FNM Launches 10-point Plan To Cut Crime, Boost Police and Clear Court Backlogs

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The press conference took place Sunday afternoon at the Free National Movement Headquarters on Mackey Street in a room filled with supporters.

Leader Michael Pintard told supporters that the first step in their newly released ten-point plan is to retain and hire police officers if elected.

“The government boasts about the hiring, they are not telling us the story about retention. An FNM government will fix the shortage of frontline officers, we will launch a major recruitment drive guided by the FNM’s manpower audit,” Pintard said.

Under the former Minnis administration, then National Security Minister Marvin Dames conducted a manpower audit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Pintard questions why the audit was never fully implemented as the audit recommended deploying officers where they are needed most.

Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles recently revealed the force still needs an additional 2,000 officers.

If elected, the FNM also plans to restore public trust through transparency, promising to strengthen independent oversight.

“We will amend and enforce the independent commission on Investigations Act to root out corruption and serious misconduct in law enforcement while protecting good officers from malicious complaints,” Pintard said.

Pintard stressed that policymakers should respect the police service commissioner, but the FNM also plans to pass tougher legislation setting qualifications for senior leadership in security agencies.

“These posts will require an open application process and a rigorous interview system. There’s no reason why, when you are appointing commissioners of police and deputy commissioners, that we should be afraid of the public weighing in on the people that will lead these significant organizations,” Pintard said.

The plan also calls for expanding community policing, properly resourcing neighborhoods and rebuilding trust between officers and the public.

Pintard also wants to modernize the force, promising a full review of the RBPF within the first year.

However he adds, better policing alone isn’t enough – the FNM also plans to clear court backlogs and end what Pintard calls the abuse of bail.

“We will clear backlogs so offenders are held to account quickly. That means expanding virtual hearings to cut delays and digitizing the case management system. We know that some of this work has been signaled, some of it is on the way, and we need a greater sense of urgency.”