Prime Minister Philip Davis’s Remarks at the Groundbreaking of Baha Mar Beachfront Resort 

I tell you all the time about the power of stories.

Nations are built on stories. Families are built on stories. Even businesses are built on stories.

And oh, what a powerful story Baha Mar has become for the people of our country.

There was a time when this property represented uncertainty. 

A time when cranes stood still and questions filled the air. 

A time when many Bahamians wondered whether this great promise would ever be fulfilled.

But today, we stand in a different chapter.

Today, Baha Mar stands as proof of what happens when belief meets perseverance. It stands as proof that The Bahamas can weather storms, solve problems, and move forward stronger than before.

And now, with this groundbreaking, we turn the page once again.

This more than $700 million investment is a major milestone for our country. 

It is a vote of confidence in The Bahamas. 

It is a signal to the world that our economy is steady, our tourism sector is growing, and our country is moving in the right direction.

During construction alone, this development will support over 1,000 jobs. 

The majority of those jobs will be filled by Bahamians. Skilled tradesmen. Electricians. Carpenters. Engineers. Heavy equipment operators. Project managers. Suppliers. Drivers. Small contractors.

And when this new resort opens its doors, approximately 1,400 associates will find opportunity here. 

From hotel operations and culinary arts to wellness, events, guest services, technology and management roles.

These 1,400 jobs will add to the more than 5,300 Bahamians already employed by Baha Mar. That makes Baha Mar one of the largest private-sector employers in our country.

But the story does not end with direct employment.

This development will generate economic activity across the entire value chain. 

Local suppliers. Farmers. Fishermen. Transportation providers. Logistics companies. 

Small businesses that provide services. Young entrepreneurs building careers in hospitality and technology.

When we talk about national development, this is what it looks like. 

It is concrete. It is paychecks. It is contracts. It is training. It is upward mobility.

This expansion strengthens our global competitiveness. 

It increases room inventory. 

It increases meeting space.

It increases our ability to attract high-end travelers and international conferences.

It positions The Bahamas to compete at the highest level in global tourism.

We live in a world where destinations compete fiercely for visitors, for investment, for prestige events. 

Standing still is not an option. 

If we are to maintain our position as a premier tourism destination, we must keep investing. We must keep improving. We must keep raising standards.

That is what today represents.

This expansion aligns with our broader national vision. We are modernizing infrastructure across our archipelago. We are investing in roads, airports, docks and energy reform. We are strengthening security. We are expanding opportunities in education, training and upskilling.

Because tourism growth works best when it is supported by a strong national foundation.

Our government believes deeply in expanding opportunities for Bahamians across islands and industries. 

We believe in creating an economy where more Bahamians can see themselves in the story of national progress.  

That belief is why we launched the national Upskill initiative.

Through Upskill, Bahamians from every island have been signing up to strengthen their skills, improve their qualifications, and prepare for new opportunities in our economy. More than 11,000 Bahamians have already registered.

That is 11,000 people who looked at the future and said, “I am ready.”

Some are preparing for careers in hospitality. Some are learning digital skills. 

Some are strengthening leadership and management capacity. 

Some are building credentials that will allow them to step into higher-paying roles.

When developments like this expansion create opportunity, our people must be ready to seize it. Upskill ensures that Bahamians are positioned for the jobs being created here and across our country.

That is how policy connects. Investment creates jobs. Training prepares our people. Opportunity expands. Families move forward.

That is what building on progress looks like.  

Baha Mar’s growth is part of that broader story.

And let me say this: the benefits of this project extend far beyond these grounds.

When a young Bahamian chef gets hired here, that changes a family’s future.

When a Bahamian IT specialist manages systems for a global resort brand, that expands skills and earning potential.

When a Bahamian contractor wins a sub-contract, that keeps money circulating in our economy.

When international conferences choose Nassau because of expanded meeting space, taxis move, restaurants fill, shops benefit, tour operators thrive.

That is how prosperity spreads.

This is also a moment for Bahamian ambition. 

A young person watching this development rise can picture themselves in it, as a supervisor, a manager, an engineer, a chef, or an entrepreneur with a service to provide. 

That is the kind of confidence we want our economy to create, confidence that hard work will open doors.

It is also a reminder that partnership matters. When investors have confidence, when government plays its role, and when Bahamian workers and businesses are positioned to benefit, the entire country gains. 

That is the standard we will keep setting for major development, growth that strengthens communities and expands opportunity.

Of course, we are candid about the work ahead. Tourism is evolving. Travelers demand excellence. Technology is reshaping guest experiences. Sustainability is no longer optional. Climate resilience must be part of every major development.

This expansion reflects those realities.

It is designed for the future. It strengthens our product. It ensures that The Bahamas remains competitive in a changing world.

We are determined that growth must also be responsible. Growth must be sustainable. Growth must create opportunity for Bahamians at every level.

That is the measure of success.

When people ask what national development looks like, I say it looks like this: cranes in the sky, Bahamians at work, confidence in the air, and a country that refuses to settle.

Baha Mar continues to be a cornerstone of our national development strategy. And this expansion signals that its story, and our story, are still being written.

We rescued our economy from crisis. We led a strong recovery. Now we are focused on building a bigger, more inclusive economy that creates opportunity across our archipelago.  

We are on the right path, and the work continues.  

Today’s groundbreaking is a reminder that progress is possible when we stay focused, when we collaborate, and when we believe in the capacity of Bahamians.

Because at the heart of every great national story is one simple truth:

It is about people.

It is about the young Bahamian who will get their first job here.

It is about the mother or father who will gain stability and pride from steady employment.

It is about the entrepreneur who will secure a contract and grow a business.

It is about the families whose lives will be strengthened by opportunity.

This is why we do the work.

This is why we invest.

This is why we keep building.

Baha Mar’s story is no longer one of uncertainty. It is a story of resilience, revival, and renewal.

And with this groundbreaking, we add another powerful chapter.

Let us continue to build.

Let us continue to compete.

Let us continue to expand opportunity.

Let us continue to write a story of progress that lifts every Bahamian family.

Thank you, and may God continue to bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.