Prime Minister Philip Davis’s Remarks at the Arthur’s Town Airport Commissioning Ceremony

Standing on the established protocol, I would be remiss not to mention my beautiful wife Ann, my Cat Island Family, Distinguished Guests, Friends:

Ohhhh what a beautiful morning! 

Dreams really can come true!

We hear stories of our ancient ancestors, who gazed up at the skies and imagined what life might look like above the clouds.

In their drawings of birds and other mythical creatures, they imagined what might be possible.

The dream of flight was a bold one.

The good Lord did not give us the natural ability to fly, but He did give us the ability to think it possible, and to actually make it happen.

And so we are fortunate to live in these times, because it was really quite recent in human history – just over 120 years ago – that human beings first took to the skies, and the dreams became reality.

Human beings finally gained a new perspective of life on earth, from high above.

But, very quickly, reality hit hard, because, as those early pilots learned: flying is actually pretty easy!

It’s the landing that causes the trouble, because it’s how you come back to earth, whether your landing is soft or uncontrolled, that ultimately determines what kind of day you’re going to have.

And so, with progress came a valuable lesson.

Even in great triumph, it is important to be clear about what kind of day we want to have.

Important to be clear about the longer-term vision for the years ahead of what we want to achieve.

Airports – these hubs for air travel – quickly came to be seen for what they really are. 

At their most basic, they are collections of runways and buildings, places for planes to take off and land safely.

But they are also corridors, connecting places like Arthur’s Town to the rest of The Bahamas, and to the wider world.

Airports turn possibility into real arrivals and departures every single day.

Airports are gateways for movement, for connection and for opportunity.

My Friends:

These dreams – these possible dreams – are what I invite you to consider today when you tour with our new Arthur’s Town Airport.

Ask yourself, from this: “What dreams may come?”

What dreams can be unlocked for me and my friends and family by the opening of this airport?

What can now be done that it was not possible to do before?

What can we, the people of Arthur’s Town and Cat Island, what can we do to make our lives better, for ourselves and our community?

Those possibilities came even closer yesterday, with the news that the credit ratings agency, Moody’s, has just upgraded the credit rating for The Bahamas for an historic second time, during our administration. 

The decision signals growing confidence that the country is making progress, with more opportunities being created for Bahamians across the archipelago.

The upgrade also reflects the hard work not only of our team, but more importantly the talent and determination of the Bahamian people.

This is truly a great milestone in the economic progress of our country.

Friends:

I know too well that our people on Cat Island choose to live here for all sorts of reasons.

Important among them are the sense of community, peace and neighbourliness.

Yes, the opening of this airport will bring more people, more trade and more opportunity.

But it is up to you – the people of Cat Island – to determine how you wish to expand that community, how you wish to share that tranquillity, and how you wish to seize those opportunities.

Others will come from far and near with their own ideas and proposals, but I urge you not to shy away from your own imagined futures.

Do not leave it to others.

Be as bold and as creative and as daring as you allow yourselves to be, to realise dreams for yourselves and your children

On a technical level, this airport — this new Arthur Town Airport – delivers much.

Its design puts people at the centre of the experience.

The airport includes a new terminal building, outfitted with ticket counters, office spaces, and a security screening section.

There is also a departure area with seating for fifty-two people, along with restrooms, a concession area, a bank ATM, and parking to accommodate up to fifty vehicles.

Beyond its size, this airport’s capacity has been significantly expanded.

With new facilities to support international arrivals, including an area for Customs and Immigration, Cat Island is now positioned to welcome direct international traffic, just in time for Maker’s Air to begin direct air service from Fort Lauderdale.

At the same time, upgraded navigational aids, solar lighting, and enhanced runway safety will support larger aircraft, including Bahamasair’s ATR-600 which will also begin service here this summer.

Speaking of Bahamasair, wasn’t that a wonderful water canon salute that was given earlier?

Arthur’s Town Airport will now be included in their proud boast that, “we don’t just fly here, we live here!”

Some of the immediate, practical benefits of the new airport are obvious.

It will drive demand for motels, for taxi drivers and for small businesses.

It will create space for entrepreneurs to grow new businesses, and for visitors to experience what I’ve always thought makes Cat Island unique, the people.

It will make travel easier for Cat Islanders, helping to speed and strengthen connection to loved ones.

Most importantly, it will provide a stronger link between daily life here, and opportunity beyond these shores.

When we came into office in 2021, we dared to dream – we dared to think it possible – that years of unfulfilled promises could be put right.

We dared to think that we would be an Administration that delivered on its commitments and build the kind of infrastructure that our Family Island communities have been crying out for, for years.

Today, as I gaze out at our new Arthur’s Town Airport, I dare to say, we’ve done it!

And soon we will be having a similar celebration in the South, when we open the New Bight International Airport which Bishop Roker and the Simmons Brothers are working on now. 

But Cat Island is not the only site for new airports.

We have carried out the largest investment in airport infrastructure in the history of The Bahamas.

As of today, over 19 airports have been built or newly-renovated.

And that kind of progress continues, from Abaco to New Bight, and from Bimini to Crooked Island.

These efforts represent a true renaissance in the Family Islands.

Here in Cat Island, that renaissance already extends beyond the airport.

We have built new roads and installed a new potable water system.

And I am happy to announce that this month, we will graduate thirteen new firefighters, strengthening the emergency response capacity on the island.

We have also added an aviation ambulance in Arthur’s Town, which will improve access to critical care when it matters most.

So, the impact of this investment reaches far beyond simple air travel.

It strengthens safety, connects families, supports health, and improves daily life.

One of the great joys of being Prime Minister is that I have been invited to open a lot of things.

Usually, I am given a list of people who have contributed to whatever occasion it is, and we recognize their achievement.

And often-times, in thanking those people, I think that the audience – and probably me – we don’t really know what they all did, nor fully appreciate the labour of love that involved many days, months and years of sacrifice, effort and hard work that brought about the result.

Well – today, I know better.

I have seen first-hand how thousands of people have toiled to make this airport a reality.

We have held over 90 meetings – weekly, or every other week – to keep this project focused and on track.

The plaque inside the airport lists the names of most of the key players and I make no apology for asking you to pay close attention to the names I am about to call.

Truly, this airport would not exist without them.

My thanks to:

THE HON. I. CHESTER COOPER, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION and DR. KENNETH ROMER, DIRECTOR OF AVIATION.

THE HON. CLAY G. SWEETING, MINISTER OF WORKS & FAMILY ISLAND AFFAIRS, DR. ANYA SYMONETTE, PERMANENT SECRETARY in the Ministry and MR. ROBERT MOUZAS, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

From the AIRPORT AUTHORITY: MR. PAUL BEVANS, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN and MR. PETER RUTHERFORD, MANAGING DIRECTOR.

Our heartfelt thanks to: 

MR. TIMOTHY JOHNSON, CHIEF DESIGN ARCHITECT

MR. TERRAN RODGERS, SENIOR MANAGING ARCHITECT

MR. LARRY BASTIAN, CHIEF QUANTITY SURVEYOR

MS. RACQUEL GREENE, MECHANICAL ENGINEER

MR. IRA SMITH, ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

MR. ANTONIO KING, TECHNICIAN

MR. KAREEM BOWE, ASSISTANT QUANTITY SURVEYOR

VERITAS, THE PROJECT MANAGERS

And the Contractors: Emile Knowles who built the runway, Stanley Webb, and Randy Penn.

One of the great unsung heroes of this airport is a member of my staff who has driven this project forward with tenacity, determination and an unflinching sense of purpose. My thanks to my Chief of Staff and Head of the Delivery Unit in the Office of The Prime Minister, Ms. Allison Collie.

My Friends:

I hope you’ll agree with me when I say once again.

For all the many reasons we have heard spoken of today,

“Ohhhhh what a beautiful morning!!”

This morning, this moment, belongs to the people of Cat Island, and to the many thousands of people who made the Arthur’s Town Airport a reality.

And now I hope you’ll indulge me in the kind of announcement which I’ve heard many times over the years.

“Ding dong.

Fasten your seatbelts.

You have arrived at Arthur’s Town.

Welcome to your new airport!!!!”

May God bless you and may God continue to bless the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.