A dramatic session of The Bahamas’ Parliament descended into chaos on Wednesday when Shanendon Cartwright, deputy leader of the opposition Free National Movement (FNM), threw the ceremonial parliamentary mace out of a window.
The incident came during a heated dispute over allegations of police corruption linked to drug trafficking.
Cartwright, who represents St. Barnabas, seized the mace—a symbol of parliamentary authority—after Speaker Patricia Deveaux denied a request by Opposition Leader Michael Pintard to address accusations in a U.S. indictment alleging that members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) facilitated drug trafficking.
Standing in protest, Cartwright shouted, “Let the people speak!” before marching to the Speaker’s table. After struggling to open a window, he managed to toss the mace outside, prompting Deveaux to order his removal. Opposition lawmakers linked arms in an attempt to prevent Cartwright’s ejection but were ultimately forced out by police.
Speaker Deveaux expressed dismay at the incident, describing it as unprecedented and dangerous.
“This is a dark day in this political arena that we call politics,” she said. “For the first time in my life when I took the oath of office, I felt challenged, and I was in fear for my life. During today’s event, I was assaulted, I was hit—thank God for a glass of water in front of me.”
Deveaux also confirmed that Deputy Speaker Sylvanus Petty was injured in the chaos, suffering a head injury that required hospital treatment. A police officer also sustained significant damage to his leg.
“This is Parliament, where we were elected to come to take care of the citizens of this country. This is not a political arena. This is Parliament, and I will uphold the rights of the Bahamian people as long as I sit in this chair,” Deveaux added.
Context of the protest
The uproar occurred against the backdrop of mounting public concern over allegations that high-ranking Bahamian police officials accepted bribes to facilitate cocaine trafficking into the United States. The controversy has rocked the government, with opposition lawmakers calling for greater accountability and transparency.
While the Speaker cited House rules in her decision to block the opposition’s attempt to discuss the matter, the FNM argued that the allegations struck at the heart of national integrity and demanded open debate.
Cartwright’s dramatic act evoked memories of “Black Tuesday” in 1965, when Bahamas opposition leader Lynden Pindling similarly hurled the mace out of a parliamentary window in protest against colonial rule and economic inequality. However, Wednesday’s incident has been widely condemned for its physical confrontations and injuries.
After a brief 15-minute suspension, Parliament resumed without opposition members. The Speaker vowed to review footage of the incident and take further action if necessary.
“This is not how democracy is supposed to function,” Deveaux stated. “We owe the Bahamian people better.”
