Ladies and gentlemen,
It’s a pleasure to be here to celebrate this third cohort.
Let’s give the newest members of the National Youth Guard a rousing round of applause!
Today is indeed a special milestone.
For these sixty-three young men and women, the past few months have been filled with new experiences – exciting challenges that have stretched their mental and physical limits.
Through grit and determination, these recruits have developed valuable disaster preparedness and leadership skills, all the while acquiring medical techniques and vocational training that will serve them well on their respective career paths.
I was fortunate to meet with many of you during your carpentry training, and I was moved by your talent and spirit. The experience took me back to my own high school days – not too long ago – when I worked as a carpenter’s helper.
It was a privilege to spend that time with you – and it has only made me believe all the more strongly that youth empowerment is key to confronting some of our country’s most pressing challenges.
At that workshop, I urged you all to take advantage of your training. Today, I celebrate your success and wish you well in this new chapter of your lives.
The National Youth Guard was designed to produce courageous, compassionate, and adept young leaders, well-equipped to respond in times of disaster.
You now emerge from this programme as a vital cadre of first responders. Hold fast to your training, as it will be key to the safety and well-being of our brothers and sisters.
As weather extremes grow more common and more acute, you will be among the guardians we look to in times of crisis. Through your sense of duty as young people committed to making a positive difference in your nation, you inspire confidence in us all.
Disasters need not spell doom. With the right preparation and the right people, we can mitigate the damage caused by disasters.
This year’s hurricane season has largely spared our islands. However, serious storms like Beryl, Helene, and Milton remind us that the stakes are always high for our region, and, like global temperatures, they continue to rise.
I’ve been pushing for change, real change, on the world stage, and this global advocacy has given rise to more bargaining power, partnerships, and investments for The Bahamas.
Here at home, we are rolling up our sleeves and working even harder.
We are securing a new energy future for all our islands by transitioning to 30% renewable energy by 2030. This is part of a wider energy reform agenda that is bringing clean, reliable, and efficient energy to all Bahamian families.
As I stressed this past September at Climate Week in New York City, this transition is good for the planet and good for our economy.
It’s creating green jobs, fostering local expertise, and enhancing the resilience of our energy generation and transmission infrastructure.
Climate change is a threat to the entire world, and it poses an even greater threat to Bahamians than many others. However, the challenges posed by climate change are also prompting innovation and advancement like never before.
As the climate changes, so are we.
We are harnessing our collective capacity and spirit not just to endure but to overcome.
Friends, with the graduation of this latest cohort of the National Youth Guard, we are rising to the occasion.
Cohort 3, we are so proud of you. This is a brilliant achievement. I thank you for your dedication to country and your passion for service. The time you have invested in this programme has not only made you more skilled and empowered individuals – it has made our nation stronger.
My gratitude also goes out to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of National Security, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and my Delivery Unit for supporting this latest cohort.
To all the friends and family members in the audience, I thank you for showing up today for our recruits. Now that you know firsthand how transformational the Youth Guard is, I hope you will all spread the word about this opportunity.
Let your communities know that this programme gives young Bahamians a chance to serve their country while gaining job-ready skills.
Once again, graduates, I say congratulations.
Thank you for answering the call to serve.
May God bless you all, and may He bless this beautiful nation we call home.
Thank you.