The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has dismissed criticism that the government's proposed reforms for Grand Bahama could be “catastrophic”, describing the claim as a “foolish, ill-conceived statement”.

His comments came after The Nassau Guardian reported that former Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president Dillon Knowles warned that “pulling the thread” on the Hawksbill Creek Agreement could prove “catastrophic” for Grand Bahama.

Mr Mitchell accused critics of the Davis administration's proposed reforms for Freeport of spreading fear and making claims without any factual basis.

“A bold step is being taken to shape the future by the government of the Bahamas, but it appears that we are beset on every side,” he said. “I’ve been mining the commentary on the announcement about Grand Bahama since the prime minister made it last week, and what struck me is one of the critics described the proposed changes for Freeport as catastrophic.

“That is a foolish, ill-conceived statement that has no basis in fact. It is clear that those who describe the policy as catastrophic do not understand the meaning of the word catastrophic.”

He added: “This is clearly one of those times when those who use the word catastrophic should remain silent, and this is a time when those who hear the word catastrophic should speak up on this side of the divide and call it what it is — a contemptible, damnable lie.”

Last month, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis declared that the current system of governing Freeport under the 71-year-old Hawksbill Creek Agreement would come to an end, describing the arrangement as colonial and insisting that reform was non-negotiable.

The government subsequently published a Green Paper outlining proposed reforms, including a review of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and a new Grand Bahama Development Act aimed at modernising governance and promoting island-wide growth.

Mr Mitchell noted that the prime minister delivered his speech at a private, foreign-owned company that ranks among Grand Bahama's largest employers, arguing that this demonstrated there was no threat to the private sector or foreign investors.

“Clearly, there was no foreign affairs implication in the speech, and there's no threat of expropriation,” he said. “The non-national investors sat, heard what the prime minister said, offered no hyperbolic response or comment.”

Mr Mitchell also accused opponents of the reforms of advancing political talking points associated with the Free National Movement.

He criticised The Nassau Guardian and its executive editor, accusing them of creating unnecessary fears about the proposed changes.

Mr Mitchell urged Bahamians to defend the government's position rather than remain silent in the face of criticism.

“Bahamians, it's time just to stand up and remember this: what they said in Nazi Germany. First, they came for the communists. I was not a communist, so I said nothing. Then they came for the Social Democrats. I was not one of those, so I said nothing.”

“Then the trade unions and the Jews. I was not one of them, so I said nothing. Then they came for us, substitute Bahamians, and there was no one left to speak up for us.”

He concluded: “Please speak up for The Bahamas.”

The government has launched a six-month public consultation, running from November 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027, to gather feedback on the proposed reforms.

Following the consultation period, the government is targeting the publication of a White Paper on July 1, 2027, with legislation expected to be brought forward for passage during the first quarter of 2028.