Friends,
Today, we lay the groundwork so that more Bahamians can take to the skies.
So that more visitors can experience the charm and enchantment of our islands.
So that more Bahamian businesses can thrive, and more Bahamian workers can bring their dreams to life.
So that the sons and daughters of Exuma can find their way home, day or night.
And so that Black Point does not feel like an afterthought, but a priority.
My friends, today we sign a contract with a Bahamian company, Abaco Aggregate and Cement, for the expansion and full remediation of the Black Point Airport.
A new, extended runway, fully compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards, will be constructed to accommodate national, regional, and international aircraft.
The people of Black Point will also benefit from a new terminal facility, built to accommodate 70+ passengers, and outfitted with navigational aids to facilitate night flights.
The full scope of works is expected to ramp up commercial airlift opportunities, streamline emergency airlift scenarios, and connect family, friends, and loved ones like never before.
This is but the latest development in one of our government’s most transformative initiatives: the Family Islands Renaissance Project.
In our Blueprint for Change, and our 2025/26 Budget, we committed to creating more opportunities for more Bahamians, island by island.
We’ve been driving serious investments, because we’re serious about improving infrastructure, and improving lives.
We’re creating airports of the future across our archipelago, leveraging twenty-first-century technologies to meet the specific needs of each island.
This is what sustainable, inclusive, culturally-appropriate development looks like.
We’ve already standardised facilities and services across many Family Island airports, and completed design models within each of the three airport tier classifications.
What this means is more efficiency, more cost savings, and more transparency in procurement and construction.
It means more Bahamians will enjoy better airports, more quickly.
And these airports will not only be best in class, but best in the region.
I am not exaggerating when I state that we are pursuing the most aggressive development of airport infrastructure in our nation’s history.
It’s overdue, so we’re making it happen now.
We’re doing it in Eleuthera, Bimini, Cat Island, Long Island, Exuma, and the Abacos.
We’re expanding connectivity and commerce across our archipelago.
I know firsthand what it feels like to grow up on a Family Island and wonder: what about us?
What about me, and my island?
If that has ever crossed your mind, I want you to know:
I am thinking about you.
I value you.
And I am hard at work for you.
I believe in Black Point, and in all our Family Islands.
That belief is the driving force behind this administration’s Renaissance project.
It’s a new day, my friends.
And no island gets left behind.
Thank you and may God bless you all.