Prime Minister Philip Davis’s Remarks at the PLP 4th Anniversary Church Service
My friends, my sisters and brothers, my colleagues, my treasured partners in service, what a blessing it is to be with you today, in this place of worship, to acknowledge together our earthly missions must be driven by divine purpose.
After four years serving the Bahamian people, we feel even more profoundly that “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
We are but stewards of God’s vision. When we help our country take steps forward, it is because of his grace.
Thus, whatever our challenges, whatever our triumphs, faith must be the source of our strength, humility must be our constant companion, and gratitude must be our guide.
And indeed, what a great privilege it is, to help write our nation’s story!
I know you share with me a great sense of urgency, a determination to overcome obstacles, and a resolve to make the most of every hour, and every day.
So it is that we pray to God daily for strength and wisdom, in order that we may carry out his work.
We remind ourselves once more that God saved Noah from the flood, but Noah still had to build the ark.
God parted the Red Sea, but Moses had to call his people forward, staff raised, relying on faith.
David, facing Goliath, said “The battle is the Lord’s” – but he still had to pick up those stones.
These are miracles which required both divine power and human action.
We do not wait for providence; instead we work to discern and carry out God’s purpose.
Now, if you are like me, you take not inconsiderable comfort recognizing that God did not demand perfection from the leaders he commanded to act.
Every one of us, shortcomings and all, are part of God’s plan.
We may not be able to see the full vision; that is God’s alone.
But we trust that every step forward for our people is a thread woven into a tapestry far greater than any one of us can imagine.
Every child starting their school day with a warm breakfast.
One million school breakfasts served, in a programme that now includes 17 of our islands.
Every young person given the skills and guidance to support productive choices, not tragic ones.
More than 500 young Bahamians trained in our country’s first national service corps, the National Youth Guard.
A tourism industry revitalized, with new opportunities for Bahamian entrepreneurs.
The country’s first nationwide apprenticeship programme.
Major sporting events, held here at home once again, and record support for our athletes.
Renovations to 52 clinics, two new hospitals and our investment in labs and diagnostics and emergency vehicles for our Family Islands in motion.
The first substantial, extensive effort to build opportunities for Bahamians in fly-fishing.
More than 50 labour agreements signed – a record – and a reflection of our respect for hard-working Bahamians.
New legal protections for Bahamian artists and musicians, and a new performing arts school to nurture and grow their talents.
Millions of acres of our oceans newly protected. Innovations in agriculture and food security.
New investments in Grand Bahama. An expansion of Urban Renewal. Hundreds of new homes for Bahamians.
Comprehensive nationwide energy reforms – extraordinarily difficult and complex, but absolutely essential – will bring solar power, infrastructure upgrades, and modernization to a failing system.
Thousands of public servants promoted, new trade ties to diversify and bring down costs, free WiFi in parks across the country, new courts, stricter bail rules, a strengthening of our borders, and a country that is standing up for itself, on issues from security to climate finance to tax fairness.
Record levels of investment, and an economic development plan that is finally, truly nationwide, with new roads and docks and airports across our islands.
When we recognize and support the talents and potential of our people, when we provide a fair playing field – that is how we build opportunities and change. That is how we build progress.
Of course, this is only a very partial accounting of the progress we are fighting for – and I don’t have to tell you, none of it comes easy. That’s why until now, so many of these problems were ignored, solutions deferred, dreams put on hold.
And we have faced setbacks and delays and frustrations, along with all the slings and arrows from those who cannot hear their better angels, who would halt the nation’s progress for their own gains.
But how small all those difficulties seem, when we consider what a great privilege it is, to work alongside the Bahamian people, turning hardship into hope, adversity into progress.
And what a blessing it is to see not only what is, but also what could be – to see how dignity and opportunity and security can be made real for all Bahamians.
After all, we serve a God who specializes in transformation – a God able to turn deserts into gardens, a God who brings forth streams in the wasteland. Through the prophet Isaiah, God declares: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19)
Every barrier we remove, every obstacle we knock down, every injustice we correct, every opportunity we extend – every act of service that helps our people flourish has an impact that ripples out, much farther than we can see, becoming part of our collective legacy, one that will far outlive our times.
Together we are weaving a tapestry of change and transformation, and though we are imperfect, our work is sacred.
We pray to be worthy of the work.
We pray for the strength to build a dwelling place for our Lord’s justice and mercy.
May His love shine upon each of you, and may His kingdom come, his will be done, in our nation as it is in heaven.