Politician-1: Still No Answers, Where Does the Investigation Stand?

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Politician No. 1, it’s a two-word phrase that’s grabbed international and local headlines.

It first exploded into the Bahamian news cycle in May, after Jonathan “Player” Gardiner was among 11 people rescued during the Election Day Plane Crash off Florida.

U.S. authorities say Gardiner was wanted in connection with an international drug trafficking investigation.

According to a DEA affidavit, he was found with about $30,000 in Bahamian cash.

The money was allegedly found inside an envelope bearing the handwritten name of an unidentified Bahamian politician, referred to only as Politician No. 1.

The court documents also contain allegations of a meeting within Parliament, involving Politician-1 and an undercover DEA agent posing as an international drug trafficker.

Today that politician’s identity remains a mystery in the redacted document, and no politician has been publicly identified or charged in connection with those allegations.

The story quickly moved from a U.S. courtroom into the House of Assembly.

The opposition demanded answers and called for a local investigation.

However, there was another development.

In June, Gardiner’s defense attorney challenged the significance of the cash, arguing that only about $5,000 was actually connected to the envelope bearing the politician’s name.

The matter was also raised repeatedly in Parliament, before House Speaker Patricia Deveaux directed the opposition leader to take the allegations to the relevant authorities.

So they did.

Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles confirmed the matter would be investigated, but by late August, there was still no update from the top cop.

Meanwhile now, months after the original allegations, we went back to the police, asking Press Liaison Officer Chief Superintendent Sheria King for an update.

King said the police position remains the same, and that there is no further update to provide.

Meanwhile, Gardiner’s case in the United States is still moving through the courts.

At his latest hearing on September 11th, his defense asked for another 30 days to file pretrial motions, citing the volume of material in the case.

The U.S. government agreed to the request, moving that deadline to October 12th.

So, while the U.S. case continues, here at home, the big question remains unanswered.

Who is politician-1 and will the Bahamian investigation ever provide an answer?