National

Opposition Questions Gov’t Travel Spending in Parliament

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The opposition pressed the government in Parliament over travel spending and travel-related benefits, questioning budget allocations, frequent budget overruns, and whether government-funded travel rewards are personally benefiting public officials.

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

Joshua Williams

NASSAU , BAHAMAS – It all started when the opposition raised questions surrounding funds allocated for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the Budget Draft Revenue and Expenditure Book, $26,200 is allocated for domestic travel and $480,000 for international travel.

Long Island Member of Parliament Dr. Andre Rollins posed this question.

Dr. Andre Rollins – MP, Long Island

“Whether the ministry is responsible for the purchase of his tickets for his travel, or whether, and this is very important, what I’d like to know is whether the vast amount of travel miles that he accrues during the course of any given year, is the government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas benefiting from that mileage, or is he himself receiving the benefits of that mileage for his own personal use?”

That prompted this response from Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell.

Fred Mitchell – Minister of Foreign Affairs

“There are allocations in the budget for travel of public officials, and that includes anyone who’s in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, from the top right on down to the bottom. That’s it.”

The answer did not satisfy Rollins, leading to a back-and-forth exchange until the House Speaker moved to the next item.

East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson also questioned travel under another heading, asking why the Davis administration had repeatedly gone over budget in previous years. But Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper had this to say.

Chester Cooper – Deputy Prime Minister

“We run a government, and sometimes decisions have to be made to travel on short notice that is not projected. As far as we’re concerned, this year’s budget is adequate and appropriate, and if we find it not to be, the Ministry of Finance has global provisions and they’ll be appropriately provided for. What I find amusing, though, is that they say we travel too much, and now he’s making an argument for increasing the number.”

St. Anne’s Member of Parliament Adrian White also questioned Works and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting about Family Island travel for local government.

Sweeting then explained that additional resources are needed, particularly to ensure administrators can effectively cover all constituencies.