EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN this space we call Earth, all of us are confined by time. Time governs life, decisions, progress—and, importantly, governance. Whether measured by clocks, calendars, or constitutions, time determines what leaders can and should do with the mandate they’ve been given.

Time is impartial. It offers every government the same opportunity: to plan, to act, and to transform. And yet, in The Bahamas, successive administrations — regardless of party — have not made the most of this gift. Be it the Free National Movement or the Progressive Liberal Party, each has received a five-year mandate from the people. Each has presented grand visions through manifestos, charters, and blueprints. And each, time and again, has fallen short of fulfilling the promises made.

Most recently, on March 24, the Progressive Liberal Party, the government of the day, announced to its supporters that it would launch its re-election campaign on Labour Day, June 6, 2025—just 72 days from now. The intent is to reintroduce their vision, reconnect with the electorate, and offer reasons for a second term.

This is no subtle gesture. It is a strategic and calculated move, coming 560 days before the full expiration of the current constitutional mandate, which began with the first sitting of Parliament on October 6, 2021, and is set to expire on October 6, 2026.

To understand whether governments have used their time wisely, we must first measure how much time they truly have to legislate and lead.

A parliamentary calendar includes:

• 365 days/year

• Minus 104 weekend days

• Minus 13 public holidays

• Minus 100 days (summer/other breaks)

This leaves approximately 148 functional working days per year in the House of Assembly (HOA).

Over 3.5 years, that equals roughly 518 days—a generous amount of time to debate, draft, and deliver.

But here lies the concern: what has truly been done in those 518 days?

For over two decades, Bahamians have consistently called for a series of reforms that transcend party lines and election cycles. These include:

1. Term Limits for Prime Ministers

2. Establishing a National Ombudsman

3. Full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

4. Campaign Finance Reform

5. Strengthening the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

6. Proper resourcing for the Auditor General’s Office

7. Mandatory yearly financial disclosures for MPs and Ministers

8. A Recall Mechanism for underperforming representatives

9. A reliable and affordable solution to BPL & Renewable Energy

10. A structured plan to reduce the national debt

11. Full transparency in natural resource management

12. Creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund

13. Resolving the issue of Shanty Towns and immigration enforcement

14. Reducing work permits in sectors Bahamians are qualified for

15. Clear guidelines on capital punishment and sentencing

16. Expanded opportunities for Bahamians to do business internationally

17. A real pathway to increase Bahamian participation in the economy

No government—past or present—has completed this list. And yet, these are the issues that matter most to the average Bahamian. These are the items that define progress.

It is estimated that a major legislative reform—such as those listed—would take:

• 60 days to consult and draft

• Five days to debate and pass

That’s 65 days per item.

With 518 days already available, governments could have passed at least eight meaningful laws.

And if the promises were truly ready from “Day One,” then:

17 items × 5 debate days = only 85 legislative days required.

In other words, the time has been there. The will, perhaps, has not.

Governance Is Not a Campaign — It’s a Commitment

As the current administration gears up for what appears to be the beginning of an early campaign cycle, we, the Bahamian people, must ask:

• Has the time given so far been used wisely?

• Has our governance truly shifted—regardless of party label?

• Will these next 560 days be different, or will it simply be more of the same?

• Is this re-engagement a normal campaign ramp-up—or a quiet setup for an early election?

This is not an attack on any party. It is a call for accountability. For awareness. For us all to recognise that time is not infinite, and political capital must be spent wisely.

Whether red or gold, new day or new vision, the responsibility of governance remains the same: to serve the people within the time given.

Bahamians are not just voters. We are citizens, thinkers, and stewards of national memory. We remember what was promised. We track what was done. And when the time comes again—we will decide.

Because in the end, the maths don’t lie.

HOWARD R GRANT

The Foundation

Nassau,

March 27, 2025.