National

Arbitration Fallout Sparks Heated Moments at GB Town Hall

GRAND BAHAMA , BAHAMAS – Grand Bahamians packed a town hall meeting in Freeport Monday night, seeking clarity on the arbitration ruling between the Government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Published

14 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Delvardo Emmanuel

GRAND BAHAMA , BAHAMAS – Scores of Grand Bahamians packed a town hall meeting in Freeport Monday night, seeking clarity on the arbitration ruling between the Government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and Opposition Leader Michael Pintard were among those addressing the crowd.

Several times during Monday night’s town hall, supporters from both sides began heckling. Our Delvardo Emmanuel told us more in this report.

Scores of Grand Bahamians packed the Belinda Wilson Center in Freeport Monday night for a town hall meeting focused on the recent arbitration ruling between the Government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

However, what was billed as a meeting to clear the air quickly became a war of words between supporters of the two major political parties.

The Bahamas Union of Teachers Hall was filled with supporters from both major political parties in attendance. Many PLP backers were seen wearing “Safe with Brave” hats, while FNM supporters were also present in the crowd.

Panelists included attorneys Terrence Gape, Ernie Wallace, and former Member of Parliament Gregory Moss.

Moss, who opened the discussion, gave a detailed overview of the tribunal’s decision, noting that the ruling was “substantially in the favor of the Government.”

Gregory Moss – Attorney

“ It would be a very curious and troubling thing for Bahamians to celebrate the idea of The Bahamas not advancing in its democracy, or for Bahamians to fail to celebrate a judgment that shows that The Bahamas has sovereign rights over the city of Freeport.”)

The Office of the Prime Minister said Davis accepted an invitation to attend the town hall, a point that was reiterated to great fanfare during the meeting.

An independent arbitration tribunal dismissed the Davis administration’s claim for a $357 million reimbursement from the GBPA, but found that the Government has a legal right to payments after annual reviews under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement (HCA), as amended in 1994.

During his address, Davis claimed the Grand Bahama Port Authority is building a defense to argue that it cannot pay any financial liabilities to the Government.

Philip Davis – Prime Minister

“ You would have heard even the arbitrators observed that the Port Authority might be bankrupt, self-absorbency. They observed that. They didn’t say it, they just observed that it may be. And then, so this, there’s a defense being built by the Port Authority saying that we can’t pay. Well, I just want to say, when I hear that, and those aligned with the Port Authority say it does not have the money to meet significant financial claims.”

After the presenters spoke, Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard took to the stage and asked to give a short speech, but was heckled and booed midway through his remarks.

Michael Pintard – Leader, Free National Movement

“ You can in fact make sure that more of us in this room are involved in the governance of Freeport. But at the same time, we do not destroy the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. And let me explain why.”

In the end, Davis told residents the Government’s ultimate goal is to create a new economic path for Grand Bahama, one that he says will give residents and business owners a stronger voice in the island’s future development.