Row Erupts Between PM Davis and Pintard Over Passport Fraud Cases

2026-03-25 - 23:21

& Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Proceedings in Parliament on Wednesday turned into a shouting match between Prime Minister Philip Davis and Opposition Leader Michael Pintard. At the center of the chaos wasthe issue of fraudulent passports. It’s a topic topping headlines and on the minds of voters this election season. Our Joshua Williams was in the House as the drama unfolded. It started off as a debate over funding for the Grand Bahama Energy Company, but quickly took a turn after the conversation shifted to fraudulent passport cases. Prime Minister ,Philip Davis, slammed the Free National Movement’s conduct on the issue, calling it reckless and misleading. Philip Davis – Prime Minister “They reduced the safeguards. And now they want to behave as though they are the defenders of the passport. No way, Madam Speaker.” Pintard got to his feet with this rebuttal. Michael Pintard – Leader of the Opposition “He indicated that it was an isolated event that someone would be a fraudulent document. I’ve not made a fraudulent document that ended up with a builder as an isolated case.” The prime minister refuted that claim, saying he said no such thing—but it didn’t stop there. Pintard continued with his point but was overpowered by sitting members. East Grand Bahama parliamentarian, Kwasi Thompson, grew frustrated with the conduct of members of the governing party. Michael Pintard – Leader of the Opposition “The prime minister sought to give Bahamian people that this is not a systemic.” Kwasi Thompson – MP, East Grand Bahama “The public wants the government to act seriously with respect to a very serious problem. You are making it light.” This all stemmed from a house sitting last week. Pintard claimed that nearly 300 people are under investigation for receiving fraudulent documents. His claims came as several people have already been charged in court this year. Pintard also tabled a list of 74 names, which we later learned there are actually nearly 100 names under investigation, according to Chief Passport Officer Nicholas Symonette. The back and forth continued with multiple members rising to their feet, Speaker Patricia Deveaux eventually regaining control. The prime minister and Pintard, though, yet again clashed over what Davis says was an FNM policy that helped contribute to the problem. Philip Davis – Prime Minister “We came back and we reintroduced and tightened the whole process—not just for the granting of passports, but the renewal.” Michael Pintard – Leader of the Opposition “We sought, Madam Speaker, to make the renewal of e-passports—the renewal of e-passports is the area where restrictions were removed. What the prime minister is saying is something else.”