MP sparks outrage by throwing ceremonial mace out of Bahamas Parliament window

In the Bahamas, chaotic scenes unfolded in parliament due to the indictment of senior police officers on drug trafficking charges. This situation ignited a heated discussion about corruption within the country's law enforcement agencies. Shanendon Cartwright, the deputy leader of the opposition Free National Movement, expressed his frustration when he was denied the opportunity to speak by the speaker, Patricia Deveaux. In a dramatic act of protest, he seized the parliamentary mace — a ceremonial symbol of authority — and threw it out a window, an event that generated significant attention and unrest. The turmoil follows the indictment of three police officers allegedly involved in a vast cocaine trafficking operation facilitated by corrupt officials. According to the US Department of Justice, this conspiracy involved high-ranking members of the Royal Bahamas police force working alongside drug traffickers to smuggle large quantities of cocaine into the country. Reports suggested that local officials were bribed with sums ranging from $10,000 to $2 million, allowing the trafficking operations to escalate. This corruption, as stated by US prosecutors, enabled drug traffickers to move approximately 1,320 lbs (600 kg) of cocaine through the Bahamas' major international airport since May 2021. As protests erupted outside the parliament building, gathering dozens of participants, demonstrators voiced their dissatisfaction with the police force, chanting phrases like, "Police are criminals!" This public outcry indicated widespread frustration and outrage directed at the officials who were supposed to uphold the law. The Bahamian government, led by Prime Minister Philip Davis, condemned the actions within parliament and described the mace incident as a "planned and coordinated assault." In the wake of these events, Prime Minister Davis pledged to tackle the deep-rooted corruption in the police force, emphasizing the necessity for restoring public trust in law enforcement. He announced the intent to introduce new legislation aimed at establishing independent oversight of the police, seeking to enhance accountability. Additionally, Davis endorsed the appointment of Shanta Emily Knowles, the assistant commissioner with oversight of the Northern District, as the new police commissioner. This proposed change is aimed at leading extensive reforms in the police force. Cartwright's actions, however, underscored a growing sentiment among citizens that the government is failing to address corruption effectively, with the opposition accusing the ruling party of trying to suppress public dissent during a critical moment for the nation's integrity.