and expanding targeted support services. “We must do better for children with special needs, with trained teachers and proper support. No child should be left behind,” Cornish said. For healthcare, the PLP will expand local scholarship programs for critical healthcare roles, including X-ray technology and laboratory science, allowing Abaco residents to train for these in-demand positions and return to serve their home communities. “Healthcare must improve. We cannot have machines sitting unused because we lack technicians. We need trained X-ray techs, lab workers, and doctors on every cay. No Abacoian should have to leave home to receive care,” he added.

On infrastructure, Cornish highlighted completed and ongoing upgrades across North Abaco, including community park and sports court renovations, clinic upgrades, backup generator installations, improvements to water and sewer systems, construction of a new hurricane shelter in Central Pines, and the distribution of completed new homes to residents displaced by Dorian. He also noted that additional road improvement projects are a top priority for the next term, alongside expanded support for local agriculture to boost poultry production, strengthen national food security, and connect smallholder farmers to local markets through school feeding programs.

Sebas Bastian, the PLP candidate for Fort Charlotte, outlined the party’s broader national plans during the rally, including a proposal to double funding for small business grants and expand access to affordable financing for local entrepreneurs across the country. He also highlighted the PLP’s education reforms, including expanding digital literacy training to prepare students for the modern workforce, and its housing agenda, which includes new affordable housing developments in Spring City and Central Pines and an expansion of the popular rent-to-own home ownership program. On national security, Bastian noted that the PLP has expanded law enforcement staffing significantly, adding 748 new police officers, 379 new corrections officers, and 300 new immigration officers to strengthen public safety across the country.

Bradley Fox, the PLP candidate for Central and South Abaco, closed out the rally by framing himself as a leader ready to continue the progress the party has already started in his district. “There’s still a lot of work to be done in Abaco; we’re not where we need to be yet,” he admitted, but pointed to clear, tangible signs of economic recovery across the island. “Our economy has been restored. We see it in the amount of boats in our marinas, the amount of jets on the tarmac. Homes are being constructed. Families have returned home. Communities are being rebuilt, and hope is being restored. And for the first time, we now have a BTVI extension campus right here in Abaco.”