Colleagues,
I’d like to thank each and every one of you for being here today.
I wanted us to meet ahead of the formal debate on land reform legislation because this is not just any debate — and these are not just any Bills.
What we are considering together in the coming weeks is a generational shift in how we manage and secure land ownership in The Bahamas.
It’s critical that every Parliamentarian fully understands the impact these reforms will have on Bahamian families, businesses, and communities.
For decades, successive administrations have acknowledged that our land system is broken. Yet here we are — in 2025 — still grappling with the same issues identified in the very first White Paper on land reform back in the 1960s. That’s not just unfortunate — it’s unacceptable.
We know the consequences of delay: Bahamians left without clear title to their land, unable to pass it on, unable to develop it, unable to access credit – using land as security.
We know that disputes drag on in court for years.
We know the cost — not just financially, but emotionally — for families caught in uncertainty.
And we know that those with deep pockets and clever attorneys have often found ways to manipulate a chaotic system to their advantage.
We now, have a responsibility — and an opportunity — to change all of that.
The Land Adjudication Bill, 2025 and the Land Registration Bill, 2025 represent a complete overhaul of how we determine and record land ownership. This new system will bring clarity where there is now confusion, and justice where there has been exploitation.
We’re moving from an outdated, deed-based system to a modern, title-based registry.
Every land parcel will receive a unique identification number.
Owners will be issued legal certificates that serve as indisputable proof of ownership.
Adjudicators — supported by teams on the ground — will visit communities, hear claims, assess evidence, and resolve disputes through an independent Land Tribunal. Once claims are settled, the land can be officially registered and secured.
This means:
- No more overlapping claims.
- No more land locked in legal limbo.
- No more families unable to access mortgages or sell property.
- And no more generations waiting to inherit land they should already own.
These reforms unlock real potential. Families can pass land on to their children with confidence. Businesses can expand. Developers can build. And ordinary Bahamians will finally have access to credit using land they rightfully own.
Colleagues, the status quo is indefensible. These reforms are a necessary step toward fairness and national development. And while we cannot undo the decades of inaction, we can — and must — act now with purpose and unity.
That is why this special meeting is so important. This is not business as usual. I’m asking each of you to study the Bills carefully, to ask questions, to raise concerns — but above all, to understand how vital this work is to the future of our country.
We’ve consulted widely, and I want to thank the Attorney General’s Office, the Land Reform Committee headed by Sharlyn Smith and co-chaired by Minister Leon Lundy, and all the stakeholders who contributed to this effort. We have a strong foundation to build on.
Let’s keep up the momentum.