Good morning.
Yesterday, I received an update that stayed with me.
Over 10,000 Bahamians have signed up for Upskill.
I want to start there because it tells you something real about who we are.
When you give Bahamians a clear pathway, people step forward.
When you put training within reach, people take it.
When you show a future that feels possible, people lean in with both hands.
So as I look out this morning, and I see the proud faces of Bahamian employees ready to welcome guests, I think about those 10,000 names.
I think about the quiet decision behind every sign-up.
Somebody saying, “I want better for myself.”
Somebody saying, “I want to qualify.”
Somebody saying, “I want to move up.”
Somebody saying, “I want a chance.”
That is what jobs are about. Creating opportunity people can actually hold. Opportunity that pays bills, supports families, and builds confidence.
And that is why today matters.
I want to thank Royal Caribbean for the work that brought us to this opening.
Thank you to your leadership team, your staff, and your partners on the ground.
Thank you to the Bahamian contractors, tradesmen, engineers, technicians, artisians and labourers who built this site.
Thank you to the public officers who handled the planning and coordination, because those details decide whether a project feels smooth or frustrating for everyone involved.
Now let me tell a short story.
When I was younger, I used to watch how people moved through Nassau when a ship came in.
You could feel it before you saw it.
The taxis lining up. The vendors getting ready. The conversation changing. People checking the time, checking the crowd, checking whether the day was going to be a good one.
Tourism has always been like that in The Bahamas.
It changes the pace of the day. It changes the mood of a downtown street. It decides whether a small business has a strong week or a weak one. It decides whether someone gets overtime, whether someone gets called in, whether someone can set something aside for school fees.
Tourism is real life for a lot of families. That is the truth.
So the question for a government is simple. If tourism is the engine, how do we make sure the people who live here share in the value created here, in a direct way, in a fair way, in a way that lasts?
That is what we are answering today.
Because today carries a serious shift in how Bahamians participate in tourism development.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, the Bahamian people will own 49% of the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.
That matters because ownership changes the relationship between a country and a development.
Ownership means Bahamians are not standing outside watching success pass by.
Ownership means the country has a stake that connects performance to public benefit.
It also changes how young Bahamians think about their place in the economy.
When a country owns a share, people begin to imagine themselves as builders and owners, alongside being employees and professionals.
That shift in mindset is one of the most powerful forms of development a country can make.
Now let’s talk about the day-to-day impact, because I am always focused on what people will feel in their lives.
A project like this creates work during construction, and then it creates careers in operations.
It creates roles in guest services, safety and security, food and beverage, marine operations, retail, maintenance, landscaping, logistics, entertainment, and administration.
Those roles support households.
It also opens doors for Bahamian businesses.
Every major tourism operation relies on a wide range of suppliers and service providers.
Food. Beverages. Cleaning services. Uniforms. Maintenance support. Transportation. Creative services. Local experiences. Technology support. Repairs. Logistics.
Each category is a chance for a Bahamian business to win a contract, deliver quality, and grow.
And the impact goes beyond this footprint.
Increased visitor activity supports the wider Nassau and Paradise Island economy.
It supports taxi drivers. It supports tour operators. It supports restaurants. It supports vendors. It supports entertainers. It supports small businesses that depend on visitor foot traffic.
That is why I say jobs are about opportunity. Because one job supports a family, and the economic activity around that job supports a community.
Now, let me connect that back to Upskill.
When we launched Upskill, the goal was straightforward.
Give Bahamians access to training that leads to better work and better pay.
Help people move from entry-level to supervisory.
Help people gain certifications.
Help people qualify for new roles that exist in a modern tourism economy and a modern workforce.
So when I hear that over 10,000 people have already signed up, I see a country preparing itself. I see a workforce choosing growth.
And I want every employer and every partner in this economy to understand what that means.
There is talent here. There is ambition here. There is a readiness here.
When you give Bahamians the chance, you will get the performance.
I want to say something directly to the Bahamian employees who will serve guests here.
People travel across the world for sunshine and clear water.
They come back for how they were treated.
They remember the person who welcomed them, the person who solved a problem, the person who made them feel comfortable.
That is your power. That is your value. That is your edge.
And as Prime Minister, I want you to know your government sees you, respects you, and is working to expand your options.
Upskill is part of that. Stronger standards for development are part of that. Equity participation is part of that.
Now let me speak about the environment.
The Bahamas has always depended on its natural beauty, and that is not a slogan. It is an economic fact.
Our waters, our coastline, our marine life, and our beaches are central to why people choose this destination.
We also live with the reality of climate pressures. Stronger storms and rising seas have taught us that every development has to take responsibility seriously.
So, I welcome and thank Royal Caribbean’s commitment to design this site as net zero waste to landfill. I want to thank you.
That is a measurable standard. It requires systems, discipline, and follow-through. And it sets a benchmark for what responsible tourism can look like in a modern Bahamas.
Environmental responsibility also shows up in daily operations, in how water is used, how energy is managed, how marine areas are protected, and how the full footprint of the site is handled over time.
Those details matter, and we will keep pushing for stronger performance across the board because our environment is central to our future.
Now let me speak about community.
Partnership has to show up in people’s lives. Royal Caribbean has supported youth programmes, training, and economic empowerment across our country.
That kind of support strengthens the pipeline of talent and helps young people build confidence and direction.
I also acknowledge the organizations supported through their sponsorships and partnerships, including the LJM Maritime Cadet Corps, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, the Bahamas Feeding Network, Junior Achievement, Music Makers, the Agricultural Development Organization, the Tourism Development Corporation, and the Small Business Development Centre.
Those organizations represent real work being done for real people. They represent training, mentorship, service, and opportunity.
And that brings me back to the core story of today.
This opening is a marker of where we are going as a country.
We are welcoming investment that respects our goals.
We are insisting on arrangements that widen opportunity.
We are building a workforce that is prepared to rise.
We are creating routes for Bahamians to participate through ownership, through contracts, through careers, through training, and through growth.
So when people ask what this moment represents, the answer is simple.
It represents a stronger deal for Bahamians.
It represents a workforce stepping forward to qualify for the future.
It represents a partnership that gives the country a stake and gives people a reason to feel connected to success.
To Royal Caribbean, thank you for this partnership.
To the Bahamian employees here today, I see your pride, and I respect your work.
Keep reaching, keep learning, keep taking the next step.
To the 10,000 Bahamians who have signed up for Upskill, you are sending a message to the country.
You are saying you are ready.
My job is to keep opening doors so your effort leads somewhere.
Thank you, and may God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.