Friends, good morning.
It is truly a pleasure to join you for the launch of the Young Innovators Club. This club reflects our belief that young Bahamians have the talent, creativity, and determination to build the country they want to live in.
You see, progress doesn’t simply happen because we wish for it. It happens when people see a problem and decide that there is a solution – that there is a better way.
Throughout our history, some of the people willing to imagine an alternative have been our young people. That is why, as Prime Minister, investing in young Bahamians remains important and number one on the list of my priorities.
Our young people are not standing idly by waiting to inherit this country – they are already shaping it.
They are creators. They are entrepreneurs. They are artists, writers, teachers, scientists and environmentalists with ideas about The Bahamas that we may not have imagined ourselves.
It is our government’s duty to empower youth by offering the opportunities and support they need to foster their ideas.
This is why the Young Innovators Club exists.
It creates a space that encourages curiosity, and it expects young people to ask, “Why?” and “What if?”
It is a place where young people can look at a challenge in their school, their community, and their country and say, “I can be part of that solution.”
And I want to say directly to the young people: do not underestimate the value of your ideas.
You don’t need all the answers now.
You don’t even need the perfect idea.
All you need is enough curiosity to ask the questions, the willingness to learn, and the courage to try, and if necessary, enough courage to try and try again.
That is where innovation comes from – the courage to do something with your idea.
My friends, we are a small nation, but we have always punched above our weight.
Tomorrow’s Bahamas depends on that. It depends on the ideas and the strength of our young people and the wisdom and experience of those who came before them.
So, to our young innovators: look around you. See the opportunities. Ask the difficult questions. And believe that you have a role to play in moving your country forward.
To the teachers, mentors and everyone supporting these young people: thank you for creating the space for them to imagine what is possible.
I also wish to extend my gratitude to the Deputy Prime Minister, Chester Cooper, and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as well as Minister Ginger Moxey and the Ministry for Grand Bahama, for making this a reality.
You and your teams are actively helping young people shape their own future.
Young people, I leave you with one question:
What will you build?
I wish the Young Innovators Club every success. May God continue to bless you and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.