On August 22nd, 2025, Dr. Duane Sands, Chairman of the Free National Movement (FNM), had the audacity to do something the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) clearly considers offensive—he told the truth. In a simple voice note, Sands clarified that the FNM’s proposed one-day convention was not about rewriting history, overthrowing governments, or crowning Pintard “Lord Master of the Universe.” No—it was simply about internal party business. But apparently, truth is such an alien concept to the New Day PLP that they immediately doubled down on their own manufactured narrative.

Instead of acknowledging reality, Fred Mitchell—the self-appointed oracle of the PLP—clutched his pearls and charged full steam ahead with a storyline so flimsy it could barely survive a Facebook comment section. According to Mitchell, this non-voting convention is a sinister plot to “change the rules in the middle of the game” so that Michael Pintard, “Mr. No,” can tighten his grip as “Lord Master of the FNM.” Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is the level of political analysis now being peddled by the PLP Chairman. Not strategy. Not fact. Just melodrama dressed up as commentary.

And here’s the kicker: even if we play along with Mitchell’s fantasy that the FNM is amending its constitution—so what? What exactly is so diabolical about a political party updating its constitution to make candidate selection more democratic? By Mitchell’s logic, the PLP’s constitution must already be a shining beacon of flawless democracy, untouched by the grubby hands of bias, favoritism, or strongman tactics. Ahem—shall we revisit Golden Isles? Constituents there begged the PLP not to re-nominate their sitting MP. But in true PLP style, Fred Mitchell himself swooped in with the political equivalent of, “Sit down, shut up, and take what we give you.” Democracy, PLP-style: where the people’s voice is heard, then politely discarded in the trash.

The irony is almost too rich. The PLP wants Bahamians to believe that when they silence the will of the people, it’s leadership. But when the FNM holds a convention—imagined or otherwise—to expand democracy, it’s suddenly a dark conspiracy. This is the PLP in a nutshell: allergic to accountability, hostile to democracy, and addicted to the art of misrepresentation.

So, what have we learned? That when confronted with the truth, the PLP prefers its own fairy tales. That when others practice democracy, they label it dangerous. And that when Fred Mitchell gets a microphone, the only thing guaranteed is that the Bahamian people are treated to a masterclass in how not to take the truth seriously.

The Bahamas deserves better than a government—and a party—that insists on treating lies as political strategy.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) fails for one reason; it is their nature.

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