National

FNM Demands ZNS General Manager Step Down

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Dr. Duane Sands has raised concerns about the leadership of the state-run broadcaster ZNS, following confirmation of Clint Watson’s political ambitions.

Published

7 months ago

August 27, 2025

Berthony McDermott

Photos surfaced over the weekend showing Watson, the ZNS General Manager, attending a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate module. While the post has since been removed, reports indicate Watson is considering a run in Southern Shores.

Dr. Sands criticized the appointment, saying the public broadcaster should remain neutral.

Dr. Duane Sands – Chairman, Free National Movement
“It’s a poorly kept secret that we have somebody that is not only a PLP but a partisan PLP, and I don’t think the public media house of The Bahamas, that is supposed to be objective and neutral, should be run by somebody who clearly, publicly identifies as a partisan.”

Watson previously served as News Director at Eyewitness News and hosted Beyond the Headlines, where he was often critical of the former Minnis administration. After the PLP’s 2021 victory, he became Press Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and was appointed ZNS General Manager two years later.

Watson’s career also intersects with private media ownership: ZNS is owned by Island Luck CEO Sebas Bastian, who is reportedly seeking a PLP nomination.

Dr. Sands compared the current situation to the pre-1992 era, when he says ZNS was widely viewed as a tool of the governing PLP.

Dr. Duane Sands – Chairman, Free National Movement
“Recall that there was an outcry when Clint Watson, who was the spokesperson in the office of the prime minister, was seconded or transferred to ZNS. Not only us, but the international agency with responsibility for public radio put out a formal letter of concern.”

The FNM chairman’s comments underscore ongoing debate about political neutrality and public trust in state-run media.