Good afternoon.
Thank you all for joining me on this exciting day for the development of sports in Grand Bahama.
Grand Bahama is near and dear to my heart. This island is my second home. I lived here for years, and I carry this community with me wherever I go.
So I can’t help but feel a bit of personal pride now that we’ve arrived at this moment.
Today, we break ground on a facility that is long overdue: the Grand Bahama Aquatic Centre.
This is one of many major projects underway as we pursue progress in Grand Bahama.
Our efforts are producing results.
Grand Bahama is the fastest growing destination in The Bahamas.
Tourism arrivals are projected to surpass six million within the next two years as new establishments open their doors.
Billions of dollars in private sector investment are flowing into this island. Multiple ventures are taking shape. And the government is investing heavily in laying the foundation for further growth.
We have made important strides. But there is still much more that needs to be initiated, and, more importantly, much more that needs to be completed.
We know that progress on the hospital must accelerate.
We know that the airport must move from plans to completion.
We know that the cost of living and the cost of electricity remain a concern for families across this island.
And we know that the people of Grand Bahama have waited too long for the investments and infrastructure they deserve.
That is why we are here today. We are not waiting. We are moving.
Every commitment we have made to this island is being pursued with urgency. The people of Grand Bahama deserve nothing less than full prioritization of growth on this island.
Now, one of the areas where Grand Bahama has always thrived is sports.
Even with limited infrastructure, athletes like Buddy Hield, Jonquel Jones, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu, Donald Thomas, and many others have become world-class athletes.
Whether we’re talking about basketball, high jump, track, or a range of other sports: you name it, a Grand Bahamian has done it.
And done it at the highest level.
Grand Bahama produces champions.
That has never been the question.
The question has been whether this island has the facilities to match the talent it produces. Today, we are making progress toward answering that question.
What we are breaking ground on is a modern, 50-metre aquatic facility right here at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.
This will be a competition-standard swimming pool and aquatic centre designed to support youth development, elite training, and regional and international competitions, including events at the CARIFTA level and beyond.
For years, competitive swimming infrastructure in The Bahamas has been concentrated in New Providence.
Swimmers from Grand Bahama have had to travel to Nassau to access the Betty Kelly-Kenning Aquatic Centre for high-level training and competition.
That arrangement has asked too much of young athletes and their families. It has required sacrifices that should not have been necessary.
This new facility changes that equation.
A young swimmer in Grand Bahama will be able to train in a world-class pool, compete at an international standard, and pursue their dreams without leaving their community.
That is what this investment represents.
Thank you to the Grand Bahama Port Authority for the generous donation of over 80 acres of land to make this project possible. Because of this donation, this Aquatic Centre will soon become a training ground for future Olympians.
But breaking ground is merely a beginning.
The hard work of construction, completion, and delivery lies ahead, and we are committed to seeing this project through.
There is more work to do. There are more projects to complete. And more promises to deliver on.
We will deliver, because that is the commitment we have made to you.
The progress is underway and it will not stop.
May God bless Grand Bahama and may God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Thank you.