Friends,
First, I thank God for sparing our islands from the worst of this week’s tropical storm. We know how quickly a storm can change lives. We are grateful for the mercy shown to us, and we remember those in the region who were not as fortunate.
Today is a reminder of what delivering for Bahamians is all about. For the first time, families in Barraterre have clean, reliable running water.
This is not a plan for tomorrow. It is delivery today.
For too long, this community lived with uncertainty. Tanks ran dry. Families carried water.
Promises were made, but progress did not come.
That was unfair.
Our government is determined that no Bahamian should be told to wait for the basics of life.
This water system is about fairness and dignity. Every family deserves reliable water. Without it, there is no healthcare, no schools, no farming, no tourism, no business.
With it, communities thrive. That is why today matters.
And this is not happening only in Barraterre. Across our islands, the same commitment is at work.
Airports are being rebuilt to grow the economy. Roads are being repaired so people and goods can move.
Clinics are being upgraded, so care is closer to home.
Schools are being improved so children have a fair chance.
Renewable energy projects are moving forward, so communities are more secure.
Water systems are being modernized, so that no settlement is left behind.
This is what progress looks like. Real, practical change.
Exuma has always been central to our national story. Its culture, its people, and its economy are vital to The Bahamas.
But Exuma, like every island, needs strong foundations.
Reliable water gives families security. It allows businesses to expand. It supports farming and tourism. And it gives young people confidence that they can build their future here at home.
We also look to tomorrow. Climate change is already here. Stronger storms. Rising seas. New pressures on our islands. That is why we build for resilience. This system was designed to last and to meet future needs.
None of this comes from government alone. It takes the Water and Sewerage Corporation, the contractors, the workers, and the residents of Barraterre who showed patience during construction.
Progress comes when we all pull in the same direction.
Today, Barraterre is no longer waiting. You are part of the progress moving this nation forward.
Projects like this are how trust is built between people and their government.
Not through speeches or promises, but by delivering what families need to live decently. Trust grows when people see that action is taken and that promises are kept.
And this delivery here in Barraterre is part of a larger story — a story of a nation choosing to move forward together.
When every settlement can rely on the same foundations, when opportunity reaches every island, then the strength of the whole country is greater.
That is how we build unity, and that is how we build pride in our Bahamas.
This work will continue. Settlement by settlement, island by island, we will deliver. Until every Bahamian feels the same progress you feel today.
We are creating a Bahamas where a child in Barraterre has the same chance as a child in Nassau.
Where a farmer in Andros has the same support as a business owner in Freeport.
Where a family in Cat Island feels as secure as a family in Abaco.
That is what fairness looks like.
So today is a reminder.
Delivery matters.
Promises are not enough.
Bahamians deserve results. And this government is providing them.
With God’s guidance, with the strength of our people, and with unity across our islands, we will continue to deliver.
May God bless Barraterre. May God bless Exuma. And may God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.