Comments from East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson about St. Barnabas MP and Minister of Finance Michael Halkitis’ alleged involvement with a company owned by Jonathan Eric Gardiner, who was charged last month in the US with cocaine importation conspiracy, were yesterday referred to the Committee of Privilege.
On Monday, Thompson, in comments that were later expunged, referred to Halkitis’ former involvement with Top Notch Builders Ltd. — a construction firm associated with Gardiner and alleged to have been used to launder his criminal proceeds.
However, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, in response to Thompson’s comments, said Thompson breached Halkitis’ privilege and asked that the matter be referred to the Committee of Privilege, claiming he brought into the debate “matters that malign or otherwise tarnish the character, the conduct of the minister of finance”.
House Speaker Patricia Deveaux announced the members of the committee yesterday afternoon — Centreville MP Jomo Campbell, Marathon MP Lisa Rahming, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin, St. Anne’s MP Adrian White and Killarney MP Michela Barnett-Ellis.
Immediately after, Fox Hill MP and Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell referred Thompson’s expunged comments to the committee.
“Madam Speaker, pursuant to Rule 35.8, I move a resolution to endorse the reference of the speaker with regard to the words spoken by the MP for East Grand Bahama, with respect to the MP for St. Barnabas, on the 8th of June, 2026, to the Committee of Privilege,” Mitchell said.
The resolution was seconded by Central and South Eleuthera MP Clay Sweeting.
Top Notch was awarded millions in government contracts by both the Christie and Davis administrations, both of which Halkitis served in.
Company documents show that Halkitis served as president and director of Top Notch in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Gardiner’s name was not listed in those documents, but served as president of Top Notch in 2016 and 2017.
Last week, during the trial of former Long Island MP Adrian Gibson, who served as executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation during the Minnis administration, a police investigator testified that Gardiner signed a contract for Top Notch in June 2020, which was when Halkitis served as president.
Gardiner was previously convicted and incarcerated in the US for drug trafficking and money laundering offenses and was deported to The Bahamas in 2014 after his release.
He was arrested again on election day, May 12, 2026, in waters off Florida after a plane crash. He was found with $30,000 in cash in a bag with a politician’s name written on it, according to US investigators.
The criminal complaint filed in a New York court following Gardiner’s arrest alleges that he, with the protection of Bahamian government and law enforcement officials, smuggled tons of cocaine into the US and used the construction company to help launder his earnings.
Davis’ comments in the House on Monday were his first since the news surfaced of Halkitis’ involvement with Top Notch.
The prime minister defended Halkitis and accused the Free National Movement (FNM) of “creating” the controversy to garner a response from the government.
“… I am satisfied as the person whose Cabinet he sits, that there’s nothing neither immoral, unethical, or otherwise illegal about the conduct of which they complain,” he said.
FNM Leader Michael Pintard, the MP for Marco City, called Davis’ action an abuse.
“This is a clear example of abuse by the member for Cat Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador, and it is regrettable that the House has already made a decision on this matter,” he said.
