By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard said if elected, his Cabinet would ensure the Ombudsman and Freedom of Information (FOI) Acts are fully implemented within his first year of office.

He also pledged to modernise general orders of the Public Service to ensure that civil servants provide satisfactory service to Bahamians.

Although the Ombudsman Act was passed in 2024 and the FOI Act in 2017, implementation has yet to happen.

Speaking on Friday at a political forum at Life Community Church, Mr Pintard stressed that confidentiality is crucial for both the accuser and the accused for the system around the Ombudsman to work.

“No one will be above it,” he said. “We will protect you to the law. We are quite serious about that.

“Whistleblowers should be protected. But the person who is being accused, their reputation will also be protected until it is verified that the accusation is correct. So they will be protected against malicious complaints being issued by the public.”

The Ombudsman and FOI Acts are key pieces of legislation in The Bahamas intended to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen rights.

Although both have been passed by Parliament, delays have prevented their full enforcement, limiting the public’s ability to exercise these rights effectively.

Mr Pintard also said an FNM government would seek to expand homeownership opportunities without introducing new taxes.

He suggested that existing revenue streams, including roughly $1 billion in additional VAT collections, could help finance housing programs.

He said it would allow frontline workers—including police officers, nurses, and other essential employees—to access home financing without a traditional down payment.

Pintard reiterated his party’s opposition to plans for a new hospital at Prospect Road.

He said the FNM would instead return to its original healthcare plan and consult medical professionals and healthcare experts on the way forward.