National

Acting PM: “They Moan, They Complain; We Are About Progress”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The government and opposition are clashing over a more than $265 million drop in the National Investment Fund’s balance, with the government saying the money supported airport infrastructure while the opposition demands answers on how the funds were authorized and used.

Published

2 months ago

August 11, 2026

Chinasa Outten

NASSAU , BAHAMAS – A multimillion-dollar question is at the center of a political battle between the government and opposition.

The National Investment Fund’s balance dropped by more than 265 million dollars in just three months, and tonight, the government and opposition are offering very different explanations for where that money went.

Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper says the opposition is simply looking for something to criticize.

Chester Cooper – Acting Prime Minister

“Opposition is looking for relevance though. Opposition do what oppositions do. They moan and they complain, we about progress.”

But questions are being raised over more than 265 million dollars in the National Investment Fund, and the government and opposition are offering very different accounts of what happened to the money.

The fund’s balance stood at 265.3 million dollars at the end of December 2025, but by the end of March this year, that balance had fallen to just 200 thousand dollars.

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard says the dramatic drop demands answers, including whether the money was transferred into and withdrawn from the fund in accordance with the law.

The government, however, says the money did not simply vanish.

Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Latrae Rahming, took to X to defend the government’s position, saying the funds were primarily used to support the government’s airport infrastructure programme.

That programme, at the time, fell under Cooper’s Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation.

But when pressed further, Cooper distanced himself from the issue.

Chester Cooper – Acting Prime Minister

“Yes, the NIF is a matter for the Ministry of Finance. I will leave comments to them in relation to the NIF.”

Pintard says he plans to continue escalating the matter, bringing it before the Public Accounts Committee and seeking legal advice on what action can be taken to force the government to provide more information.

For now, the question remains: was the more than 265 million-dollar drop in the fund’s balance properly authorized, documented and used?