Whether or not Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis calls an election this week as so many of us expect, it is clear that he is desperately in need of a new mandate – though it seems a very long shot that he will get one.

The government of The Bahamas appears to be running on autopilot as Minnis seems more consumed with winning an election than anything else.

His ministers who have been renominated are focused on winning their seats once again in an atmosphere of widespread discontent, and, in some circles, disgust toward the Minnis administration and the Free National Movement (FNM).

They have been advised by their leader to stay on the ground as his hand is on the handle of the election bell.

The House of Assembly has been adjourned to September 22, with no expectation that the current Parliament will meet again, though the Minnis administration’s promised legislative agenda is largely unfulfilled.

When the emergency order expires on August 13, it is anyone’s guess what the government’s plan will be for the management of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

We do not get a sense that fighting the pandemic is the government’s main priority right now.

While cases of COVID-19 remain alarmingly high, with 83 people who tested positive hospitalized as of Monday, a total of 274 deaths and another 22 under investigation, it has been more than three months since Ministry of Health officials have called a press conference to answer questions and provide critically needed information to the public.

There have been no reports on whether any variants have been identified in the country, no reports on what is accounting for the spike in cases, no reports on just how many vaccine doses we have left in country and no explanation on the science that is behind restrictions that remain in place.

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