All across this country, progress is happening.
You can see it in the number of Bahamians back at work. You can feel it in the level of investment arriving on our shores. And you can hear it on construction sites like this, where the rhythm of growth is unmistakable.
But progress only means something when it reaches the people. That is the standard we have set, and that is what today is about.
We are not just recovering from crisis. We are building something better. A stronger, more inclusive economy. One that is designed to give every Bahamian, no matter where they live, a fair chance to succeed.
And that starts with work.
This construction boom is real.
But so too is the need to make sure Bahamians are at the centre of it. The government I lead is not going to accept the idea that there aren’t enough trained Bahamians. We don’t write people off. We bring them in.
We are investing in closing the skills gap. We are expanding apprenticeships. We are paying young people to learn trades. And we are working closely with the Department of Labour and Immigration to make sure that if a job is here in The Bahamas, it is filled by someone from The Bahamas.
We are changing the system so more Bahamians can take ownership of our economy and build a life of stability and pride.
Not just in Nassau. But in Abaco. Andros. Exuma. Grand Bahama. Cat Island. Everywhere.
This is what our mission has always been. Expanding opportunities, island by island, so that no one is left behind.
And yes, the road is long. But step by step, project by project, we are moving this country forward with more training, more jobs, and more Bahamians participating in the growth we are creating together.
Today, we are here on this site not just to highlight this project, but to highlight a principle.
That when our country grows, our people must grow with it.
This is a government that believes in the dignity of work. We believe that success should not be inherited by the few, but earned by the many.
That is why I am proud to announce today that the government has granted land for a new BTVI campus.
This decision is about equipping Bahamians with the skills they need to succeed, right now, in industries that are booming.
From electricians and HVAC technicians to welders and masons, we are seeing rising demand across the trades. And we will not allow that demand to be met elsewhere while our people are overlooked.
The new BTVI campus is a down payment on fairness. It is part of our broader push to train more Bahamians, faster, and better.
Our apprenticeship programs are expanding nationwide. Young people are being paid to learn a trade. We are partnering with industry to ensure that what is taught in the classroom matches what is needed on the job site.
And we are doing this because we know the old excuses won’t cut it anymore. Saying “Bahamians aren’t trained” is not a justification. It is an indictment of the system. So we are fixing the system.
We are directing the Departments of Labour and Immigration to coordinate so that the jobs being created stay in Bahamian hands.
We are building a skills database so we know where the talent is and where we need to train more.
And we are going further. Requiring that companies receiving government contracts give Bahamians the first opportunity for meaningful employment.
This is what progress looks like when it is done right. Not just GDP growth, but people growth. Not just foreign investment, but local empowerment.
And we are not stopping at construction.
We are investing in agriculture, in renewable energy, in digital services. We are upgrading roads, docks, and airports so Bahamian businesses can grow in every island. We are modernising the energy grid so your bills come down and your lights stay on. And we are creating new partnerships that bring global opportunity to our shores while making sure Bahamians are at the front of the line.
Because at the heart of everything we do is one idea. You should be able to build a good life here, in the country you love, with the skills you have, and the support you deserve.
That is what we mean when we say we are building a fairer economy.
We are not where we want to be yet. But we are no longer where we were.
We have come through one of the worst periods in our nation’s history. Overlapping crises in health, education, and the economy. And despite that, we have brought unemployment to its lowest level since 2008. We have stabilised the country’s finances. And now, we are setting our sights higher.
We want to build a 21st-century economy where Bahamians are trained, working, and thriving. Where growth is not a statistic, but a shared experience.
That is why this new BTVI campus matters.
That is why the apprenticeships matter.
That is why these construction sites matter.
Because they are not just signs of economic activity. They are signs of a country regaining its confidence.
So let us keep building, together.
Let us prepare our people, together.
Let us expand opportunity, island by island, together.
Because this is the moment we have been working toward. And it belongs to all of us.
Thank you.