National

Heckling and Tough Questions Overshadow MP’s Swearing In

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – All 41 elected members of Parliament were sworn in Wednesday, but what was supposed to be a proud moment for them and their families took a shocking turn, as they arrived in vehicles outside the House of Assembly – not only met by by photographers and reporters, but also hard questions.

Published

4 months ago

May 20, 2026

Joshua Williams

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – All 41 elected members of parliament sworn in Wednesday, but what was supposed to be a proud moment for them and their families, took a shocking turn.

As MP’s arrived in vehicles outside the House of Assembly, they were met with photographers, reporters and hard questions.

The hard questions are the result of a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Friday, claiming a Bahamian politician was caught on a wiretap with an undercover U.S. Drug Enforcement Agent in Parliament in 2024, discussing a possible drug deal.

In addition, Eric Gardiner, a Bahamian, who was among 11 survivors of an Election Day plane crash was arrested by U.S. authorities in connection with an international drug trafficking scheme.

However, it didn’t end there.

As MP’s gathered inside to take the oath one by one, another unprecedented moment took place when West Grand Bahama MP, Kingsley Smith took the oath, and was heckled by East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson, and Long Island MP, Dr. Andre Rollins, in the line behind him.

This comes after Smith released a statement Tuesday, saying he’s aware of news stories circulating that reference his name in connection to the scandal, calling the reports an attempt to force him to argue a negative.

However, as Dr. Rollins took his oath, Elizabeth member of Parliament Jobeth Coleby-Davis took the opportunity fire back at him, which resulted in another response from Rollins in Parliament.