In what can only be described as a thinly veiled exercise in political desperation, Prime Minister Philip Davis’ recent remarks in Grand Bahama leaned heavily on alarmism rather than substance. Framed as a warning to voters, his speech instead revealed a troubling reliance on fearmongering—particularly the attempt to resurrect the long-dead Oban proposal as a cautionary tale of what a Free National Movement (FNM) government might bring.

The Oban project, announced in 2018 under the Minnis administration, did indeed collapse amid scrutiny over the developers’ credibility and the lack of proper environmental approvals. That much is factual. However, to suggest that this single failed proposal represents the entirety of what an FNM government would offer today is not just misleading—it is politically convenient. It allows Davis to avoid a far more pressing question: what, exactly, has his own administration delivered for Grand Bahama after four and a half years in office?

The answer, by most measurable standards, is very little of substance. Despite inheriting a global economic rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic—particularly in tourism—Grand Bahama has not experienced the same level of recovery or targeted investment as New Providence. The most glaring failures remain the government’s inability to finalize and execute a viable deal for the Grand Lucayan Resort and the continued stagnation surrounding the redevelopment of the Grand Bahama International Airport. Both are critical pillars for the island’s economic revival, and yet both remain unresolved despite repeated announcements and shifting negotiations.

Against this backdrop, Davis’ appeal to voters to “choose the PLP” rings hollow. Political rhetoric about “standing up” to the Grand Bahama Port Authority may generate applause on a rally stage, but it does not create jobs, attract investment, or restore economic confidence. Even the arbitration outcome—where the government secured regulatory authority—has yet to translate into a clear, actionable development plan. Grand Bahamians are still waiting.

Equally concerning is the Prime Minister’s invocation of a “colonial mindset” as a political attack line. Such language is not only inflammatory but distracts from the absence of a coherent vision for the island. If anything, it raises the question of why, after nearly a full term in office, the Davis administration has yet to articulate a detailed and credible roadmap for Grand Bahama’s long-term growth. Accusations of colonial thinking may stir emotion, but they do not substitute for leadership or policy clarity.

Then there is the matter of the national lottery. Davis’ dismissal of the proposal as a “gimmick” is, at best, inconsistent. The record shows that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), during the Christie administration—with Davis serving as Deputy Prime Minister—oversaw the legalization and regulation of web shop gaming, despite a 2013 referendum in which voters rejected both web shops and a national lottery. To now deride a lottery as turning the country into a “numbers house” ignores the reality that such gaming operations are already a normalized and significant part of the Bahamian economy.

In the end, what was presented in Grand Bahama was less a vision for the future and more an attempt to revive fears of the past. But voters are not only looking backward—they are assessing the present. And on that measure, the Davis administration’s record in Grand Bahama leaves far more questions than answers.

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

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