By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

A FIERY clash broke out in the House of Assembly yesterday as Opposition leader Michael Pintard and Progressive Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell exchanged barbs over the spiralling collapse of banking services in the Family Islands.

It all began when Mr Pintard tore into the Davis administration for “chasing headlines and delivering half measures” as Family Island communities suffered the ongoing withdrawal of essential banking services. He accused the Government of reacting to political pressure instead of demonstrating leadership, calling the situation a “crisis years in the making” that has left Bahamians unable to access their own money.

Mr Mitchell then mocked Mr Pintard as “an object of fun” and a “comedian at work.”

Mr Pintard fired back: “I will not participate in your idea of fun.” The exchange escalated quickly as Mr Mitchell called him “nasty and filthy.”

Mr Pintard pointed to the Bank of The Bahamas’ recent decision to reduce hours in Central and South Andros, calling it the latest in a series of blows to residents who have long felt neglected. He accused the government of remaining silent until political pressure from within their own ranks finally pushed them into action.

“We have stood with Family Island residents as they lost their homes, paid outrageous fees, and watched services disappear,” Mr Pintard said. “Now that PLP members are feeling the heat, suddenly they find their voice.”

He warned that the gap between New Providence and the Family Islands is widening and that access to banking services should be considered a basic right, not a luxury.

Mr Pintard reminded the House that the FNM had already laid out a detailed reform plan in August, including expanding Bahamian ownership in commercial banks, creating agency banking partnerships, and incentivising services in rural communities with tax credits.

“This government is the majority shareholder in Bank of The Bahamas,” he said. “It has both the authority and the responsibility to act decisively. Instead, it stands paralysed while the situation worsens before their eyes.”

He charged that Family Island communities are being economically suffocated by reduced banking hours, increased fees, and branch closures — while the government, despite being the majority shareholder in Bank of The Bahamas, refuses to intervene.

“Access to financial services is essential to economic opportunity, quality of life, and community development,” Mr Pintard argued. “Step up and do something.”

Mr Pintard revisited his party’s proposed banking reforms from 2024, underscoring the need for expanding Bahamian ownership of the banking sector, restoring services to underserved islands, implementing agency banking solutions, and offering tax incentives to banks. The plan also calls for reviving the Post Office Bank as a community-access point.

In a direct response, South Andros and Mangrove Cay MP Leon Lundy dismissed Mr Pintard’s criticism as little more than political theatre. He accused the Opposition Leader of selective outrage, pointing out that Mr Pintard had remained silent when bank closures occurred under the previous Minnis administration.

While acknowledging that banking services have declined under various governments, Mr Lundy called for a more inclusive, non-partisan approach. He also rejected the idea of using the Government’s majority stake in the Bank of The Bahamas to dictate operational decisions, warning that such interference would be irresponsible and unlawful.

“This is not about finger-pointing,” Mr Lundy said. “It is about the real lives of real people. Representation is not about convenience — it is about consistency, courage, and commitment.”

He confirmed that he had already met with banking executives to discuss solutions for his constituents and emphasised that his efforts were driven by a genuine commitment to equitable banking access, not political point-scoring.

Other MPs from both sides of the aisle have also raised alarms about the worsening banking crisis. Long Island MP Adrian Gibson has recounted how the island’s only ATM frequently breaks down, leaving residents and tourists without cash. Meanwhile, North Andros and Berry Islands MP Leonardo Lightbourne has made a plea for urgent banking infrastructure in his constituency, where some pensioners have been forced to fly to New Providence just to withdraw their funds.