National

FNM Leader Calls for a Full Audit of the Passport and ID System

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Following Saturday night’s campaign launch, Free National Movement leader, Michael Pintard revealed that he’s calling for a full audit of the country’s passport and national identification system.

Published

2 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Delvardo Emmanuel

NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Following Saturday night’s campaign launch, Free National Movement leader, Michael Pintard spoke to reporters.

He revealed that he’s calling for a full audit of the country’s passport and national identification system.

There’ve been recent reports of fraud with some cases before the courts, and the FNM leader insists that a Pintard-led government would fix the issues.

Concerns about passport fraud and border protection, as well as questions about the integrity of the country’s national identification system are continuing to mount.

This as Opposition Leader, Michael Pintard accused the Davis administration of failing to get a grip on the issue.

He spoke with reporters on the sidelines of his party’s campaign launch, Saturday at the Baha Mar convention center.

He warned that without urgent action, the country’s sovereignty and electoral system could be at risk.

Michael Pintard – Leader, Free National Movement

“ We do not have in place a proper biometric system to determine who is coming in to track when they’re supposed to leave and following up on it again, that is a part of what our challenge is. And so one is you have to secure your border. The second thing that you have to do is you have to have surveillance. There are many Bahamian businesses that are employing persons that they are fully aware they ought not be employing. We Bahamians have to also be held accountable for failing to follow the law. “

Last Thursday, chief passport officer, Nicholas Symonette, admitted 98 cases of suspected passport fraud have been forwarded to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

His admission came a day after Pintard tabled a list of 74 people he claimed were being investigated for possessing fraudulent passports.

Last night, Pintard said his party is calling for a full audit of national identification documents.

While.. Pushing back against the prime minister’s comments that the issue is isolated…

Michael Pintard – Leader, Free National Movement

“ I believe that the prime minister was fully aware. That there were many cases being investigated on a number of cases, more than 10 of them before the courts. And so what we intend to do is to make sure we do an audit of those national ids to determine, first of all, are they authentic documents. And we should then insist that all of those persons who work in the various departments, like the chief passport officer should show up to court to have a discussion.”

The opposition leader was also asked to respond to government officials who asserted that the challenges at the passport office were inherited, blaming it on previous policy shifts under the former administration.

Michael Pintard – Leader, Free National Movement

“ This administration clearly does not have a commitment to addressing these cases, and the Bahamian people should ask why are they benefiting? Are they benefiting politically? Do they have folks like some of the immigration consultants who are benefiting financially? This nonsense they’ve been in for four and a half years. A number of these cases are very recent cases. This is, so we have to do two things. One, fix the system. Secondly, remove the bad actors. “