PM’s Spouse: “My Office Doesn’t Have a Budget, So I Can Only Do So Much”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – While the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister has often been seen as a platform for advocacy and community outreach, questions continue to circulate about how the office is funded.

Ann Marie Davis – Spouse of the Prime Minister

“So I think my voice is more my power in this office that I hold. You really feel this is the budget debate now, we have no budget for the Office of the Spouse. So, that’s why I work that hard.”

That was Ann Marie Davis on the sidelines of a charity event, speaking on funding surrounding the Office of the Spouse.

The office was first introduced under the Minnis administration in 2018 for former first lady Patricia Minnis, with the role centered around advocacy for women, children, and social issues.

Since then, the office has remained a part of government operations, even after the Progressive Liberal Party took office in 2021, operating through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and working alongside social services initiatives.

Ann Marie Davis, who assumed the role after the 2021 General Election, has long been known for her advocacy work.

She has been a vocal supporter for the empowerment of women and young girls, particularly in the fight against gender-based violence and discrimination.

However, despite her claims that there is no budget for her office, government estimates tell a different story.

According to the draft estimates of revenue and expenditure, the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister received an estimated $20,000 during the 2018/2019 Fiscal Year.

That figure remained the same through 2020/2021.

After the change in administration, the estimated allocation dropped to $16,000 in 2021/2022, where it remained steady through the 2025/2026 fiscal period.

In the newly presented 2026/2027 budget, the estimate increased to $18,000, with projections of $18,900 in 2027/2028, and $19,600 by 2028/2029.

Despite the figures, Davis says her voice will remain her strongest weapon to fight against pressing matters.

Ann Marie Davis – Spouse of the Prime Minister

“My office doesn’t have a budget, so I have to go only so far. And so I use my presence. I use my voice because being in the office of the spouse, I realized that even though I don’t have the funds to do as much as I want to, I can use my voice to advocate from the place where I am.”

While the exact structure and accessibility of those funds remain unclear, the debate now centers on whether the Office of the Spouse is receiving enough support to carry out its mission, or whether the role relies more on personal advocacy than government resources.