In the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) 2026 election manifesto, dubbed the Blueprint for Progress, the party outlined several goals toward securing safer communities, including the implementation of a fully functioning Independent Commission of Investigations, a dedicated court for sexual offenses, and the full operationalization of the Protection Against Violence Act.
The promises fall under the manifesto’s “Progress in Safer Communities” chapter, which explores several solutions to combat key safety issues in The Bahamas.
Protecting women, children, and families; prevention and community resilience; policing and community safety; prosecution and justice; and punishment, corrections and rehabilitation are points discussed within the segment.
Under policing and community safety, the PLP promised to fully implement the long-awaited Independent Commission of Investigations, an autonomous commission empowered to investigate serious allegations of misconduct by members of the armed forces including the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and the Bahamas Department of Corrections.
The Independent Commission of Investigations Bill was tabled in the House of Assembly last year after 11 Bahamians, including senior law officers, were involved in a US indictment whereby they were accused of conspiring with Colombian and Bahamians drug traffickers to ship cocaine and firearms through The Bahamas into the US.
Parliamentarians debated the bill last year along with the Protected Disclosures Bill, which ensures confidentiality to whistleblowers seeking to report fraud or corruption, following pushback from opposition members, who accused the Davis administration of dragging their feet on the legislation.
At the time of the debate, Prime Minister Philip Davis confirmed that the commission would be free of government interference, meaning that even a prime minister cannot direct the commission.
No member of the Senate or House of Assembly is permitted to serve on the commission.
The Blueprint for Progress also pledged to “fully resource and operationalize the Protection Against Violence Act,” which aims to address violence, particularly for marginalized groups including women, children and the disabled, establish comprehensive rights, and provide supportive pathways to victims.
“No Bahamian should live in fear in their own home,” the document read.
“We will strengthen the systems that protect women, children and families from violence and ensure that every survivor receives the support they deserve.”
The Protection Against Violence Commission was appointed on February 1.
The PLP also promised to expand the existing RBPF’s Domestic Violence Unit to Grand Bahama and to expand sexual violence prevention education in schools while ensuring that legal framework surrounding gender-based violence keeps pace with international practice.
The party further seeks to launch a Backlog Reduction Court to combat slow-moving cases and to establish a Sexual Offences Court.
Other goals include the completion of a female juvenile detention center, the expansion of the government’s Clear/Hold/Build strategy, and deeper partnership with CARICOM and the United States to tackle gang related activity.
