Prime Minister Philip Davis’s Remarks at the Cockburn Town Subdivision Rent-to-Own Key Giving Ceremony

Good morning, San Salvador!

I am proud to be here today to present eleven families with the keys to their own homes.

For me, this is one of the greatest joys of this position, and what a privilege it is, because I, like so many of you here, know the power and importance of a home.

A home is where children learn their first lessons.

It is where families gather around the dinner table.

It is where grandparents tell stories, mothers and fathers make sacrifices, and where dreams are nurtured.

I know something about that kind of home. I grew up on Cat Island with my grandparents. My mother worked as a maid, and my father was a fireman.

They did not have much.

They worked hard.

They sacrificed. But they kept going.

It was from them that I learned that no matter what your circumstances might be, you must be relentless in your pursuit of something better.

You must work for what you believe in, and you must have the courage to dream beyond what is in front of you.

And that is why today is so important.

This moment is about opportunity.

It is about dignity.

It is about dreams becoming reality.  

And it is about giving Bahamians who have worked hard and who have the means to become homeowners, but who may need a little additional help, a pathway to owning their own home.

From day one, when my Administration took office, homeownership has been at the top of our agenda, because it is through affordable homeownership that we build a stronger and a more secure Bahamas.

That is why we have taken concrete steps to remove the barriers to Bahamians owning their own homes.

We introduced the Homeowners Stamp Exemption, waiving VAT on conveyances and mortgage instruments for first-time homeowners.

We raised the exemption threshold for Real Property Tax on homes valued up to three hundred thousand dollars, helping to reduce the ongoing cost of homeownership for Bahamian families.

And we continue to provide VAT refunds on construction materials and services, putting money back into the hands of Bahamians.

You see, these measures form part of my Administration’s commitment to making homeownership more attainable. Because if you work hard, and if you do your part, your government should be doing what it can to help make your dream possible.

And today, that work continues through this Rent-to Own Initiative.

We are closing the gap for families who are capable of owning a home, but who need a little help getting over that final hurdle.

These homes represent the belief that your government has in you. And they represent my belief that homeownership should be an achievable part of the Bahamian dream.

But the work does not end here.

We have seen housing developments in Abaco. 

We are seeing progress here in San Salvador, and we are looking ahead to Grand Bahama and other communities across our country. Because affordable homeownership should be within your reach, no matter what island you are from.

And as Prime Minister, that is my commitment to you.

To the families receiving their keys today, I want to say congratulations.

While you have reached an important milestone, I want you to remember that a house only becomes a home through the people who live in it.

So, fill your homes with love. Fill them with laughter. Fill them with family.

Raise your children here with the confidence that they will enter a Bahamas where they can achieve whatever they set their minds to.

And, when you look around these homes, I hope you will remember that this is an investment in yourself and an investment in your families.

May these homes be blessed. And may there always be love within them.

Congratulations, my friends.  The work continues!

God bless you all.