Tuesday, April 21, 2026
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper’s reported $28m net worth — up from $14.8m in 2021 and $7.9m in 2017 — drew a pointed remark yesterday from Opposition Leader Michael Pintard, who suggested the prime minister should “take a look” at some of his colleagues following recent financial disclosures.
Mr Pintard said the scale of increases in some candidates’ declared wealth raised questions, particularly when viewed alongside what he described as inconsistent disclosure practices.
“I heard that there may have been one cabinet minister doubled, that’s a remarkable amount of money,” he said. “I do believe a government can investigate disclosures if they so desire. I mean, you could investigate, and I would recommend that the prime minister, you know, take a look at a couple of his colleagues. Boy, twice as much one term later? That person should have been minister of finance!”
Mr Pintard said members of the Free National Movement have consistently met their annual disclosure obligations in a timely manner, including providing details from the previous year, contrasting this with what he characterised as a lack of transparency from the Progressive Liberal Party.
Mr Pintard wrongly claimed that none of the PLP’s members had disclosed their information. The Tribune has previously reported that many members of Parliament in the Davis administration had made disclosures in past years.
Mr Pintard accused the PLP of a “pattern of operating in darkness”.
Comments
birdiestrachan says...
Mr Pintard is a desperate man who lives in darkness
Toggie and boggie guy.
Posted 21 April 2026, 11:30 a.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
He wants people to become upset because person of a certain hue has money. HELL NO
Posted 21 April 2026, 11:32 a.m. Suggest removal
whatsup says...
Pintard is absolutely correct!
Posted 21 April 2026, 4:02 p.m. Suggest removal
licks2 says...
No he is not! Would he want us to check where and how he became a millionaire with his background??
Posted 21 April 2026, 6:24 p.m. Suggest removal
moncurcool says...
Stop missing the point and deflecting.
Posted 22 April 2026, 9:40 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
Pintatd is only correct when he is asleep
When he is awake he is always dead wrong
Posted 21 April 2026, 5:11 p.m. Suggest removal
licks2 says...
Man-oh-man, what a bunch of clowns we have as opposition leaders!! For example, LB and Chapter V, Article 48(1)j that plainly says that any candidate who is **"INTERESTED"** in a Government contract shall declare that interest "**WITHIN**" one month before the election. This Article says "NOTHING" about "having" a government contract(s) . .but **interested** in getting one **"before"** being elected May 12th, 2026. Furthermore, candidates do not put information into the government Gazette. . .government officials do that!! So presenting that info to the nomination officials is enough!
Again, Chapter V in Article 49(1)f says that any house **"MEMBER"** who becomes interested in a government contract shall vacate his/her seat. . . providing that member fully disclose such interests to the house, and they allow such member to remain as a member.
As for LB, nowhere does that article mentioned anything about candidates who already have government contracts before he/she decides to run for parliament!! Article 48(1)j is very and absolutely clear!!! If that article was as LB said it is. . .then many of them could not be qualified. . .especially those doctors among them!! Probably all of them have NHI contracts with government.
Posted 21 April 2026, 6:20 p.m. Suggest removal
bahamianson says...
Need finance corruption laws, freedom of information, campaign finance laws . Makes no sense saying this one and that one has his hand in the cookie jar if there are no penalties and jail time for it. I want politicians that seek personal wealth on the backs of bahamians to go to jail, period. Insider trading is all that some do. If you get the permit, i need something. If you build a hotel , I will buy all the land around it. Politicians make a lot of money from knowing about investments way before the general public. They secure contracts for their friends , family and lovers. The grass root Bahamian walk blindly.
Posted 22 April 2026, 2:14 p.m. Suggest removal
licks2 says...
You have just described ALL politicians all over the globe!! By the way. . .there is no offence where there is no law prohibiting a behavior. . .NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT SUCH ACTIONS!! Operating within the confines of the constitution is the core idea behind constitutional democracies. . .NOT WHAT A PERSON FEEL IT SHOULD BE!!
Don't get me wrong nah. . .I feel like you do with a lot of your opinions. . .BUT OUR LAWS DON'T SUPPORT OUR VIEWS OF POLITICIAN SOCIAL BEHAVIOURS!!
Posted 22 April 2026, 4:33 p.m. Suggest removal
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