Prime Minister Davis Maintains Silence on Eric “Playa” Gardiner Case

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Prime Minister Philip Davis maintained silence on questions surrounding a Bahamian detained in the U.S. on drug-related charges.

And with alleged connections to a Bahamian politician, questions still remain. Who’s Politician Number 1? Will the Finance Minister resign? And how will it impact our nation’s image?

And that’s all we got.

The Prime Minister did not answer any questions.

Office of the Prime Minister Communications Director Latrae Rahming told reporters the Prime Minister had to go to a meeting before he was rushed off.

The Prime Minister was dodging questions centered on the detention of Eric Gardiner in the U.S.

Gardiner was among 11 survivors of an Election Day plane crash.

Days later, he was detained by U.S. authorities in connection with an international drug trafficking scheme.

He was allegedly carrying $30,000 at the time.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement confirming that he’d been seen by consular officials last Tuesday.

There are also still questions surrounding a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming a Bahamian politician was caught on a wiretap with an undercover U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent in Parliament in 2024, discussing a possible drug deal.

Opposition members showed up to Parliament last week wearing “Not Politician 1” badges on Wednesday, with government MPs ignoring questions from reporters about who “Politician 1” may be.

There have also been calls for Finance Minister Michael Halkitis to resign after admitting he served as a consultant and director, as a private citizen, to Top Notch Builders Construction, a company allegedly connected to Gardiner.

And while the Davis administration has largely been silent on the matter besides a press statement, Office of the Prime Minister Press Secretary Keishla Adderley had this to say.

“While the government understands and respects the public’s demand for information concerning this matter, it’s also important to know that maintaining due legal process is just as important. The government continues to monitor developments, continues to stay engaged with authorities in the U.S., requesting information and liaising on the information that is available. We are committed to transparency.”

As to whether any communication has been made between Bahamian and U.S. authorities since then, and exactly what information has been shared, we simply don’t know.