Good morning,
Friends,
I’ve come here today not only to participate in the cutting of a ribbon ceremony – I have also come to speak plainly about what I believe and what this government stands for.
You see, when I think about what it means to lead this country, it comes down to one thing: how we treat people, especially those who can’t give us anything in return.
My life has taught me that.
I wasn’t born into privilege.
I know what it means to struggle.
I’ve seen what poverty can do to a family.
I’ve watched people fight hard to survive in a system that sometimes makes them feel small or forgotten.
So when I say this, I say it from experience: no Bahamian should ever feel ashamed to ask for help.
It is the mandate of my government, our solemn duty, to help those who need it most.
To go the extra mile. To open every door. To exhaust every resource. If it means cutting red tape, then cut it. If it means finding one more dollar, find it.
I would rather our government do too much for someone in need than be remembered for doing too little.
When you walk into the Department of Social Services, you should be met with respect. Not suspicion. With warmth. Not bureaucracy. If someone is coming to you for help, chances are they’ve already been through enough.
And let me say this to the staff who serve here, from the front desk to the back office: you are doing sacred work. For you, this alone is not only a job. This is service. This is ministry. You represent the kind of country we want to be.
The Bible tells the story of Jesus — who, even in all his power, sat and let a woman wash his feet with her tears. He didn’t turn her away. He didn’t judge her past. He accepted her offering, because in that moment, it wasn’t about status – it was about love.
About dignity. About humanity.
That’s the spirit I want in this ministry. That’s the spirit I expect.
This renovated building is beautiful. It’s modern. It’s accessible. But what will define it — what will truly define it — is how people feel when they walk through those doors.
Do they feel seen? Heard? Helped?
We are building a Bahamas where no one is left behind. Where the vulnerable are not just protected, but prioritized. That’s the country I believe in. That’s the government I lead. And that’s the legacy I want to leave behind.
I want to say this again, because I need my position to be clear.
Yes, I acknowledge and respect the work this Ministry does. You do the hard job. The late-night job. The work that most people don’t see. And I thank you for it — deeply.
But let me be honest with you: I didn’t come here today to admire a building.
I couldn’t care less about the paint on the walls or the size of the conference room.
What I care about, what I will always care about, is how we treat people.
That’s why I’m here. To remind each of us, including myself, why we do what we do.
We are not in this for titles. We are not here to clock in and clock out. We are here to serve.
Every Bahamian who walks through these doors deserves to feel seen, to feel heard, and to be treated with dignity – no matter their story, no matter their circumstances. That is the only thing that matters.
So let us ensure this becomes more than renovation of your new home. Let it be renewed in spirit, in purpose, and in how we see the people we are called to serve.
So to the team here, know that your Prime Minister sees you. I respect what you do. And I will fight to make sure you have what you need to serve our people with excellence, compassion, and care.
May God bless you all. And may God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.